Thesis Prizes and Honors

CHARLES A. BEARD THESIS PRIZE IN HISTORY
Established in 2003 by the History Department, the Charles A. Beard Senior Thesis Prize in History is awarded annually for a senior thesis of superior distinction in any historical field and period.

2019 Recipient: Kolchin-Miller, Emma, “Reimagining Hayden White: The Politics of Writing History”

GARRETT MATTINGLY THESIS PRIZE IN HISTORY
The Garrett Mattingly Thesis Prize in History, established in 2003 by the History Department, is awarded annually for a senior thesis of superior distinction in any historical field and period.

2019 Recipient: Yen Ba Vu, “Dividing the Delta: Khmer-Vietnamese Relations from 1930 to 1954 in the Mekong Delta”

CHANLER HISTORICAL PRIZE
A prize established at the bequest of J. Winthrop Chanler of the Class of 1847, the Chanler is awarded to the Columbia College senior who submits the best thesis on a topic dealing with the history of civil government in America.

2019 Recipients (Prize Split):

• Floersheimer, Andrea Charlotte, “Kitchen Courthouses and Flying Judges: Bush Justice in Alaska, 1959 – 1980” (Link to be added soon)
• Gruber, Emily Anne,“‘Knowledge, for what?’ Seth Low and the Governance of Brooklyn, Columbia University, and New York City (1881-1903)”

ALBERT MARION ELSBERG PRIZE
Established by Mrs. Albert Elsberg in memory of her son, Albert Marion Elsberg, this prize may be awarded to a Columbia College senior who has demonstrated excellence in modern history.

2019 Recipients (Prize Split):

• Riaz, Mahir, “Sovereignty Ltd: Sir George Goldie and the Rise of the Royal Niger Company”
• Davidovicz, Sylvia, “’A Prize for Warlike Ambition’: The 1885 Panama Crisis and the Rise of an American Power Complex”

HERBERT H. LEHMAN PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN HISTORY
Given to a General Studies student with an outstanding record of accomplishment in history courses at Columbia.  Preference given to those with substantial coursework in US History.

2019 Recipient: Yen Ba Vu, “Dividing the Delta: Khmer-Vietnamese Relations from 1930 to 1954 in the Mekong Delta”

LILY PRIZE
For the best senior thesis in history on a non-US topic, established by James P. Shenton in memory of his mother. 

2019 Recipient: Merkling, Sias, “Olga’s Occult: Bézobrazow’s Formation of Spiritualist Feminism in the Revue des femmes russes during France’s Fin de Siècle”

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Departmental Honors are awarded to a graduating history major on the basis of a high average in history courses and an excellent senior thesis. Only ten percent of graduating majors may receive departmental honors.

Departmental Honors Recipients, 2018–2019:

• Cregan, Luke DeCourcey
• Cunliffe, Margaret
• Davidovicz Smith, Sylvia Michael
• Floersheimer, Andrea Charlotte
• Gruber, Emily Anne
• Magid, Rebecca Ona
• Makarov, Erich
• Merkling, Sias
• Pedersen, Saskia Jane
• Riaz, Mahir
• Saha, Upasna