The Francis Parkman Prize is awarded annually for the best nonfiction book on an American theme published the previous year. The award is named for Francis Parkman, whose monumental work was France and England in North America (7 vols., Boston: Little, Brown, 1865–92).

The 56th Annual Francis Parkman Prize Competition, 2013

Purpose: To stimulate the writing of history as literature.

Prize: A certificate and two thousand dollars, and consideration for adoption in the History Book Club. A certificate will be presented to the publisher. The prize will be awarded at the society's annual meeting in May, 2013.

Eligibility:  The Parkman Prize is awarded annually to a non-fiction book, including biography, that is distinguished by its literary merit and makes an important contribution to the history of what is now the United States.  The author need not be a citizen or resident of the United States, and the book need not be published in the United States.  Textbooks, edited collections, bibliographies, reference works, and juvenile books are ineligible.  The book's copyright must be in the previous year, 2012.

Submission: There is no fee for participation. Publishers may submit as many titles as they wish. A copy of each book must be sent by January 31, 2013 to each of the four jurors:

Professor James M. Banner, Jr.
1847 Ontario Place, NW
Washington,  DC  20009-2279

Professor Kathy Lee Peiss
Department of History
208 College Hall
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia,  PA  19104-6379

Professor Virginia Scharff
Department of History MSC063760
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque,  NM  87131-0001

Professor Andie Tucher
Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University
2950 Broadway
New York,  NY  10027

Inquiries to the Society:  by email:  amhistsociety@columbia.edu