The Bennett-Tinsley Award for Undergraduate History Research and Writing encourages undergraduate research in a broad range of subjects related to Indiana and rewards excellence in history research and writing. Many areas of the state’s past, especially related to the history of women, minorities (including race, ethnicity, and gender/sexuality), refugees, peace and social justice issues, and the environment have received limited attention in Indiana historiography. The purpose of this competition is to recognize students who examine these topics and produce scholarship that advances our knowledge of these understudied areas of Indiana history.
The Indiana Historical Bureau (IHB) of the Indiana State Library, coordinates the award in partnership with Manchester University and the Indiana Association of Historians (IAH) with the support of Peggy Seigel. It is given in honor of Pamela J. Bennett, long-time director of IHB, and Katherine Tinsley, Manchester University professor, former president of IAH, and coordinator of the Peggy Seigel Writing Competition, which was the predecessor of this award.
Scholarship related to the history of racial injustice and inequality is particularly encouraged for this year’s competition. The judges will award the winner a $500 cash prize, runner up with $300, and second runner up with $200. The winners will have their papers published on the Indiana Historical Bureau’s web page.
The award is announced at the IAH Annual Conference. To be eligible for consideration this year, undergraduates must submit their papers in digital format, together with a recommendation from their professor, to Nicole Poletika at: npoletika@library.in.gov by Friday, March 5, 2021.
Founded in 1980, the Indiana Association of Historians welcomes anyone interested in the study, enjoyment and promotion of history. As an organization, we bring together educators, scholars, genealogists, archivists, public historians, librarians and the general public interested in the pursuit of history. Our purpose is to provide a forum for professional historians to come together as a group for dialogue about the academic discipline they share, but the IAH is also committed to reaching out beyond the university community, or communities, to share the study of history with other professional historians and with the broader public.