~ West Texas Historical Association ~
WTHA Awards and Grants

Our Association is active. Each year we hold a conference in a West Texas city. We visit, present papers, and exchange ideas and information. We publish a selection of papers in our annual Yearbook. Also, twice a year, we put out a newsletter highlighting people, places, and events throughout West Texas.

In addition, the Association works cooperatively with other historical groups such as the East Texas Historical Association and the Texas Oral History Association.

Caption:  Paul Carlson presents to Fred Rathjen the 2000 Richardson Award for the Best book on West Texas history.

Award and grant applications are due on January 10.  Award winners will be announced at the annual meeting of the Association during the presidential luncheon.

 Awards Available to Scholars

Percy Jones Best Article Award

  • Eligible articles are to have been published in the Association Year Book in the preceding year. 
  • The award winner will receive a $1250 cash award and a certificate. 

Rupert Norval Richardson Award- The Best Book on West Texas history

Non-fiction.

  • The book must focus on West Texas history.
  • Eligible books are to have been published within the past two (2) calendar years. 
  • To be eligible, an individual must have been a member of the Association
  • for at least one full year prior to the application deadline.
  • Publishers should submit three copies of each nominated book.
  • The award winner will receive a $500 cash award and a certificate.

During his long career at Hardin-Simmons University, Rupert Richardson was both president and professor emeritus, and founder and long-time editor/director of the West Texas Historical Association. He was considered one of the preeminent Texas and Western historians and authored numerous books including "The Comanche Barrier to South Plains Settlement" (1933) and a history textbook Texas: The Lone Star State (1943) that eventually went through five editions.

He was born on April 28, 1891, on Sandy Creek near Caddo, Texas and died in Abilene on April 14, 1988. He held a B.A. Degree from Hardin-Simmons in 1912 and a B.S. from the University of Chicago in 1914. He obtained both a M.A. and Ph.D. Degree from the University of Texas in 1922 and 1928.  The Rupert Richardson Award was established in 1996.

R. C. Crane Award- The Best Creative Work on West Texas

Fiction. Novel, poetry, collection of short stories, or drama. The books must emphasize a West Texas theme or setting.
  • Eligible books are to have been published within the past two calendar years.
  • To be eligible, an individual must have been a member of the Association for at least one full year prior to the application deadline.
  • Publishers should submit three copies of each nominated book.
  • The award winner will receive a $500 cash award and a certificate. 

Student Essay Award

The West Texas Historical Association announces an award of $400.00 for the best article written by an undergraduate or graduate student on some aspect of the history of West Texas.  The region is defined for purposes of this contest as that area west of U.S. Interstate 35.

Eligibility requires that the essay, ranging from 10 to 14 pages in length, be written by a student enrolled in a college or university and be sponsored by a faculty member of that institution.  A cover letter from the sponsoring faculty member and a one-page abstract of the paper must accompany the submitted manuscript. 

The essay will be included on the program of the annual meeting of the Association and will be published in the Year Book.  The Winner will be awarded a grant of $50.00 to help defray travel expenses to attend the meeting.

SUBMISSION SHOULD BE SENT TO:
Student Essay Award
c/o Executive Director,
WTHA/Southwest Collection
Box 41041
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas 79409

STYLE.  The Chicago Manual of Style, 13th Edition, is the style sheet.  End notes should also be used and double spaced.  Because the Year Book is computer generated, the manuscript must be submitted 1) on computer disk in IBM format, or 2) in a typed quality that can be scanned into the computer.

CRITERIA.  Criteria for Judging are the following:  1) readability and style of the presentation; 2) use of research materials; 3) overall conception; and 4) contribution to the history of West Texas.

  • Deadline for submission:  January 10

Research Grants Available to Scholars

Eligible proposals must focus on West Texas history, broadly conceived.  Grant recipients will be announced at the annual meeting of the Association during the presidential luncheon. 

 Ernest Wallace Grant- Graduate Research on West Texas History

  • Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application.
  • Applications should include a proposal, recommendation from major adviser, vita, and budget for needed funds.
  • One grant per year for $1,000 will be awarded; the grants are non-renewable.
  • Grant recipients will submit a written follow-up report regarding the progress of their endeavors.
  • Recipients are ineligible for an interim of two years between successful grant applications. 

William Curry Holden Grant- Research on West Texas History

  • Applicants must have been members of the Association at least one full year prior to application deadline.
  • Applications must include a proposal and a budget for needed funds. One grant per year for $1000 will be awarded; the grants are non-renewable. 
  • Grant recipients will submit a written follow-up report regarding the progress of their endeavors.
  • Recipients are ineligible for an interim of two years between successful grant applications.

P.O. 41041
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas
79409-1041
Ph. 806-742-9076 wthayb@ttu.edu

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List of former award and grant winners

SOME OF OUR AWARD WINNERS


 Monte Monroe presents Tracy Stewart with the award for Best Student Essay at the Saturday Business Luncheon


 Jim Matthews, with wife Becky, proudly shows his award plaque which he received when his book, Fort Concho: A History and a Guide, won the 2006 Richardson award for best book on West Texas history.


 Monte Monroe with John McCullough, winner of the 2006 Student Essay Award.


Kevin Sweeney, winner of the 2003 Percy Jones award.


David Holt, winner of the 2003 Student Essay Award


Ashley Armes, winner of the 2004 Student Essay Award.

Kevin Sweeney receiving two checks from WTHA Executive Director, Tai Kreidler. Sweeney was named winner of the William Curry Holden Research Award and the Percy Jones Award for Best Article in the Yearbook.

Other scholarships and awards available to students:

 

 

 

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