Awards and Grants
The Society recognizes scholarship and service with prizes, and supports graduate students with research and travel grants.
Open now
- Edward M. Coffman First Manuscript Prize · closes December 1, 2026
- The Vandervort Prizes · closes January 10, 2027
- SMH Public History Award · closes January 13, 2027
Prizes for scholarship
For books, articles and public history, and for a career’s work in the field.
Samuel Eliot Morison Prize
For a body of contributions to military history over a career.
No application
$1,000 per book
Distinguished Book Awards
The best book-length publications in English on military history, in four categories.
Closed for 2027
$200 per article
The Vandervort Prizes
Outstanding journal articles in military history, in the Journal and beyond it.
Closes Jan 10, 2027
$500
SMH Public History Award
The contribution of public historians to the field of military history.
Closes Jan 13, 2027
Prizes and grants for graduate students
Dissertation prizes, research funding and travel support for the annual meeting.
Cash award
Edward M. Coffman First Manuscript Prize
The best dissertation in military history, defended in the previous calendar year.
Closes Dec 1, 2026
$1,200
Allan R. Millett Dissertation Research Grant
Research funding for a doctoral dissertation in any field of military history.
Closed for 2026
$1,000 each
Russell F. Weigley Graduate Student Travel Grants
Travel support for graduate students presenting at the annual meeting.
Closed for 2026
up to $3,000
Jeffrey Grey Memorial Travel Grant
Travel support for a graduate student from outside North America presenting at the annual meeting.
Closed for 2026
$1,000, plus up to $1,000 in travel to the annual meeting
CSIS Graduate Student Prize in Applied Military History
The best graduate essay using military history to inform a current international security problem.
Closed for 2026
Service to the Society
Edwin H. Simmons Award
For long, distinguished or particularly outstanding service to the Society.
No application
Lectures
George C. Marshall Lecture in Military History
An annual lecture at the American Historical Association meeting, printed in the Journal.
By invitation
In abeyance
Not offered at present. Their past recipients remain on record.
- SMH-GCMF Prize for the Use of Digital Technology in Teaching Military History · Material for teaching military history that makes use of evolving digital technology.
- ABC-CLIO Research Grants · Research funding for advanced graduate students and early-career historians without a doctorate.
Recipients by year
Everything the Society awarded in a year, on one page.