The Richard J. Hughes Award recognizes outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of New Jersey history. It is given annually to an individual in recognition of a series of contributions in the areas of scholarship, public history, conservation and preservation, and teaching.
In partnership with the New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance (NJSAA) annual awards program, the Richard P. McCormick Prize is given every other year to the authors, or editors of an outstanding scholarly book on New Jersey history published during the current year of the award or in the previous two calendar years. The award carries a prize of $1,000. All works must include footnotes or endnotes. Bibliographies are encouraged.
The Alfred E. Driscoll Prize is an award of $1,000 given every other year to the author of an outstanding doctoral dissertation in New Jersey history. Eligible dissertations must be completed within the last two calendar years. Unsuccessful applicants may resubmit their dissertation in subsequent years. Dissertations that have already been accepted for publication are eligible, and their presses may apply for publication assistance.
The Mildred Barry Garvin Prize is given every year to a K–12 New Jersey teacher, guidance counselor, or school librarian for outstanding teaching of African American history, or for outstanding performance in a related activity (i.e., curriculum development). The award carries a prize of $1,000. The review committee engaged to evaluate the nominations may recommend up to two recipients. If two recipients are recommended the prize money will be equally divided.
Awards of Recognition are given every year to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to New Jersey history in the following categories:
Note that Awards of Recognition are not given for the publication of a single book, and are typically not given to individuals posthumously.
To be eligible for the Richard J. Hughes Award, Mildred Barry Garvin Prize, Awards of Recognition, and Alfred E. Driscoll Prize complete the online nomination form, which will reopen spring 2026. There are different requirements for each award so please follow the instructions on the form and see the Summary of Nomination Requirements chart below. Nominations for the Richard J. Hughes Award, Mildred Barry Garvin Prize and Awards of Recognition must include a statement (maximum 500 words) explaining why the nominee deserves the award and a curriculum vitae (under three pages). Mildred Barry Garvin Prize nominations must also include at least one sample curriculum unit or lesson plan. All self-nominations must be accompanied by two references.
Nominees for the Alfred E. Driscoll Prize must accompany their nomination forms with a digital copy of their dissertation emailed to Niquole.primiani@sos.nj.gov.
Nominees for the Richard P. McCormick Prize must follow the submission instructions outlined on the NJSAA website. NJSAA - Criteria for the Author Awards (google.com)
Summary of Nomination Requirements
Please be advised that all nominations require supporting documentation and incomplete nominations will not be accepted. Refer to the chart below for the required documentation that must be submitted with each nomination. Only one nomination for one person or organization for an award or prize will be accepted
| Award or Prize | Nomination form? | Self-nomination permitted? | Statement (max. 500 words)? | CV Individual/Organization Program Activities (max. three pages)? | Curriculum materials? | Copy of written work? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard J. Hughes | Yes | Yes, list 2 references (no letter required) |
Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| Richard P. McCormick | Submissions for this prize must go through the New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance. Please visit their website for instructions. | ||||||
| Alfred E. Driscoll | Yes | Yes, list 2 references (no letter required) |
No | No | No | Yes | |
| Mildred Barry Garvin | Yes | Yes, list 2 references (no letter required) |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Awards of Recognition Individuals | Yes | Yes, list 2 references (no letter required) |
Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| Awards of Recognition Organizations | Yes | Yes, list 2 references (no letter required) |
Yes | Yes | No | No | |
NOMINATION FORM
https://form.jotform.com/253564874457168
All nominations will be submitted by the deadlines specified below.
| Prize | Submission Deadline | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Richard J. Hughes | March 2, 2026 | October 2026 |
| Richard P. McCormick | March 2, 2027 | October 2027 |
| Alfred E. Driscoll | March 2, 2026 | October 2026 |
| Mildred Barry Garvin | March 2, 2026 | October 2026 |
| Awards of Recognition | March 2, 2026 | October 2026 |
Nominations for the Richard P. McCormick Prize are reviewed by the New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance Author Awards committee and a scholar selected by the New Jersey Historical Commission. Nominations for the Alfred E. Driscoll and Mildred Barry Garvin Prizes are reviewed by an independent panel of peer reviewers; all recommendations are forwarded to the New Jersey Historical Commission’s Prizes Committee. The Committee’s recommendations are voted on by the Commission’s full board.
Nominations for the Richard J. Hughes Award and Awards of Recognition are evaluated by the New Jersey Historical Commission’s Grants and Prizes Committee. The Committee’s recommendations are voted on by the Commission’s full board.
For a list of past recipients of New Jersey Historical Commission awards and prizes:
Richard J. Hughes Award: Past Recipients
Richard P. McCormick Prize: Past Recipients
Mildred Barry Garvin Prize: Past Recipients
Awards of Recognition: Past Recipients
Official Site of The State of New Jersey