The Miriam Usher Chrisman Prize for the Best Book in History

Dr. Miriam Usher Chrisman received her PhD in 1962 from Yale University and taught at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1963 to 1985. One of the founders of the Sixteenth Century Society, she served as Vice President for the Society’s first three years and served on the Council from 1982-1984 and from 1970-1972. Her scholarship focused on the social history of the Reformation. Her books Strasbourg and the Reform: A Study in the Process of Change (Yale University Press, 1967), Lay Culture, Learned Culture: Books and Social Change in Strasbourg, 1480–1599 (Yale, 1982), and Conflicting Visions of Reform: German Lay Propaganda Pamphlets, 1519–30 (Humanities Press International 1996) have all become key works in the field. This prize honors Dr. Chrisman’s significant contributions to the Sixteenth Century Society as a whole and to the field of Reformation Studies.

The Miriam Usher Chrisman Prize recognizes the best book written in English and published during the preceding calendar year in the field of History dealing with the Early Modern Era (ca. 1450-ca. 1750). Criteria for selection include the following:

1. quality and originality of research

2. methodological skill and/or innovation

3. development of fresh and stimulating interpretations and insights

4. literary quality

Nominations for the prize may be made by anyone, including authors. Nominations should be sent to the Executive Director of the Sixteenth Century Society (director@sixteenthcentury.org), who will then send contact information for the committee members. A copy of the nominated work, either in hard copy or electronic form, should then be sent no later than 1 April.

The books to be considered for the prize will be those books published within the preceding calendar year. Anthologies and collections of essays will not be accepted.

Winners before 2025 may be found on the Bainton Prizes page.