European History Section

Welcome to the EHS

The European History Section of the SHA convenes every year in early November to collect and focus historians in the American South on issues related to the European continent, which has never been more relevant. In addition to our annual panel sessions, we convene an annual luncheon and present awards for the best books, articles, dissertations, and seminar papers produced in European history during the previous year. In addition, we produce an EHS Newsletter, Fall and Spring, updating members on our activities. 

| Call for Papers | Member Benefits | EHS Luncheon | Awards | Contact | Bylaws |

European History Panels at the Southern Historical Association, Charlotte, November 2023

The European History Section CFP for Charlotte is now closed. Inquiries about EHS's Charlotte program can be sent to the Program Chair, Dr. Nathan N. Orgill, at [email protected] Remember that all panelists must be current members of the EHS at the time of the 2023 Conference. The CFP for Kansas City 2024 will go out this summer.

The EHS Newsletter

The European History Newsletter is published twice a year, in the fall and in the spring. Issues contain reports of annual meetings, descriptions of European history sessions at annual meetings, committee news, announcements, special interest columns, and news of historical interest.

EHS Newsletter, Fall 2022
EHS Newsletter, Spring 2022
EHS Newsletter, Fall 2021
EHS Newsletter, Spring 2021
EHS Newsletter, Fall 2020
EHS Newsletter, Spring 2020

EHS Annual Luncheon

At the annual meeting, the European History Section hosts a luncheon during which it conducts its annual Business Meeting followed by the Mathews-Weinberg Luncheon Address. The Mathews-Weinberg Luncheon Address is held annually at the conclusion of the Business Luncheon meeting. Initially, the Joseph J. Mathews luncheon address was named after Professor Joseph J. Mathews of Emory University, a longtime and active member of the Section and a dedicated patron of the profession of history in the South. In 2003, the address was renamed for both Professors Mathews and Weinberg. Professor Gerhard Weinberg of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a longtime and active member of the Section and a dedicated patron of the profession of history in the South, is Professor Emeritus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he taught for twenty-five years. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and is a distinguished scholar of Nazi Germany. On the Friday evening of the Annual Meeting, the Section holds its annual reception. In recent years, the reception has been hosted jointly by the Section and the Southern Conference of British Studies.

EHS Membership Benefits 

• Preferred conference registration rates
• Participation in the EHS program
• Presence in the EHS Directory
• Networking with colleagues in your field
• Spring and Fall European History Newsletter Affiliate membership in the Southern Historical Association
• Professional leadership opportunities
• Upcoming Annual Meeting program
• Graduate Students Support

To join the European History Section or to renew your membership, please mail a completed membership form and dues to:

EHS Awards

THE MAX KELE AWARD

The award is named for Professor Max Kele (1936-1996) of Bradley University, a longtime and active member of the Section and a dedicated patron of the profession of history in the South. Professor Kele earned the Ph.D. from Tulane University and taught at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and Bradley University. The award offers a one-year Section and affiliate membership to superior graduate students.

THE JOHN L. SNELL MEMORIAL PRIZE

The John L. Snell memorial Prize is named for Professor John L. Snell (1923-1972) who was a distinguished scholar and diplomatic historian and the founder of the European History Section. A bomber pilot during World War II, he taught at Tulane University, University of Pennsylvania, and UNC Chapel Hill, where he received the Ph.D. in 1950. It is given annually to the graduate student with the best seminar paper in European history. “European” is defined as encompassing the entire continent, including Russia, from pre-history to the present.

The prize carries a certificate, a cash value of $100, and a one-year complimentary membership in the Section. The competition is open to graduate students of any member of the Section or of a program at a Southern college or university. Eligible individuals and/or their advisers may contact the chair of the Snell Prize Committee no later than August 1. For more information on this year's prize, click here.

THE PARKER-SCHIMITT AWARD

The Parker Schmitt Award was created in 2005 and is named for two outstanding scholars in European History, Professor Harold Parker and Professor Hans Schmitt. Professor Harold Parker (1908-2002) was a specialist of 19th century European History who taught at Duke University from 1939 until his retirement in 1980. Professor Hans A. Schmitt (1921-2006), a founding father of the European History Section, and 20th century German History specialist, taught at the University of Oklahoma, Tulane University, New York University, and the University of Virginia.

The award is given by the European History Section of the Southern Historical Association for the best Ph.D. Dissertation in European history nominated by a member of the Section or a faculty member at a Southern college or university. The award is given in even years and carries a cash value of $250. Doctoral theses defended between August 1 of the year the award was previously given and July 31 of the year the award is to be given are eligible for consideration. Criteria for selection include quality and originality of research, new and stimulating interpretations and insights, and literary quality. Eligible theses may be recommended to the chair of the Parker-Schmitt-Simpson Committee. The person making the recommendation is responsible for ensuring that each committee member receives a copy no later than June 1 of the year the award is given.

THE SIMPSON AWARD

The Simpson Award is named for Professor Amos E. Simpson, who was the Frank A. Godchaux Professor of History at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, which is now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he taught and was an administrator from 1956 until his retirement in 1995. The award is given by the European History Section of the Southern Historical Association for the best paper read at the European sessions of the annual SHA meeting. “European” is defined as encompassing the entire continent, including Russia, from pre-history to the present. The award is given in odd years and carries a cash value of $250. Papers read at the two annual meetings preceding the year the award is given are eligible for consideration. The papers are gathered by the chair of the Parker-Schmitt-Simpson Committee from past EHS panel chairs and sent to members of the Award Committee who read all submissions and choose the winning paper. Criteria for selection include quality and originality of research, new and stimulating interpretations and insights, and literary quality. Eligible panelists may contact the chair of the Parker-Schmitt-Simpson Committee. The person making the recommendation is responsible for ensuring that each committee member receives a copy by June 1 of the year the award is given.

THE BAKER-BURTON AWARD

The Baker-Burton Award was created in 2005 and is named for two distinguished scholars, Professor Vaughan Baker Simpson of the University of Louisiana Lafayette, and University of Akron Professor Emerita June K. Burton. The award is given by the European History Section of the Southern Historical Association for the best first book in European history by a member of the Section or a graduate student or a faculty member of a Southern college or university. “European” is defined as encompassing the entire continent, including Russia, from pre-history to the present.

The award is given in odd years and carries a cash value of $250. Books published between August 1 of the year the award was previously given and July 31 of the year the award is to be given are eligible for consideration. Criteria for selection include quality and originality of research, new and stimulating interpretations and insights, and literary quality. Eligible books may be recommended to the chair of the Baker-Burton-Smith Committee by their authors or by any member of the Section. The person making the recommendation is responsible for ensuring that each committee member receives a copy no later than August 1 of the year the award is given.

THE SMITH AWARD

The Smith Award, named for Professor Charles E. Smith (1906-1959), who taught ancient, medieval, English History, and Renaissance and Reformation at Louisiana State University and served as Dean from 1934 until his untimely death in 1959. The Award is given by the European History Section of the Southern Historical Association for the best book published in European history by a member of the Section or a faculty member of a Southern college or university, or by a Southern press. “European” is defined as encompassing the entire continent, including Russia, from pre-history to the present.

The award is given in even years and carries a cash value of $250. Books published between August 1 of the year the award was previously given and July 31 of the year the award is to be given are eligible for consideration. Criteria for selection include quality and originality of research, new and stimulating interpretations and insights, and literary quality. Eligible books may be recommended to the chair of the Baker-Burton-Smith Committee by their authors or publishers or by any member of the Section. The person making the recommendation is responsible for ensuring that each committee member receives a copy by August 1 of the year the award is given.

Recipients

2018 – James Chappel – Catholic Modern: The Challenge of Totalitarianism and the Remaking of the Church. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2018.

THE ENNO E. KRAEHE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

This special service award was created in 1985 and carries a handsome wall plaque presented at the annual European History Section luncheon. The award may not be given in some years because it recognizes a lifetime of service to the organization. The Executive Committee of the Section places names in nomination where they remain for at least one year, and perhaps for several years, until the year a subsequent committee votes to make the timely award.

The first recipient was Professor Enno E. Kraehe (1921-2008). Professor Kraehe held the Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and taught at the University of Kentucky (1946-1964), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1964-1968), and the University of Virginia (1968-1991), where he was Commonwealth Professor and William W. Corcoran Professor and Professor Emeritus. A diplomatic historian and a specialist of Metternich, Professor Kraehe was a longtime and active member of the Section and a dedicated patron of the profession of history in the South. European History Section members may submit nominations for the Kraehe award to the Executive Committee prior to the annual meeting.

THE Rupprecht Graduate Student Prize

The Rupprecht Prize will be given to the best graduate seminar paper, thesis chapter, or dissertation chapter in European Women's History.  (Works within Gender Studies are not eligible.) The prize is $1000. The first award will be made in Charlotte. Inquiries regarding the submission/nomination process should be sent to the 2023 prize chair, David Redles.

EHS Committees and Officers for 2023

Chair: Stephen Stillwell, [email protected]
Vice-Chair: David Redles, [email protected]
Treasurer: Jeffrey Hankins, [email protected]
Secretary: Chad Ross, [email protected]
Immediate Past Chair: Sharon Kowalsky, [email protected]
Past Chair: Rebecca Boehling, [email protected]
SHA Representative: Karl Trybus, [email protected]  
Newsletter Editor: Meghann Pytka, [email protected]
Historian: Alice-Catherine Carls, [email protected]

Program Committee
Nathan Orgill, [email protected] (Chair 2022)
Heather Perry, [email protected] (Chair 2023)
Nathan Wood, [email protected] (Chair 2024)
Elizabeth Propes, [email protected] (Chair 2025)

Nominating Committee
Tiffany Ziegler, [email protected] (Chair 2023)
Dominique Reill, [email protected] (Chair 2024)
Brian Feltman, [email protected] (Chair 2025)

Membership Committee
Lois Huneycutt, [email protected] (Chair 2023)
Christopher Ward, [email protected] (Chair 2024)
Seth Kendall, [email protected] (Chair 2025)

Snell Prize
Lee Farrow, [email protected] (Chair 2023)
Margaret Peacock, [email protected] (Chair 2024)
Suzanne Farmer, [email protected] (Chair 2025)