The Myrna F. Bernath Book Award

About this program

Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (SHAFR) offers the Myrna F. Bernath Book Award, a $2,500 prize awarded biannually (even years) to the author of the best book by a woman, non-binary, or trans scholar in U.S. foreign relations, transnational/international history, peace studies, cultural interchange, or defense/strategic studies, covering books published in the preceding two calendar years. Eligible books for the 2026 award must have been published in 2024–2025, and nominations may be submitted by the author, the publisher, or any SHAFR member. Applicants must be women, non-binary, or trans scholars and hold SHAFR membership; nominations require a letter of nomination and three copies of the book (or page proofs) and follow a deadline pattern of 1 February in even years, with the award presented at the SHAFR annual conference.