The Walter W. Buckley, Jr. Prize in American History
Presented annually each July as part of Independence Day celebrations, the Buckley Prize honors an individual who has demonstrated a deep understanding of the importance of American history and has taken meaningful steps to ensure it is taught and learned effectively.
A charitable donation is made in the recipient's name to an educational nonprofit that embodies the work of the winner and the field.
About the Prize
Honorees are selected based on a series of metrics designed to identify those who understand the significance of American history and whose work aligns with the passions and legacy of Walter W. Buckley, Jr.
Recipients may be historians, educators, business leaders, elected officials, or public intellectuals. Each honoree stands as an exemplar for how to improve the teaching and learning of history in America.
Who Is Eligible
- Historians and academic scholars
- K-12 and university educators
- Business leaders and philanthropists
- Elected officials and public servants
- Public intellectuals and authors
Prize Recipients
Dr. Allen Guelzo
Thomas W. Smith Distinguished Research Scholar and Director of the Initiative on Politics and Statesmanship, James Madison Program at Princeton University
- Director of Civil War Era Studies and Henry R. Luce Professor of the Civil War Era, Gettysburg College (2004–2019)
- Author, Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President (Wm. Eerdmans, 1999)
- Author, Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America (Simon & Schuster, 2004)
- Author, Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates That Defined America (Simon & Schuster, 2008)
- Author, Fateful Lightning: A New History of the Civil War and Reconstruction
- Author, Gettysburg: The Last Invasion
- Author, Robert E. Lee: A Life (Wall Street Journal Top Ten Books, 2021)
- Multiple winner, Lincoln Prize and Abraham Lincoln Institute Prize
- Named one of Power Line's 100 Top Professors in America
John Nau
Chairman and CEO, Silver Eagle Beverages
- Chairman, Presidential Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
- Chairman, Texas Historical Commission
- Board Member, American Battlefield Trust
- Board Member, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation
- Board Member, Andrew Jackson Foundation
- Board Member, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Dr. Louise Mirrer
President and CEO, New-York Historical Society
- Executive Vice Chancellor, City University of New York
- Professor, CUNY Graduate Center
- Professor, Fordham University
- Professor, University of California–Los Angeles
- Professor, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
- Designer, CUNY Honors College
Learn More About the Driving Force Institute
The Buckley Prize is one expression of our broader commitment to the teaching and learning of American history. Explore our films, our mission, and how you can support our work.