The Story

Omohundro Institute Receives Record Number of Prizes

Apr. 10, 2007 | By Rolfe Shiflett, DSJ Staff Reporter

The Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. Photo by Marina Stranieri.

Eight books published in 2006 by members of the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture have garnered 10 awards.

The Omohundro Institute combines the scholarship of the College with Colonial Williamsburg’s expertise of early America. Scholars and professors from a variety of schools receive funding from the organization to produce articles for the Institute's publication, The William and Mary Quarterly.

The Institute admittedly publishes relatively few works per year, typically four through The University of North Carolina Press. However, five works from 2006 received honors.

The subjects ranged from �"Foundations in British Abolitionism” to �"Indian-Spanish Relations in Colonial California” and everything literarily and geographically in between. Awards include the American Historical Association’s Rawley Prize in Atlantic History, the Law and Society Hurst Prize, the Pacific Coast Council on Latin American Studies’ Herring Book Award and the Vernacular Architecture Forum’s Abbott Lowell Cummings Award.

�"I don’t think we’ve ever won that many prizes for so many different books in one year before,” said Fredrika J. Teute, Editor of Publications for the Omohundro Institute and a lecturer in history at the College. She went on to say, �"My goal since I came here was to expand the list to encompass early America, broadly defined. I think this year shows we’re accomplishing that diversity.”

This deluge of honors is not surprising, but enriches the Institute nonetheless. In the past 40 years, half of the 125 books written by Omohundro members have received awards. Omohundro works have received the Pulitzer Prize, six Bancroft Awards and a National Book Award.

Ron Hoffman, Director of the Omohundro Institute, said, �"The quality of the editing that the institute offers through its capable and experienced editorial staff … is truly unique in the world of commercial or academic publishing. This is why our books proportionally have won more prizes than those of any other publisher, even though we produce only four to six titles a year, far fewer than the number released annually by bigger commercial and university presses.”

However, Teute lists, �"Hoffman, the College, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the University of North Carolina Press and, most importantly, the dedication of the staff” as the recipe for success.

�"The accomplishment of putting out this number of books that have won scholarly recognition has happened through the collaborative efforts of everyone involved. It wouldn’t be possible without the individual and collective commitment to very high scholarly editing standards … there’s a genuine esprit de corps,” said Teute.

Meticulous revision remains the most cited reason for the quality of work. Works are allowed at least six months for copy-editing and another seven to ensure the publisher’s satisfaction. This means at least one year of consideration for each title, and it appears the formula works.

The Omohundro Institute is dedicated to studying early American history and the related histories of Britain, Europe, West Africa and the Caribbean. Eight of its professional staff members pursue history, english or American studies at the doctoral level.

Calls for papers are regular at the Institute, and graduate students interested in this area often consider their papers and theses for submission once they are of book length. The current subject for submissions is �"Anti-Popery in Colonial America,” a general exploration of the mistrust of Catholicism during the Colonial period.

Scholarships, prizes and research grants are also available. In coordination with the Society of Early Americanists, the Institute will be hosting their 13th Annual Conference this June at the College.