The Lexington Group for Transportation History has announced the establishment of the H. Roger Grant Award for outstanding scholarship in railroad history.
The $5,000 award, made possible through support of Julia Grant in honor of her father, Roger, will honor the best book, published by an academic or trade press, on the subject of railroad history in a two-year period.
The award is named for the late Clemson University professor of transportation history and distinguished scholar who died in November 2023 [see “Historian, author H. Roger Grant dies,” Nov. 20, 2023]. The author of more than 40 books and a frequent Trains Magazine contributor, he was also a past president of the Lexington Group.
The award will be given to the author or authors of the best scholarly book on the subject of railroad history, published in English. Books covering any geographic area will be considered, but preference will be given to railroads operating in the United States. It will be awarded every other year, beginning in 2025; the initial award cycle will be for books published in 2023 and 2024.
— Books must be published by a recognized academic or trade press. Nominations wil be accepted only from the publishers, with nominations for the initial award due on or before July 1, 2025. Nominations should be sent to president@lexingtongroup.org
— The publisher will send a paper or electronic copy of the book to each member of the award committee prior to Jly 15, 2025. The committee will reach a decision by Sept. 1, 2025, with the award to be presented at this year’s meeting of the Lexington Group, set for Nov. 12-15 in Fort Worth, Texas.
— Only one award will given during each cycle, and split awards, for two or more books, will not be permitted. In the event of a co-authored work, each author will receive an equal share of the award.
— An award will not be given during a cycle if, in the view of the committee, none of the submissions are of sufficient quality.
