Thayer Prize Eligibility and Nomination Information
CONTENT. Nominated works must be substantially about American circus history or a very closely related topic. Non-English language books must be accessible by an English translation by the author or publisher.
FORMAT. Works may be in any published form. They include printed and/or digital books; articles; pamphlets, booklets; bibliographies; exhibit catalogs; or a single essay that is part of a larger work.
POSTHUMOUS PUBLICATION. Works by deceased authors being published posthumously for the first time are eligible for nomination. The Prize shall be awarded to the closest survivor or an immediate family representative, or to a representative of the organization that accomplished the publication.
EXCLUSIONS. Exhibits, symposiums, conferences, etc. that are not substantially memorialized or documented by printed or digital materials are not eligible for nomination. Fictional works are not eligible. Simple re-printings and new editions of older works, without annotation or other updating that substantially improve the historic value of the work, are not eligible for nomination. Virtual or digital library content and activity are not eligible for nomination.
RELEASE DATE. Only works published, issued, or released within the two calendar years preceding the prize year are eligible for nomination.
NOMINATORS. Any current member in good standing of the Circus Historical Society may nominate one or more works for the Prize. Officers, Board members and members of the Prize committee who are CHS members may nominate works. Members may nominate their own works for the Prize.
NOMINATION SUBMISSIONS. Nominations may be submitted by filling out the online form on the CHS members-only website or by downloading the written form and mailing it to the address provided on that website.
NOMINATION. Only Current CHS members can submit nominations by logging on to the Thayer Prize page in the CHS Members Area on the CHS website.
DEADLINE. Nominations must be submitted no later than March 31 in order to be considered for the current year. Nominations are welcomed at any time during the year after the announcement of the current winner and will be considered by the selection committee consistent with these eligibility criteria.
ANNOUNCEMENT. The Thayer Prize will be announced and awarded at either a CHS convention or during a Circus History Live! program.