The Stuart Thayer Prize 

The Circus Historical Society encourages the highest quality of research, scholarship and writing about American circus history. The Stuart Thayer Prize, awarded annually, recognizes a superior work of circus history scholarship. This award is named in honor of Stuart Thayer, the author of numerous foundational and insightful works published about the antebellum American circus and menagerie. The selection and awarding of the Stuart Thayer Prize is managed by a committee of Circus Historical Society members who are appointed every four years by the newly-elected Circus Historical Society president during his or her initial three months in office.