Book of Merit Award

Books must meet all of the following requirements to be considered:

• The book must have been published in the calendar year preceding the award.
• It must be commercially distributed to the public through well-established channels such as bookshops, retail stores, or online retailers.
• A printed edition of at least 100 copies must have been published.
• The printed volume must contain at least 50 pages.
• It must be a nonfiction book whose subject matter primarily concerns events, people, or other topics from Wisconsin history.

Genealogical books are excluded from consideration for the Book of Merit Award; authors should submit them under our Wisconsin Family History Book Award category instead.

Starting in 2026, Wisconsin Historical Society Press books are not eligible for the award. Employees and members of the Board of Curators of the Wisconsin Historical Society are not eligible to receive awards.

Judges will assess each book's merits according to the following criteria, so far as each may apply to the book in hand:

• Factual accuracy and documentation
• Quality of the writing
• Research methodology
• Graphic design
• Impact on the reading public
• Overall contribution to Wisconsin history

Awards are reviewed by a committee of judges appointed by the Society and then approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Curators. The judges reserve the right to make no award in any given year. The decision of the judges is final.

March 10 of each year (postmarked or delivered)