Five Historians Named Finalists for the Prestigious 2025 George Washington Prize

ALEXANDRIA, VA – In a powerful celebration of historical scholarship, five acclaimed historians have been named finalists for the 2025 George Washington Prize, one of the nation’s most significant literary honors for books on America’s founding era. The $50,000 prize recognizes outstanding writing that deepens public understanding of the early American republic.

The George Washington Prize is sponsored jointly by George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and Washington College. Since its inception in 2005, the prize has honored exceptional works that combine academic rigor with accessible, engaging storytelling.

This year’s finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

• Jane E. Calvert, Penman of the Founding: A Biography of John Dickinson (Oxford University Press)

• Francis D. Cogliano, A Revolutionary Friendship: Washington, Jefferson, and the American Republic (Harvard University Press)

• Michael D. Hattem, The Memory of ‘76: The Revolution in American History (Yale University Press)

• Tyson Reeder, Serpent in Eden: Foreign Meddling and Partisan Politics in James Madison’s America (Oxford University Press)

• Cara Rogers Stevens, Thomas Jefferson and the Fight against Slavery (University Press of Kansas)

According to Lindsay Chervinsky, Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon, these works reflect both scholarly excellence and relevance to today’s society.

“The finalists are the best of rigorous and thoughtful history, written with delightful prose, compelling storytelling, and an eye to why history matters today,” Chervinsky said.

The nominated books explore a wide range of topics—from the political philosophy of lesser-known founding father John Dickinson, to the complex and sometimes contradictory legacies of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The list also features timely discussions on the power of historical memory and the foreign influences on America’s early politics.

James Basker, President of the Gilder Lehrman Institute, praised the authors for bringing new life to pivotal moments in American history.

“Each book offers a fresh, nuanced perspective on the moral, political, and social challenges that shaped the early republic,” said Basker.

The five finalists will come together for a public discussion of their work at George Washington’s Mount Vernon on Wednesday, August 12, 2025, with a book signing to follow. The winner of the 2025 George Washington Prize will be announced during a gala event in New York City on October 8, 2025.

A Tradition of Historical Excellence

The George Washington Prize has become a benchmark for excellence in historical writing. An independent jury reviews between 50 and 100 submissions each year, selecting works that not only educate but inspire.

Adam Goodheart, Director of the Starr Center at Washington College, reflected on the continued vitality of the field.

“We are still experiencing a golden age of original scholarship on our nation’s founding era,” Goodheart said. “This year’s list proves that there are always new insights to uncover.”

About the Prize Sponsors

• Mount Vernon, George Washington’s historic home, welcomes millions of visitors each year and is managed by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. It also houses the George Washington Presidential Library.

• The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, based in New York, is a national leader in K–12 history education and public history programming.

• Washington College, founded in 1782 with support from George Washington himself, continues to advance historical scholarship through its Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience.

For more details on the prize and upcoming events, visit www.mountvernon.org/gwprize.