Arthur P. Whitaker (1895-1979) was a distinguished professor of Latin American history for almost thirty years at the University of Pennsylvania until his retirement in 1965. He published some twenty books and numerous articles over a fifty-year career, including a series of books on U.S. relations with Latin America. His alma mater, the University of Tennessee, describes Dr. Whitaker as having been “a pioneer in the development of the study of Latin American history in the U.S.” This prize is awarded annually for the best book published in the previous two years by a MACLAS member, who has been a member in good standing for the past two years.
Harold Eugene Davis (1902-1988) was professor of Latin American history from 1947 to 1973 at American University, where who also served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1952-1957. He was perhaps best known for his book Latin American Thought: A Historical Introduction, and for his multidisciplinary approach to the history of ideas. This prize is awarded annually for the best article published in the previous two years by a member, who has been in good standing for the past two years.
John D. Martz III (1934-1998) served as chair of the political science department at Penn State from 1978-1985, and as Penn State Distinguished Professor of Political Science until his untimely death in Caracas while conducting research. He was an expert on the politics of the northern Andes, and served as editor of Latin American Research Review from 1973-1978, and was editor of Studies in Comparative International Development to 1998. Professor Martz was a founding member of MACLAS and served as its president from 1983-1984. This prize is awarded annually for the best paper submitted to the conference by a graduate student.
Juan Espadas (d. 1998) was Professor in the Modern Languages Department at Ursinus College until his untimely death in 1998. His research focused on poetry and theatre. Professor Espadas was a long-time member of MACLAS, serving as editor of the MACLAS Latin American Essays and of the MACLAS Newsletter . He was MACLAS president-elect at the time of his death. Professor Espadas was a strong advocate of undergraduate education and participation in MACLAS, thus it is appropriate that the award for the best undergraduate paper presented at MACLAS be named in his memory. This prize is awarded annually for the best paper submitted to the conference by an undergraduate student.
James Street (1916-1988) was professor of Economics at Rutgers University from 1952-1986, and also served a period as department chair. His published work included Technological Progress in Latin America and Latin America’s Economic Development. He was an early recruit to MACLAS, along with his colleagues at Rutgers. This prize is awarded for the best article published in Latin American Essays.
Judy B. McInnis (1943-2006) was Professor of Spanish, Comparative Literature And Women’s Studies at the University of Delaware from 1971-2006. The Distinguished Service Award will be presented to a longstanding MACLAS member for outstanding service to MACLAS and/or to the larger academic community of Latin American studies, continuous outstanding scholarship, excellent teaching, and/or humanitarian endeavors in Latin America. The awardee will be presented with a plaque, and a monetary award in the recipient’s name will be designated to an organization whose character is consistent with the mission and goals of MACLAS. This is not an annual award, and it is made only in those cases as the committee deems that we should make the award.
Christina Turner (d. 2008) was associate professor of anthropology in Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of World Studies from 1994-2008. The Turner Awards are made available to Graduate students each year to subsidize a portion of the travel expenses to the annual MACLAS conference. Students must have submitted a paper for consideration to the MACLAS Program committee as well as a statement of need and budget details.
Władysław Maryan Froelich (d. 2010) Originally from Poland, Laszlo Froelich lived in Latin America for many years and showed a deep affinity for its culture and people. A business professional by training, he demonstrated great passion for scholarship on topics as varied as Latin American folk art, pre-Colombian art and history, Argentine gaucho culture and the landscape of the pampas. This Research Grant will award up to two $500 prizes annually to faculty, professionals or independent scholars to carry out research or creative projects on any facet of Latin American culture, politics, and society.
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