The Alexander Prize is awarded for an essay or article based on original historical research, by a doctoral candidate or those recently awarded their doctorate, published in a journal or an edited collection of essays.
The Prize was endowed in 1897 by L.C. Alexander, Secretary of the Society at its foundation in 1868 and a Life Member from 1870. The original endowment offered ‘to provide yearly a Gold Medal to be called The Alexander Medal’. The gold medal was later changed to a silver medal and now the successful candidate is awarded a prize of £250.
Alexander Prize Winners, 2024
Congratulations to Ellen Smith and Jonathan Tickle who are the co-winners of the 2024 prize.
- Ellen is the author of ‘Widows, Violence and Death: The Construction of Imperial Identity and Memory across British India, 1857–1926’, Gender & History (2023).
- Jonathan is the author of ‘Changing Queenships in Tenth-Century England: Rhetoric and (Self-)Representation in the Case of Eadgifu of Kent at Cooling’, Early Medieval Europe (2023).
Judges’ citation for Ellen Smith’s article:
Ellen Smith’s work explores a critical dimension of understanding imperialism and the justification of imperial projects, by examining how a feminised culture of mourning was utilised and contested in India. Ellen shows how British widows’ memorialisation of their husbands and their service in the military, the Indian Civil Service or as missionaries was part of shaping narratives around ‘honour’ and violence.
The panel were very impressed with Ellen’s methodological approach, which used three women as case studies to explore the different dimensions of imperial work noted above. This produced an exceptionally rich depth of archival sources, which Ellen uses to powerful effect in this complex and multi-faceted study.
Judges’ citation for Jonathan Tickle’s article:
Jonathan Tickle’s article is centred upon Sawyer 1211, an Anglo-Saxon charter in which Queen Eadgifu endowed Christ Church in Canterbury with two estates in Kent, namely at Cooling and Osterland.
Sawyer 1211 has been explored by many historians as it reveals a longstanding dispute over land. Nonetheless, this article brings a fresh, vibrant and vital analysis of the text. Jonathan makes a highly original and compelling contribution by using this legal document as the basis for a rich discussion of women’s rights and the limits to and possibilities of queenship in the 10th century. The panel were impressed with how Jonathan used a legal document as a means for exploring performativity in politics in this period.
RHS Alexander Prize Panel, 2024
- A list of previous winners of the Alexander Prize (1898-2023) is available here.