Society for French Historical Studies

The Society for French Historical Studies has announced the winners of its academic prizes for 1999. The Gilbert Chinard Prize was awarded to Philip Katz (New York Council for the Humanities) for his book, From Appomattox to Montmartre: Americans and the Paris Commune (Harvard University Press, 1998). Alice Conklin (Univ. of Rochester) received the William Koren Jr. Prize for her essay, "Colonialism and Human Rights, A Contradiction in Terms: The Case of France in West Africa, 1895-1914," published in the American Historical Review 103:2 (1998). John Markoff and Gilbert Shapiro (Univ. of Pittsburgh) were the joint winners of the David Pinkney Prize for their book, Revolutionary Demands: A Content Analysis of the Cahiers de doleances of 1789 (Stanford University Press, 1998). The Research-Travel Prize was won by Michael Lynn (Agnes Scott Coll.) who will be working on the project, "Popular Science in Enlightenment France: The Dissemination of Natural Philosophy and the Creation of an Urban Scientific Culture." The John B. and Theda H. Wolf Prize was awarded to Tracy Neal Leavelle (Arizona State Univ.) for the project "Religion, Encounter, and Community in French and Indian North America."

ANS Executive Director Retires

Leslie A. Elam, executive director of the American Numismatic Society (ANS), retired on March 31, 1999. Ute Wartenberg, the society's assistant director, will be ac ting executive director. Elam, who joined the society in 1963 as an assistant editor, has been the executive director since 1972. During his long tenure with the society, Elam was responsible for several notable achievements, including the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the society in 1983; the installation of the permanent exhibition, The World of Money; the computerization of the society's work; the development of the ANS web site; and the acquisition of the society's new headquarters at 140 William Street in New York City. "Over nearly four decades, Les has earned our deepest appreciation for his tireless work to advance the interests and the goals of the society," said ANS president Arthur Houghton.

The ANS is now seeking applications (due by May 10) for the vacant position of executive director, whose responsibilities will include management of the society's professional and nonprofessional staff, coordinating outreach educational programs, and fundraising. Details may be obtained from the society's web site at http://www.amnumsoc2.org.

SW Texas PCA Meeting

The Southwest Texas Popular Culture and American Culture regional alterations will meet in Albuquerque, February 9-12, 2000. For details, see the web site http://www2.okstate.edu/swpca.