Literary Awards
CSG has always encouraged its members to publish. It has also stated the goal of “maintaining and elevating genealogical standards.” One means of achieving both these ends has been to hold an annual literary award contest to recognize and reward excellence in genealogical publishing. The first contest was held in 1987.
The 2024 Literary Awards Contest is Now CLOSED
Annual CSG Literary Awards Contest
Grand Prize of $500 may be awarded to the overall best publication.
Two First Prizes of $250 each may be awarded for the best in each of the two categories
Categories
- “Genealogy & Family History”
- “Genealogical Resource/DNA/Technology”
CSG Literary Awards – Annual Essay Contest
“Tell Me Your Family Story”
The winner will receive a cash prize of $100.
Essays may include family stories; oral histories; genealogy-related blog entries, excerpts from an ancestor’s journal diary; transcriptions of Bible records or cemetery markers; family histories/traditions, and socio-economic background surrounding/affecting an ancestor.
2024 Literary Award Winners
Deborah S. Holman
Nothing Really Bad Will Happen: A Holocaust Story of Loss and Legacy
2024 Richard G. Tomlinson Grand Prize for Best Overall Entry
Janet Norton Ryan
“The Life and Times of Old Sam Norton – Family Stories Meet Front Page News.”
2024 “Tell Your Family Story” Winner
Judith Tavano Gardner
“‘Cherry-Picking’ Ancestors: Rocco’s Story”
2024 “Tell Your Family Story” Contest Honorable Mention
Previous Years
(click plus sign for details)
Bruce P. Stark
The Myth and Reality of Slavery in Eastern Connecticut
2023 Richard G. Tomlinson Grand Prize for Best Overall Entry Winner
Sarah Dixwell Brown
Regicide in the Family, Finding John Dixwell
2023 First Prize in the Genealogy/Family History Category Winner
J. Michael Phelps
Biographies of Original Members and Qualifying Officers,
Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Connecticut (in 3 volumes)
2023 Genealogical Resource Category Winner
Claire Smith
Georgiana, Like So Many
2023 Honorable Mention Genealogy/Family History Category Winner
Diane Boumenot
Rhode Island State Census for Genealogists
2023 Honorable Mention Genealogy/Family History Category Winner
Melinda J. Gould
“Abigail’s Secret, the Story of How I Found Our Ancestral Roots”
2023 Honorable Mention Genealogy/Family History Category Winner
Judith Gardner
“A Family Photograph: No Mean Feat”
2023 “Tell Your Family Story” Contest Winner
Sarah Kathryn Curtis
The Descendants of Ephraim Curtis (1742-1809) of Connecticut and Vermont
2022 Richard G. Tomlinson Grand Prize for Best Overall Entry Winner
Louise Elizabeth Smith
Abby, Laurilla, and Mary Ann: The Heritage and Legacy of the Daughters of Two Hannah Hickoks, 1635-1906
2022 First Prize in the Genealogy/Family History Category Winner
Rhonda R. McClure
Genealogists Handbook for New England Research, 6th edition
2022 Genealogical Resource Category Winner
Stephen Darley
Miles Goodyear: The Adventures of the Only Connecticut Mountain Man in the Rocky Mountain West
2022 Honorable Mention Genealogy/Family History Category Winner
Tricia Staley
“Uncovering a Buried Grandfather”
2022 “Tell Your Family Story” Contest Winner
Edward E. Steele
Steele The History of an American Family, Planters of Old England, New England and the American West
Category: Richard G. Tomlinson Grand Prize for Best Overall Entry
A copy of this book is available in the CSG Library. An Index of Names is available for download HERE
Helen Schatvet Ullmann
Descendants of David Melvill of Boston, Massachusetts and Newport, Rhode Island, Including Notes on the Vinson Families of Newport
Category: First Prize in the Genealogy/Family History Category
Ethan & Barbara Stewart
The Restoration of Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery, Stratford, Ct, the Resting Place of Our Founding Father William Samuel Johnson
Category: Genealogical Resource
The Stewarts are generously offering a free download of their publication HERE
Peggy Adler
“Genealogy of the House at 151 East Main Street”
Category: Tell Your Family Story Contest
Marcy Fuller
The Durgin Family of Fisherville, New Hampshire
Catagory: Genealogy
Kathleen Zuris
New Milford Connecticut, Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths: Volumes H-K
Category: Genealogical Resource Publication
Linda MacLachlan
Finding Early Connecticut Vital Records: The Barbour Index and Beyond
Category: Genealogical Resource – Honorable Mention
Peter J. Malia
New Haven Town Records 1769-1819
Catagory: Genealogical Resource – Honorable Mention
Janice K. Howard
“My Search For My Sister.”
Category: Tell Your Family Story Essay
Robin Rhein Hurwitz
“The Sweet Surprise of Family.”
Category: Tell Your Family Story Essay – Honorable Mention
Ancestors, Descendants and Related Families of: Jacob Smith, Sr. (1773-1834)
and His Wife Margaret Smith (1777-1850)
Albert E. Fiacre, Jr.
Category: Genealogy
Images of America: Clinton
Peggy Adler
Category: Genealogical Resource Publication
Peter Bolles Hirtle
“Judicial Appointments, Politics and Family in Early 19th Century Connecticut: The Case of David Bolles (1765-1850) of Ashford”
Category: “Tell Your Family Story” Essay
Chauncey Richmond & ‘The Old Buckbee’
Reginald W. Bacon
Category: Honorable Mention in Family History
The Ancestors of Con James Baker of Des Moines, Iowa and Chicago, Illinois -Volume 1
Fred Baker
Category: Tomlinson Award for Overall Best
Descendants of Anthony Smith, of Waterbury, Connecticut
Helen Schatvet Ullmann
Category: First Prize, Genealogy
Footprints Across Connecticut from Bloomfield 1930 Census
Jean E. Perreault
Category: First Prize, Genealogical Resource
Tell Your Family Story Essay Contest
Patricia Dintrone
Category: Tell Your Family Story Essay Contest
Genealogy and History of the Hubbell Family Vols. 1 & 2
Hilbert R Hubbell
Category: Genealogy
The Ancient Arms of McGuinness
Barbara ORourke
Category: Genealogy (Honorable Mention)
“Tell Your Family Story” Essay Co-Winner
Fred Apelquist
Category: “Tell Your Family Story” Essay Contest
“Tell Your Family Story” Essay Co-Winner
Janice Howard
Category: “Tell Your Family Story” Essay Contest
Ingham Genealogy: The Descendants of Joseph Ingham (c1630-1710) of Saybrook, Connecticut
Norman W. Ingham
Category: Genealogy
In Search of Barnabas Horton: from English Baker to Long Island Proprietor, 1600-1680
Jacqueline Dinan
Category: Brainerd T. Peck Award for Best Family History
Waterbury Irish: from the Emerald Isle to the Brass City
Janet Maher with John Wiehn
Category: Genealogical Resource Publication
“Was Uncle Roger Truly ‘n.g.’”
Andrew Searle Pang
“Tell Your Family History” Essay Contest
The Descendants of John Baker Vols. I & II
Fred G. Baker, Ph.D.
Genealogy
Ancestry & Descendants of Rufus Brown & Alice Nelson Platt
Child, Hatcher & Myers
Family History
The Civil War Soldiers of Branford & North Branford, Connecticut
Jane Bouley
Genealogical Resource publication
The Road to Connecticut
Jean Edson Perreault
“Tell Your Family Story” Essay Contest
Call to Arms, The Patriot Militia in 1777, British Raid on Danbury, CT
Stephen Darley
(Honorable Mention) Genealogical Resource publication
The Ancestry & Descendants of Walter Deane 1612-1693…Vols. 1&2
H. Clark Dean
Genealogy
Vena’s Roots, An Anderson/Boothby Family History
Seema-Jayne Kenney
Family History
First Cliff Scituate 1630-2013 History of a New England Coastal Neighborhood
Jane K. Thompson
Genealogical Resource
The Rev. Moore Bingham (1797-1853) & His Wives Ann and Lucy Barber: Their Ancestors and Descendants
Janey Eaves Joyce
Genealogy
Early Families of Middletown, Connecticut Volume 1: 1650-1654
Reginald W. Bacon
Brainerd T. Peck Family History
Kings Grove Cemetery, Mars Hill, Maine
Linda J. Zapatka
Genealogical Resource
Twenty-One Ashley Street: Looking for Patrick McCarthy
Denise S. Kennedy
Tell Your Family Story Essay Contest
The Descendants of Judge John Lowell of Newburyport, Massachusetts
Scott C. Steward & Christopher C. Child
Genealogy
Connecticut Town Meeting Records During the American Revolution Vols. 1 & 2
Jolene Mullen
Genealogical Resource Publication
A Swiss in Connecticut
Suzanne S. Garbarini
Tell Your Family Story Essay Contest
Descendants of Daniel Ray of Plymouth and Salem, Vol.2, Generation 7
Joseph W. Ray
Genealogy
Affection, Vol, 1&2
Peter H. Judd
Brainerd T. Peck Family History Award
Visible Saints, West Haven, CT 1698-1798
Peter J. Malia
Best Genealogical Resource
Genealogy of Azariah Lathrop (1772-1864) and his wife Esther Lewis (1772-1858) of Wells, VT and Belvidere, IL through Nine Generations, Vol.
Ruth Lucchesi
Honorable Mention – Genealogy
Descendants of Daniel Ray of Plymouth and Salem, Vol.2, Generation 7
Joseph W. Ray
Genealogy
Affection, Vol, 1&2
Peter H. Judd
Brainerd T. Peck Family History Award
Visible Saints, West Haven, CT 1698-1798
Peter J. Malia
Best Genealogical Resource
Genealogy of Azariah Lathrop (1772-1864) and his wife Esther Lewis (1772-1858) of Wells, VT and Belvidere, IL through Nine Generations, Vol.
Ruth Lucchesi
Honorable Mention – Genealogy
HUBBELL BY CHOICE, The Ancestry of Some Early Connecticut Women
Mary Ann (Walker) Hubbell and Marjorie F. (Hubbell) Gibson … Award Received by Anne and Carol Gibson
Genealogy
GOOGLE Your Family Tree, Unlock the Hidden Power of Google
by Daniel M. Lynch
Genealogical Resource
Roots of Strength
by Caroline Hron Weigle
Fledgling Essay