Anne Hyde ’82, the William R. Hochman Professor of History at Colorado College, has been awarded the prestigious Bancroft Prize for her book Empires, Nations and Families: A History of the North American West, 1800-1860. The Bancroft Prize, which includes an award of $10,000 for the winning author, is awarded annually by the trustees of Columbia University.
Winners are judged in terms of the scope, significance, depth of research and richness of interpretation they present in the areas of American history and diplomacy. Hyde’s book, which Columbia University calls “a highly original history of the American West,” was among the 175 books considered for the 2012 prize.
The period covered in Hyde’s book, 1800-1860, spans the fur trade, Mexican War, gold rushes and the Overland Trail. Using letters and business records, Hyde documented the broad family associations that crossed national and ethnic boundaries.