Don Grant Award (inaugurated 2012)

The Don Grant Award has been made annually since 2012, in honour of the memory of Don Grant (1932-2011), who was one of a number of dedicated persons who laid the foundations of genealogical studies in Victoria and Australia. He was co-founder of the Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies Inc., and established several organisations to expand the knowledge and study of family history.

The Don Grant Award is presented to the person(s) producing, in the opinion of the judges, the best Australian family historical biography with a family history focus submitted for the award that year. Strong emphasis is placed on a pre-Australian component.

 The winners and place-getters are announced at the Awards Presentation Luncheon, which is usually held in Melbourne on the last Sunday in May. All entrants receive a commemorative certificate. The report of the Judges are published in The Genealogist, the quarterly magazine of Family History Connections.

Conditions of Entry

An entry must be submitted, with the entry form, to the Awards Coordinator by 30th November. Applicants are advised to read and follow the Guidelines.

Each entry submitted will remain the property of Family History Connections and will become part of the library collection after judging. A book label indicating that it was an award entry will be inserted in the front of the book.

An entry need not have been published during the calendar year in question, but must not have been previously considered by the judges, unless in the form of a new edition with substantial additions. An author may submit more than one title in any year using separate entry forms.

Family History Connections has the right to publicise entries and to publish comments made by the judges.

All entries must be in a recognised book form. No winner will be selected if, in the opinion of the judges, a reasonable standard has not been achieved.

The decision of the judging panel will be final, before a public announcement of the Award winner/s at the awards presentation luncheon.

Entry form for the Don Grant award

The Judging Panel

The Award will be determined by an independent judging panel of at least three persons, appointed each year by the Council of Family History Connections, and to consist of the following:
• A genealogist or person experienced in genealogical research
• A qualified librarian
• An historian or compiler of historical or archival material

No member of the judging panel may be a member of the family of an entrant.

Guidelines
The judges will take into consideration, and mark accordingly, on the following points:

Objectives & Research

  • Scope and planning - what is the objective of the book?
  • Organisation and research - detailed and thorough
  • Pre-Australian component is important
  • Social and historical context must be included
  • Objectives of the book achieved
  • Potential interest beyond family
  • Did the publication achieve its stated objectives?
  • Potential interest for family or broader?
  • Literary quality – easy to read

Content
These are critical to the document:

  • Title page – full title and sub-title, author, publisher, location and date
  • Reverse title page – publisher, printer, copyright statement, edition, reprints
  • Table of contents
  • Genealogical tables and charts in appropriate places
  • Footnotes or endnotes providing source references and locations
  • Illustrations, where appropriate, with sources
  • Maps, where appropriate, with sources
  • Bibliography and list of sources e.g. libraries, archives, etc.
  • Comprehensive index (this is essential)

Presentation

  • Format – physical shape, design, cover
  • Layout – fonts, organisation, proof-reading, acknowledgements
  • Best use made of material