10/07/2026
The Texas Map Society is pleased to announce a special Graduate Student Research Prize, Military Mapping of the Texas /New Mexico Borderlands: 1840-1870, as part of the April 2027 joint meeting of the Texas Map Society and the Rocky Mountain Map Society taking place in Las Vegas, N.M. We invite graduate students in history and related fields who work on the mapping of West Texas and the greater Texas-New Mexico border regions to submit a paper for consideration for this competitive prize.
In the late nineteenth century, the U.S. military undertook the majority of the surveying of West Texas and the greater Southwest region of the United States. The resulting maps are among some of the most detailed maps of the area prior to the USGS surveys. These maps and the expeditions that produced them are the focus of this research prize. The Texas Map Society wants to have a panel at the meeting featuring 3 graduate students whose research broadly focuses on this theme.
Each student whose papers the prize committee selects for a 20-minute presentation at the meeting will receive a $500 honorarium, to offset meeting travel costs, and complimentary admission to the full meeting proceedings (excluding the optional excursions). Prize winners must be members of the Texas Map Society to present and may join at the student rate prior to the meeting.
For consideration, must be currently enrolled in a graduate program. To apply, students should submit a paper of 5,000 – 8,000 words (excluding footnotes), along with a short biographical statement, and a CV via email with the subject heading “TMS Student Research Prize” to Dr. Lydia Towns at [email protected] by Jan. 15, 2027. The committee will notify candidates by Jan. 31, 2027.
For more information about this competitive Student Research Prize, please reach out to Dr. Lydia Towns at [email protected]
