Federation Of Family History Societies

The Elizabeth Simpson Award

For the Journal illustrating the Best
Contribution to Family History

 

Competition Rules

 

The award was introduced in 1979 and is presented annually to the society whose journal has, in the opinion of the panel of three judges, illustrated the best contribution to family history duirng the calender year preceding the competition closing date. The results of the award are announced at the Federation General Meeting in the September following the judging year.

The overall winning society is awarded a trophy which they may hold for one calendar year and also receives a certificate.

Sponsorship for this event is currently being provided by Family History Monthly magazine. The winning society will also receive a £100 cheque and the winning editor a year’s subscription to the magazine.

A winner is not eligible to send an entry for the THREE years immediately following their win. Notwithstanding the above, a society is not eligible to send an entry in any year when one of the judges is a member of that society's executive committee or the editor.

Societies should submit three identical copies of their entry to the chairman of the judging panel, together with three completed entry forms. A contact email address is required to acknowledge receipt and provide feedback on the judging panel’s decisions.

Societies may also wish to add extra information identifying any items missing from the submission, for example, annual publications listings, or items not included as a matter of society policy, for example, reports of meetings. Supporting items may be sent in addition but bulky items, such as members’ interest directories, should not be sent – a note describing and identifying such items will be sufficient.

Judging will be within the following four categories, subject to their being at least 6 entries in a category. Each category will have a winner and a runner up.

• Large societies – declared membership of 750 and over
• Small societies – declared membership of under 750
• One-name societies
• Overseas societies

The winners of each category will then be judged together to determine the overall winner of the Elizabeth Simpson Award.

Certificates will be presented to winners and runners up in each category and where appropriate a certificate will be given for those journals that were judged to be highly commended.

All entries will receive written feedback on the judging of their journal.