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 2025 Literary Awards Contest is now Open.

The Deadline for entries is June 15, 2025

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”
Download Entry Form & Rules

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.

Enter Essay Contest By Mail

 

Enter Essay Contest On-line

2024 Literary Award Winners

Deborah Holman
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
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
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