Class of 2025 invited to submit senior essays for library prizes April 14, April 30, and May 7
Yale Library is accepting entries for three library prizes awarded each year for outstanding senior essays. Any senior essay submitted to a Yale academic department during the 2024–25 academic year is eligible. The library may announce more than one winner for any of the prizes, based on the quality of submissions.
Prizewinners receive a $500 award, which is presented during Commencement ceremonies at the recipient’s residential college. Winning essays are published on Eli Scholar, the library’s open-access publishing platform for Yale researchers.
The Diane Kaplan Memorial Senior Essay Prize
The Diane Kaplan Memorial Senior Essay Prize is awarded for an essay based on research in any of Yale Library’s special collections. These include the collections in Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (including Manuscripts and Archives), Haas Family Arts Library, Divinity Library, Lewis Walpole Library, Medical Historical Library, Music Library, and the Yale Film Archive. Faculty and others may encourage students to apply, but students must apply themselves by Mon., April 14, 11:59 p.m, EDT.
Review the Kaplan Prize submission guidelines and instructions. Submit through Interfolio.
The Library Map Prize
The Library Map Prize is awarded for the best use of maps in a senior essay or an equivalent type of essay. The student or a faculty advisor must submit the essay by Wed., April 30, 11:59 p.m., EDT.
Review the Map Prize submission guidelines. Submit through EliScholar. Read previous award-winning Library Map Prize essays.
The Harvey M. Applebaum ’59 Award
The Harvey M. Applebaum ’59 Award is awarded to a senior essay that relies on materials from any of the government depository collections. These collections encompass government documents and information for Canada, the European Union, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the United Nations, and the United States. The student or a faculty advisor must submit the essay by Wed., May 7, 11:59 p.m., EDT.
Review the Applebaum Award submission guidelines. Submit through EliScholar.
Read about last year’s 12 recipients of these Yale Library prizes and the topics of their award-winning senior essays.
—Deborah Cannarella
