The Virginia M. Law Award for the Most Distinguished Book on Texas History for Young Adults
The Virginia M. Law Award for the Best Book for Young Adults on Texas History is endowed by Mrs. Law’s daughter, Nancy M. Law, and is sponsored by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas DRT Library Collection Committee. Mrs. Law was an active member of the Alamo Mission Chapter of the Daughters, an enthusiastic supporter of the purpose and efforts of DRT and a strong proponent of education. The award is presented annually to the author of the most distinguished book for young adults, grades 7-12, that accurately portrays the history of Texas, whether fiction or nonfiction. The winning book receives a monetary gift, the honor of a DRT Library book medallion for their book covers and an invitation to attend and receive their award at the Daughters of the Republic of Texas State Convention in May.
Award Recipients
2008 The Adventurous Deeds of Deadwood Jones by Helen Hemphill
2009 The Evolution of Capurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
2018 Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez
2020 Spirit of Gonzales by Betsy Wagner
2021 Dauntless Spirit: The Journey of Elizabeth Kellog, a Forgotten Indian Captive by Betsy Wagner
General Guidelines for the Virginia M. Law Award
The book must have been published for the first time within the specified calendar years. The exception to this rule is the reprint of an earlier book for children that is annotated or revised to make its story accessible to today’s students. Three (3) copies of the book must be submitted for each nomination. All books become the property of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and will not be returned. Publishers should submit entries published during the specified years to the DRT Library Committee Chair and postmarked no later than November 30.
Entries are to be mailed to:
DRT Library Collection Committee Chair
DRT Headquarters
P.O. Box 6290
Austin, Texas 78762-6290
Selections will be made from books nominated. If no book nominated is considered to meet the listed criteria, no award will be presented. The text and illustrations should be of the highest quality and accuracy.
A three-member panel of judges will be comprised of persons from the following categories: historians, teachers, school and public librarians, Library Science and Children’s Literature professors, library/educational coordinators, and DRT members with library science/education degrees who are approved by the DRT Library Committee Chairman. These judges will select the winning entry.
The winning entry will receive a cash prize of $400, a framed certificate and the honor of having the DRT Library Collection Award Seal displayed on their books. If the winning entry has multiple authors and, the committee may choose to honor them singularly or together. If there is more than one honored, the cash award will be divided among them. Awards will be presented in May at the Historical Evening dinner during the Annual Conference of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Only the finalist will be notified prior to the awards ceremony. The award winner will be responsible for his/her travel expenses, but will attend the dinner as a guest of the DRT Library Collection Committee.
Questions should be directed to Headquarters
Ph: 512-339-1997
Email: [email protected]