North American Society for Oceanic History Facts for Kids

The North American Society for Oceanic History (NASOH) is a group in the United States that studies the history of the seas. It's for people who love learning about ships, sailors, and everything connected to the ocean. This includes historians, underwater explorers, and museum experts. NASOH works with the American Historical Association.

NASOH started in 1973. Its main goal is to share information about maritime history. They want to help people learn more about the history of oceans, lakes, and rivers. They also highlight important books and papers about naval and sea history. NASOH helps people across North America appreciate their sea heritage. It also includes the U.S. Commission on Maritime History, which is part of a bigger international group.

You can find NASOH's old records at the Joyner Library at East Carolina University.

NASOH Annual Meetings
- Recent Conference Locations
Awards and Honors
Leaders of NASOH
See also

NASOH Annual Meetings

Every year, NASOH holds a special meeting called a conference. Members come together to share their latest research on maritime history. These meetings happen in different places each year.

The locations are usually near the water. This helps members connect the big picture of global maritime history with local sea activities. Meetings have been held all over the United States, in Canada, and even in Bermuda.

Recent Conference Locations

2020 – Pensacola, Florida (This meeting was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.)
2019 – New Bedford, Massachusetts
2018 – St. Charles, Missouri
2017 – Charleston, South Carolina
2016 – Portland, Maine
2015 – Monterey, California
2014 – Erie, Pennsylvania
2013 – Alpena, Michigan
2012 – Galveston, Texas
2011 – Norfolk, Virginia
2010 – Mystic, Connecticut

Awards and Honors

NASOH gives out several awards to recognize great work in maritime history. These awards celebrate important contributions to the field.

K. Jack Bauer Award

The president of NASOH sometimes gives the K. Jack Bauer Award. This award honors people who have helped NASOH a lot. It also recognizes those who have spent their lives contributing to maritime history.

Charles Dana Gibson Award

The Charles Dana Gibson Award goes to the best article about North American maritime history. This article must have been published in a special journal reviewed by other experts.

John Lyman Book Awards

Each year, a group of NASOH members reviews new books on maritime history. They choose winners for the John Lyman Book Awards. These awards are given in six different areas:

Canadian naval and maritime history
U.S. naval history
U.S. maritime history
Science and technology related to the sea
Reference books and original historical documents
Biographies and autobiographies of important figures

Student Awards

NASOH also offers awards to students who are studying maritime history.

Chad Smith Student Travel Grants

These grants help students pay for travel to the annual meeting. This way, students can present their research papers. The award is named after Philip Chadwick Foster Smith, who was a maritime historian and an early member of NASOH.

Clark G. Reynolds Student Paper Award

This award is given for the best paper written by a graduate student. The paper must be presented at the society's annual conference. It's named after Clark G. Reynolds, a naval historian and museum expert. The winner gets help publishing their paper, a NASOH membership, and a plaque.

James C. Bradford Dissertation Research Fellowship

This fellowship helps students who are writing their Ph.D. dissertations. It's named after Dr. James C. Bradford, a former NASOH president. The fellowship supports research on American naval history. Topics can include naval strategies, ship operations, and the lives of sailors. To apply, students must have finished all their Ph.D. requirements and have an approved dissertation idea.

Leaders of NASOH

Here are some of the people who have served as president of NASOH:

William A. Baker (1976–1980)
Timothy J. Runyan (1981–1985)
Dean C. Allard (1986–1989)
Barry M. Gough (1990–1991)
William N. Still, Jr. (1992–1995)
Briton C. Busch (1996–1999)
William S. Dudley (2000–2003)
John Hattendorf (2004–2007)
James C. Bradford (2008–2011)
Warren Riess (2011–2015)
Gene A. Smith (2015–2019)
Amy Mitchell-Cook (2019–present)

North American Society for Oceanic History facts for kids

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