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Awards and Prizes

The American Philosophical Society began awarding medals in 1790. Since then, it has continued by awarding medals and prizes for outstanding achievement in the sciences, humanities, arts, professions, and public service.
Prizes

The APS began awarding medals in 1790. Since then, it has continued by awarding medals and prizes for outstanding achievement in the sciences, humanities, arts, professions, and public service. Currently the Society makes 10 annual or semiannual awards. Two of these awards, the Jacques Barzun Prize in Cultural History, and the Judson Daland Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Patient-Oriented Clinical Investigation, are open to competition. Candidates for the Barzun Prize may submit their work. Candidates for the Daland Prize must be nominated. Use the menu to the left to view information about each prize.

Prizes

Judson Daland Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Investigation

March 15, 2024
The Judson Daland Prize recognizes outstanding achievement in patient-oriented research.

Jacques Barzun Prize in Cultural History

January 31, 2025
The Jacques Barzun Prize in Cultural History honors Jacques Barzun (November 30, 1907–October 25, 2012), the distinguished historian who helped establish the modern discipline of cultural history.

Benjamin Franklin Medal

In 1906, the United States Congress authorized a commemorative medal to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin.

Thomas Jefferson Medal for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

The Thomas Jefferson Medal is the Society's highest award for the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Karl Spencer Lashley Award

The Karl Spencer Lashley Award was established in 1957 by a gift from Dr. Lashley, a Member of the Society and a distinguished neuroscientist and neuropsychologist. The award is to be made in recognition of work on the integrative neuroscience of behavior.

John Frederick Lewis Award

Since 1981 the award has recognized the best book published by the Society in a given year.

The Magellanic Premium of the American Philosophical Society

The Magellanic Premium is the nation's oldest medal for scientific achievement.

Henry Allen Moe Prize in the Humanities

The Moe Prize is awarded annually to the author of a paper in the humanities or jurisprudence read at a Meeting of the Society.

Henry M. Phillips Prize

Established in 1888 by a gift from Henry M. Phillips's sister to be used as an award for the best essay of real merit on the science and philosophy of jurisprudence.

Patrick Suppes Prize

The Patrick Suppes Prize will be awarded annually, with a cycle of three years rotating each of the three subject matter areas—a prize in Philosophy with special consideration for the Philosophy of Science, a prize in Psychology, and a prize in the History of Science.