Paul Murphy Prize to Complete a Book on History of Civil Liberties

Over at legal history blog, Mary Dudziak has the details of the Paul Murphy prize in the history of civil liberties.  It will be awarded twice and will provide $5000 to each recipient to support the completion of a book on the history of civil liberties.  This is very exciting news and a wonderful tribute to a man whose scholarship was devoted to the history of civil liberties.  I especially like the idea of a prize that helps scholars bring out new work -- and this seems like it fits exactly with Murphy's focus on advancing the field.  

I only had the pleasure of meeting Murphy once -- in 1995 at the ASLH meeting in Houston -- though I very much enjoyed reading The Constitution in Crisis Times, 1918-1969 (1972).  That's a classic of constitutional history and of civil liberties.  Mary has more details here.

Comments

[Mary Dudziak]

Thanks, Al! I didn't know Murphy well, but I remember him as both scholarly and very kind, and interested in the work of junior scholars. His book The Constitution in Crisis Times is no longer in print, but it remains a great work of 20th century constitutional history, and there are enough copies around that you can find it through a used book vendor. I'm so pleased we have a chance to honor Murphy's memory with this award.