Alan Rackoff Prize

The Alan Rackoff Prize was established through the Betsy and Wayne Rackoff Fund and named in honor of Dr. Rackoff's late brother, an Emory student in the class of 1973. Dr. Wayne Rackoff (75C), vice president of clinical oncology at Janssen Research & Development (a Johnson & Johnson company), was among the first generation of Emory students in English courses to have access to primary materials in what was then known as “Special Collections.”  The experience made a lasting imprint on his intellectual life and led him to become a long-time supporter of the archival collections.

The prize will award $750 to one student each academic year for the best paper, project, or honor's thesis written on the basis of primary source material from Rose Library related to a class or course of study in any academic department except the Department of English, $500 for a second place award, and a $250 honorable mention reserved for a first year student. 

Application Guidelines

Applications are due Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 5:00 pm EST.

To be eligible to win, applicants must:

• be current Emory College undergraduates at any class level and in any discipline (humanities, social sciences, or sciences);
• have completed their research project in the form of a paper, digital project, performance, or poster since January of the preceding year;
• allow library staff to display their research project for public viewing following receipt of the Rackoff Prize.

An evaluation panel comprised of Emory University faculty, librarians, and community partners will focus primarily on evidence of the applicant's archives research strategy, process, and personal learning, as summarized in an essay. Expectations for achievement will be commensurate with the applicant's class year and the requirements of the discipline. See more on award criteria below.

Applications will be submitted through the Submittable website and must include the following elements. 

• A 500-750 word essay describing your research strategies and use of Rose Library tools and resources.
• A final version of the archives research project, which may be in the form of a paper, digital project, performance footage or images, or a poster.

For more information, please contact Shanna Early, Instruction Archivist.