The Award, offered by the Australian Catholic Historical Society, comprises a $500 prize and consideration for publication in the ACHS Journal. It is offered by the Society for the purpose of encouraging the study of Australian Catholic history and is funded annually by the MacGinley family in honour of their late father.
Entries are invited from graduate and undergraduate students enrolled at Australian universities and theological colleges that offer accredited degree courses. From 2013 entries are also invited from students who have recently graduated. Entries are assessed by two senior scholars
The topic will address some aspect of Australian Catholic history. Primary/archival research and independent interpretation are encouraged. Prescribed assignment work could well form the basis of an entry. Entries should conform to the ACHS Journal Style Guide.
Maximum length: 3000 words.
Each entrant should provide two copies of the paper, double spaced, without the writer's name; also a cover sheet including name and address, name of the tertiary institution, faculty of current enrolment, and degree in which the student is enrolled. This cover sheet should be signed by a relevant member of the academic staff endorsing the eligibility of the entrant as a student of the institution. The paper would normally be considered for publication in the Society's Journal.
The closing date for entries is 30 October in the year for which the award is sought. The announcement and presentation would be made in the following year.
Entries should be directed to:
The Coordinator,
ACHS James MacGinley Award,
PO Box A621,
Sydney South NSW 1235
Enquiries may be directed to: secretaryachs@gmail.com
Entries for the 2012 James MacGinley Award closed in October 2012. The judges decided to make a joint award in 2012 as they thought that extent of the research evident in the two papers warranted such action. The 2012 MacGinley Award was thus made to Odhran O'Brien from Yokine, WA, for his paper on "The curious case of Bishop Brady: a new perspective" and Stephen Utick of Stirling, ACT for his paper "The faith-based charitable mission of Charles O'Neill in New South Wales (1881-91)".
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