The Mary Nickliss Prize is given annually to an academic historian for "the most original" book in United States Women's and/or Gender History (or its colonial antecedent). The OAH defines "the most original" book as one that is a path-breaking work or that challenges and/or changes widely accepted scholarly interpretations in the field of U.S. Women's and/or Gender History. If no book submitted for the prize meets this criterion, the award shall be given for "the best" book in U.S. Women's and/or Gender History. The "best" book recognizes the ideas and originality of the significant historical scholarship being done by historians of U.S. Women's and/or Gender History and makes a significant contribution to the understanding of U.S. Women's and/or Gender History. The prize honors Mary Nickliss, whose aspirations to become a career woman confronted the gendered limits of the world in which she lived. Each entry must be published during the calendar year preceding that in which the award is given, January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. One copy of each entry, clearly labeled "2025 Mary Nickliss Prize Entry" must be mailed directly to the committee members. Bound page proofs may be used for books to be published after October 1, 2025, and before January 1, 2026. If a bound page proof is submitted, a bound copy of the book must be sent to each committee member postmarked no later than January 7, 2026. If a book carries a copyright date that is different from the publication date, but the actual publication date falls during the correct timeframe making it eligible, please include a letter of explanation from the publisher with each copy of the book sent to the committee members. While OAH strongly encourages authors to work with their publisher to coordinate submission for OAH prizes, OAH members are now able to self-nominate their works. Current OAH members who wish to self-nominate their book should write to OAH no later than three weeks before the deadline. They must include their name, the title of their work, and publisher information. Self-published works remain ineligible. Please visit the award's website for more information.