Funded by Patricia K. Ferguson – from 2001

Current Board Members

• Patricia K. Ferguson* - Executor
  CCA, Kansas City Kansas Community College 2008
• George W. Ferguson, Jr.* - Sponsor
  BA, University of Kansas 1974
  BS, University of Kansas 1983
• Eric Anderson* - Judge
  BA, University of Kansas 1990
  MA, University of Kansas 1997
  Doctoral Candidate, University of Kansas, Department of History
• Eugene Percy* - Judge
  Bachelor of Music, Washburn College 1950
  MS, Emporia College 1961
  EdD, University of Kansas 1973

* denotes lifelong resident of the State of Kansas

The Ferguson Award was created in 2000 to dovetail into the Lyons History Book Award which ended with the home going of Ruth Lyons. Patricia Ferguson served as President of the Kansas Authors Club from 2002 -2003 and hosted the convention in Emporia in 1998. She also served as vice-president of the 0rganization from 2000 - 2001. During this time she was executor of the Coffin Book Award.

The Coffin Book Award is open to fiction, non-fiction, history, poetry, etc. and Patricia thought it best to have an award exclusively for Kansas history since the conclusion of the Lyons series left this area open. The rules, therefore, for the FKHBA are the same as the original Lyons rules, with the one exception being the inclusion of church histories which were disallowed under the Lyons rules. Other than this, though, the rules for the award are the same and will remain so. The winners of the Lyons series and the FKHBA are archived in the Spencer Research Library at the University of Kansas.

Currently, the board is working on some special new incentives such as upping the purse for the 2010 contest. We are working with a well known Kansas printer to produce a further incentive consisting of a promotional package of custom printed advertising materials. Additionally, a new award sticker for the book cover is being designed. Our 10th anniversary is on the horizon and the excitement is growing for the Ferguson Kansas History Book Award.

—article written by George Ferguson

Please print, fill in, and mail the attached Ferguson Kansas History Book Award form (PDF) with your entry. A PDF viewer is available for free download online from Adobe.

Rules for Competition:

1. The contest is open to any Kansas resident (KAC members and non-members).
2. Subject: Kansas History. This may be a history of the state, a county, a city, church, school, institution, an industry, a way of life or any FACTUAL account of any phase of Kansas history. NO FICTION. NOT A GENEALOGY.
3. The entry must have been published within the two years prior to June 1 of the current year. The book may be either privately or commercially published.
4. The book must be the original work of the entrant, minimum of 5,000 words, and must make a significant contribution to Kansas history.
5. No entry fee is required.
6. The winner will receive $100.00.
7. Two copies of the winning book are to be donated: 1) a copy for the Patricia K. Ferguson library collection; and 2) a copy for the KAC Library at Spencer Research Library at KU in Lawrence.
8. The award will be presented to the winner at the 2009 Annual Convention and Writers Conference in Topeka at the evening banquet on Saturday, October 17, 2009.
9. If the winner is unable to attend, the award will be mailed.
10. Mail one copy of your book by July 1, 2009 to:
    Ferguson Kansas History Book Competition
    PO Box 679
    DeSoto, KS 66018
    913-375-1162
11. Postage for the return of the book after the judging must accompany the entry.
12. If it is the decision of the judge that none of the entries make a significant contribution to Kansas history, no prize will be awarded.

Current rules published 12/17/2009

Kansas Authors Club--A Not-for-profit organization for creative, academic, technical and journalistic writers. Membership inquiries welcomed