Theodore Roosevelt American History Award 2025
Every year, the RIAS has the privilege of organizing the Theodore Roosevelt American History Award (TRAHA), an accolade that recognizes the most outstanding MA thesis on an American history subject composed at a Dutch university during the past academic year. Initiated in 1987, the TRAHA has been a beacon of academic excellence, fostering the study of US culture and society, and serving as a launchpad for many promising academic careers.
This year, the TRAHA jury, consisting of Dario Fazzi (Chair, RIAS), Sarah Snyder (American University), Katy Hull (University of Amsterdam), Manar Ellethy (Utrecht University), and Stef Lage Venterink (2024 TRAHA winner), reviewed nine beautifully written and thoroughly researched theses. All the finalists deserve recognition for their original analyses and innovative contributions, which collectively broaden the scope of US history and American Studies. The range of approaches and the relevance of the topics reflect the vibrancy of these disciplines in the Netherlands, while showcasing our students’ ability to critically engage with North American sociopolitical and cultural developments.
The 2025 Theodore Roosevelt American History Award was awarded to Maud Rijks, for her thesis on Greenpeace’s toxic tours of the Great Lakes. Written in a manner that inspires the reader and conveys passion and commitment toward both the topic and the research at hand, Maud’s thesis led the jury to view it as akin to a popular trade book – one that both informs and encourages. Grounded on solid primary research and drawing on previously unexplored materials, Maud’s examination of Greenpeace’s battle against toxic pollution in the Great Lakes region, its involvement with local actors and dynamics, its struggles with industry, and its grassroots mobilization tactics highlights the potential of socio-ecological engagement and activism in the face of the overwhelming power of industrial conglomerates. In this respect, the thesis stands as both a cautionary tale and a message of hope for the future. Due to the current travel advisories, the TRAHA prize this year will unfortunately not include a trip to North Dakota. It will instead consist of a monetary prize of €1.250. Many thanks to our generous sponsors in the US—we hope to resume the TRAHA trip to Medora in the coming years.
As an exception, the jury decided to acknowledge two more theses that are equally worthy of an honorable mention. Kirsten Soer’s exploration of American women’s role in the US occupation of Okinawa stands as a beautiful example of how sub-disciplinary cross-fertilization among diplomatic, military, cultural, and gender history can generate fresh perspectives and interpretations. The jury was impressed by Kirsten’s writing style and by her ability to advance her argument in a consistent, convincing, and engaging way. Similarly, the jury found Davide Lamparelli’s thesis incredibly well-crafted, characterized by an in-depth engagement with primary sources that Davide used shrewdly to form a compelling argument. The jury also appreciated the meticulous historical reconstruction of the period, the critical analysis of pertinent historiography, and the innovative interpretation of America’s nineteenth-century newspapers as vectors of transnational solidarity. The jury wishes to congratulate both Kirsten and Davide on their achievements.
The complete 2025 Jury report can be found here!
