University of Virginia Library

American History Association
Gives Abernethy Merit Award

An award of merit "for writing
state history with insight and
distinction, furnishing a model
for scholarly writing of localized
history" has been presented to
Thomas Perkins Abernethy, Richmond
alumni professor of history
emeritus at the University.

Mr. Abernethy, retired since
1961, was selected for the award
at the annual fall meeting of the
American Association for State
and Local History in Toronto,
Canada. He is the author of
several books, four of which are
in the permanent library at the
White House.

As a specialist in state history,
he has written extensively about
Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia.
Among his works are "The
Formative Period in Alabama,"
"From Frontier to Plantation in
Tennessee," "Western Lands and
the American Revolution,"
"Three Virginia Frontiers," "Historical
Sketch of the University
of Virginia," "The Burr Conspiracy,"
and "The South in the
New Nation," which constitutes
volume 4 of a ten-volume series
entitled "A History of the
South."

He has contributed to the Dictionary
of American Biography,
the Encyclopedia Britannica, and
several historical journals.

Mr. Abernethy's new book,
"Southern Frontiers of the War
of 1812," co-authored with his
wife, Ida Robertson Abernethy, is
now in press. It covers the maritime
frontier, the Creek Indian
war, and the attempt to take
Florida from the Spaniards.

Mr. Abernethy has lived in
Charlottesville since 1930 and
until 1961 resided in Pavilion V
on West Lawn.