The F. David Hoeniger Book Collection Prize

If you...

• are registered at Victoria College
• like books
• have a particular interest, academic or otherwise, that has led you to acquire a number of books relevant to it

Then you...

• may be a candidate to win the F. David Hoeniger Book Collection Prize
• value: up to $500
• your "collection" need neither be large nor include any rare or expensive items

Deadline for Submissions: April 28, 2024 (5 p.m.). Late applications will not be accepted.

Previous Winners

• 2023: Belarusian History, Viktar Yakauleu
• 2022: Beat Literature Collection, Rion Levy
• 2021: The Magic and Beauty of Endpapers: A Collection, Iona Whatford 
• 2021: Stories of the 442nd and the Battle of Discrimination Against Japanese Americans, Reva Mai
• 2020: “Instruction in the Traditional Ways of Karate", Nicole Frazer (unfortunately not exhibited due to pandemic-related library closure) 
• 2019: Save the Books, Aliki Bitsakakis
• 2018: Jane Austen Book Collection, Fatma Shahin
• 2017: A Reading List for the Displaced, Anna Bianca Roach
• 2016: Fashion History, Laura Helene Harris
• 2015: Illustrated Classics of Children's Literature, Andreea Marin 
• 2014: Twentieth-Century European History Book Collection, Matthew Korda 
• 2012: Ancient Philosophy Book Collection, Patricia Sacawa 
• 2011: Canadian Poetry’s Coming of Age: 1965–1990, Andrew McEwan 
• 2010: Homosexualities at the Crossroads: A Latin American View on the Homosexual Experience, David Fernández 

Rules and Advice to Candidates

1. Eligibility

Any student registered at Victoria College at the time of the competition may enter. Entrants may submit only one "collection" in a given year. A prize-winning collection may not be submitted in a subsequent competition, regardless of any particular changes in its constitution; a previous prize-winner may, however, submit a collection centred on a different interest.

2. Definition of a “Collection”

For the purposes of the Prize, a collection consists of at least 20 items (normally a majority of them hardbound books) that a student has come to possess as a consequence of developing a particular interest, which may be academic or not. A few printed items that are not books may be included in the collection when they suit the interest (e.g., a collection centred on the work of a dramatist might include a playbill associated with an important performance of one of the plays; or a collection centred on bird-watching might include an Audubon plate). Emphatically, however, a collection need not include costly or rare items, to the extent that it may include a proportion of paperbacks. Candidates are, however, expected to show some knowledge and appreciation of items in their collections not only for their contents but as books.

3. What Must Candidates Submit?

• An ordered List (alphabetical, chronological, or appropriately otherwise) of the items comprising the "collection". This list or bibliography should provide basic information about each item, including for books: Author, Title, Date of the work's original publication (if different from the date of the actual item), and the Place of publication, Publisher, and Date of publication of the item actually in the collection. Any items that are not books should be included in this list and briefly described.
• An Indication (as by asterisks on the List) of approximately ten items in the collection that the candidate regards as most representative, important, and interesting. The reasons for their selection will be generally apparent, but candidates should add brief annotations of these items to their List entries.
• A Statement (500-1,000 words) explaining the collection. Generally, what interest or motive accounts for it and gives it coherence? What is the personal history of your collection? More specifically, is there any particular item in it that you are especially glad to possess? Why? Is there a particular "gap" in your collection that you would especially like to fill? Why?
• The candidate's name, student number, current & summer addresses, email address, and phone number(s) should be provided on the first page of the submission.

4. Submissions

Will be judged by a committee annually appointed for the purpose. This committee may invite promising candidates to an interview. The winner of the Prize will be expected to participate fully in arranging an exhibition in the Pratt Library of items from her or his collection.

How to Apply

To apply, submit an online application using the Online Special Award and Essay Prize Application.

Questions?

Please direct inquires to vic [dot] awards [at] utoronto [dot] ca. Please include your full name and student number.