The Circus Historical Society (CHS) has announced the recipient of the 2026 Stuart Thayer Prize, recognizing outstanding scholarship in circus history. This year’s award was presented to Betsy Golden Kellem for her acclaimed book, Jumping Through Hoops: Performing Gender in the Nineteenth-Century Circus.
Named in honor of circus historian Stuart Thayer, whose pioneering research helped shape the study of early American circus history, the annual Thayer Prize celebrates exceptional non-fiction works that deepen our understanding of the circus arts and their cultural significance.
Kellem, who describes herself as a “scholar of the unusual,” is a two-time New England Regional Emmy Award winner and a former trustee of both the Circus Historical Society and the Barnum Museum Foundation. Her award-winning book explores how gender was performed and perceived within the nineteenth-century circus, offering a fresh perspective on the history of the art form.
Competition for the 2026 prize was particularly strong, with thirteen works nominated by Circus Historical Society members. The Society congratulated all finalists for their contributions to preserving and expanding circus history through rigorous scholarship.
The Circus Historical Society has also opened nominations for the 2027 Stuart Thayer Prize.Nominations are open exclusively to Circus Historical Society members, who may nominate one or more eligible works, including their own publications. Works must be non-fiction and published during 2025 or 2026 to qualify for the 2027 award.
The nomination deadline is March 31, 2027, with online submissions due by midnight Pacific Time. Mail-in nominations must also be received by that date.
Authors, researchers, and historians interested in participating can find eligibility requirements and nomination information through the Circus Historical Society’s members-only resources. Those who are not yet members are invited to join the Society, with annual membership including a subscription to its quarterly journal, Bandwagon.
For decades, the Stuart Thayer Prize has highlighted the importance of preserving circus history through careful research and documentation. As new scholarship continues to broaden our understanding of circus culture, the award remains one of the field’s most respected recognitions for excellence in historical writing.
Main Image: Betsy Golden Kellem. Courtesy of CHS.