Bellesiles Bancroft prize revoked

More bad news for Michael Bellesiles, whose now-discredited Arming America won the Bancroft Prize for history in 2001:

In a statement released Friday, Columbia [University] said that the school's trustees had concluded "his book had not and does not meet the standards ... established for the Bancroft Prize." Columbia has asked Bellesiles to return the prize money, $4,000.

It was the first time in the 54-year history of the Bancroft award that Columbia has taken such actions. Phone and e-mail messages left by The Associated Press with Bellesiles were not immediately returned

Posted by David on December 13, 2002 6:38 PM