Kirk Underhill Prizes in British Studies

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The Center for British Studies invites nominations for the R. Kirk Underhill Prizes in British Studies.

R. Kirk Underhill Graduate Prize

This prize of $250 will be awarded for the best research paper on a British Studies topic by a UC Berkeley graduate student prior to advancing to candidacy.

R. Kirk Underhill Undergraduate Prize

This prize of $250 will be awarded for the best paper on a British Studies topic written by a UC Berkeley undergraduate in their senior year.

Nominations must be submitted by a UC Berkeley faculty member for student papers written during the previous calendar year. 

Deadline: March 1

Submit your nomination

The Robert Kirk Underhill Trust

R. Kirk Underhill (1906 - 1997) was an alumnus of UC Berkeley, graduating in 1928 with a B.S. in Economics. A lifelong devotee to British institutions and customs, he launched San Francisco's “London Weeks” and served as chairman emeritus of the English Speaking Union in San Francisco. He was also a Commander of the British Empire and a Knight in the Order of St. John, and served as a Major in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. The Robert Kirk clothing store, which he founded in San Francisco in 1939, reflected his dedication to British culture. In 2003, the Robert Kirk Underhill Trust established the Center for British Studies at UC Berkeley. The Center celebrates Underhill's legacy by supporting scholarly research and educational initiatives focused on British culture, society and history.