In 1966, Washington State University graduate student Dorys Crow Grover joined the fledgling Western Literature Association and started attending its conferences. From her books on WLA’s first Distinguished Achievement Award recipient, Vardis Fisher, to her work on Hemingway and Graves, Professor Grover helped to develop the field of western American literary studies. After teaching for over two decades at East Texas State University, Professor Grover retired in 1993, splitting her time between Texas and Pendleton, Oregon, where she grew up.

One of her doctoral students, Joyce Kinkead, Professor of English at Utah State University, has created the Dorys Crow Grover Awards in recognition of her mentor’s dedication to both western American literature and to graduate students. Now in its 8th year, the Dorys Crow Grover Awards, in the amount of $200 cash plus a WLA membership, will be given to two graduate students whose submissions contribute to our critical understandings of region, place, and space in western American literatures.

Creative work is not considered for the Dorys Crow Grover Awards.

2021 NOTICE: As we are not hosting a conference in 2021, this will be a paper competition that is open to ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS. You do not have to be a WLA member to submit to this award, but you must be an enrolled student in October 2021. (A free membership is part of the award.)

Please submit an essay (not exceeding 15 pages) with a cover letter indicating that you wish to be considered for the Dorys Crow Grover Award. 

Email your submission to Nic Witschi, chair of the Dorys Crow Grover Judging Committee, with the subject line “GROVER AWARD SUBMISSION.”

Deadline for submission: June 15, 2021.

The award consists of a $200 cash prize plus a WLA membership.

The award ceremony will be during the last of this year’s four virtual engagement events in the fall of 2021. Date and time to be announced.

You may submit the same paper for the Taylor Award, if you wish. The awards will be announced at the last of this year’s Virtual Engagement Events in the fall. The winners are expected to send a letter with the winning essay to Dorys Crow Grover AFTER the award ceremony.