The Oral History Association (OHA) awarded the 2025 OHA Book Award to Jason Higgins, digital scholarship coordinator for Virginia Tech Publishing and assistant professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, for his book, “Prisoners After War: Veterans in the Age of Mass Incarceration.”

The national award recognizes books that make outstanding scholarly contributions through the use of oral history. OHA evaluated submissions based on their contribution to historical inquiry, contribution to the practice of oral history, adherence to sound methodology in the conduct of interviews, and the skillfulness and originality of presentation.

Higgins’ book, published by the University of Massachusetts Press, explores the experiences of U.S. military veterans who became entangled in the criminal justice system, drawing on firsthand accounts to examine the intersection of military service, trauma, and mass incarceration.

“I have been a member of the Oral History Association since 2016 and consider it my home academic organization. Being honored by a community of my peers not only validates my scholarship, but, more importantly, this award recognizes the inherent value of documenting the experiences of survivors of war and mass incarceration.”

The OHA Book Award, established in 1993, celebrates works that combine historical insight with innovative use of oral testimony. Winners receive a plaque, a one-year membership in OHA, and complimentary registration to the association’s annual meeting. The OHA will present the award during its 2025 Annual Meeting, a gathering of leading scholars, educators, and practitioners in the field of oral history.

 

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