Edwin S. Hall, Jr. is an arctic northern anthropologist whose outstanding career has spanned several many decades. of research in Alaska.  His undergraduate and graduate studies were at Yale University.  Ed was a botany major when he first came to Alaska in 1959 as a 19 year old undergraduate, accompanying geologist Stephen C. Porter to the Brooks Range.  He discovered archaeology that field season while working with Jack Campbell at Anaktuvuk Pass.  That year was the beginningstart of more than 40 years of research covering reflecting the broad sweep of his intellect: socio-cultural  anthropology, folklore, archaeology, Native American art, subsistence, ornithology and wildlife studies..  Professor Hall's teaching career included positions in the Anthropology Department at Ohio State University and the College at Brockport, State University of New York where he served as department chair for many10 years.

Ed's publication record includes papers in peer-reviewed journals, contributions to edited volumes, books, numerous cultural resources investigation reports and papers presented at professional meetings.  His dissertation research examined the late prehistoric interior Brooks Range site of Kangiguksuk. , later published in Arctic Anthropology (1971).  He edited or co-edited several major works: The Interior Peoples of Northern Alaska, a Mercury Series publication of the National Museums of Canada (1976), the 1981 Utqiagvik Excavations reports of archaeological excavations at Barrow, Alaska (Dekin et al. 1990), and Archaeological Essays in Honor of Irving Rouse .(Dunnell and Hall 1979).  He also wrote anis award-winning volume of Eskimo folktales, The Eskimo Storyteller. , has been reprinted by University of Alaska Press (1998).  Ed was interested in Iñupiat adaptations to northern Alaska throughout his career and wrote the Interior North Alaska chapter for the "Arctic" volume of the Handbook of North American Indians, Arctic volume. (1984). 

Throughout his career, Ed Hall supported and encouraged students at all levels of their education to conduct research and present their findings to audiences of all kinds.  He personally supported many students' work through his own funds.  The Alaska Anthropological Association honored Ed in 1993 by presenting him with its Outstanding Service Award.  He is Nnow retired. from professional work, Ed copes with the challenges of multiple sclerosis . The student paper competition of the Alaska Anthropological Association is Edwin Hall's legacy to encourage students to write and present their findings in a professional setting, including annual meetings of the Alaska Anthropological Association.  

The Alaska Anthropological Association invites entries in its annual competition for outstanding student paper, with the winner announced at the annual meeting.  The prize is $1000.

Eligibility requires current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate academic program and current membership in the Association.  The prize is not necessarily awarded every year, depending on the number and quality of submissions.  The deadline is February 1.

Papers must address a question, topic or issue that pertains to the cultures and anthropology of the north. Theoretical and methodological approaches may derive from any subfield of anthropology, archaeology, or related disciplines (e.g. oral history, human genetics, paleoecology).

Papers should be clearly reasoned, creative, and well written with thorough citation of data and sources.  The maximum length is 45 pages, double-spaced.  Please use the style guide for the American Anthropological Association (http://www.aaanet.org/publications/style_guide.pdf). 

Papers entered in this competition must also be submitted for presentation at the Alaska Anthropological Association's annual meeting. Abstracts should be submitted separately to the meeting's organizers.

To submit your paper to the competition, please mail it to:  Alaska Anthropological Association
                                                                                              Student Paper Competition
                                                                                              P. O. Box 241686
                                                                                              Anchorage, AK  99524-1686

or email to alaskaanthro@gmail.com

Past Edwin S. Hall, Jr. Student Paper Competition Recipients

2011  Kelly Monteleone, “Lost Worlds: Locating submerged archaeological sites in Southeastern Alaska”
2010  Kyle Wark, "The Copper Age on the Northwest Coast: Early Indigenous Metalworking"
2008  Rita Eagle, "The Women of Verdant Cove"
2006  Melissa Workmon
2005  H. Cory Cooper