The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is honored to be the home of two distinguished prize programs that recognize and support great writers and writing:

Bollingen Prize

The Bollingen Prize for Poetry has, for more than fifty years, been a force in shaping contemporary American letters. The prize was established in 1948 by Paul Mellon and was named after Carl Jung’s home in Switzerland. The Bollingen Prize for Poetry is awarded every two years for the best volume of poetry published in those years or for a poet’s lifetime achievement in his or her art.

Windham-Campbell Prizes

The Windham-Campbell Prizes were established in 2013 by novelist and memoirist Donald Windham in memory of his partner of 40 years, Sandy M. Campbell, to call attention to literary achievement and provide writers working in English with the opportunity to focus on their work independent of financial concerns. Prizes are awarded each spring in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. Prizewinners receive their awards in person and participate in a multi-day literary festival in September showcasing their work and celebrating their accomplishments.