[1][2][3] It is named in honor of Merle Curti (1897–1996).
A committee of 5 members of the Organization of American Historians chooses the winners from published monographs submitted by the author(s).
Committee members represent the entire spectrum of American history and serve a one-year term.
Beginning with the awards of 2004, the Committee may select 1 book "winner" in American intellectual history, 1 book "winner" in American social history, and may list other "finalists" in each field.
"Winners" split a $1000 cash award.