DeLaughter Wins Inaugural Dormon Prize in American History

Congratulations to Charles DeLaughter for winning the inaugural James H. Dormon Prize in American History! DeLaughter completed his B.A. in History in May 2025.

The Dormon Prize is awarded on the basis of academic merit to students with either sophomore, junior or senior standing majoring in History, with a preference given to a student who demonstrates interest in U.S. History. This scholarship was established in memory of James Hunter Dormon, Ph.D., emeritus professor of History and American Studies in our department. A celebrated historian, Dr. Dormon earned his master’s and Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dormon developed and directed the Graduate Program in American Studies at UL Lafayette and held the title "University Distinguished Professor" from 1973 until his retirement. He pursued post-doctoral work as an NEH Fellow in Residence in Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and in 1980-81, as a Fulbright Professor, he taught American Studies at Warwick University (UK). From 1989 to 1994, he chaired the History Department at UL Lafayette.

The first publication to establish Dormon's scholarly credentials, Theater in the Antebellum South, was followed by a variety of books focused on African Americans, Cajuns, and Creoles of Color, some thirty-five articles on American ethnic and cultural history, and numerous professional papers. He was most proud of his LEH-funded and Louisiana State Department-sponsored teacher-training institutes designed to address and remediate racial and ethnic bias. Dr. Dormon was revered as a keen academic and personal councilor to his students and colleagues.