Two Indiana University Bloomington scholars were recognized with national honors by the Organization of American Historians, the largest professional society dedicated to United States history, during its annual conference in Chicago.

Cara Caddoo. Photo by Eric Rudd, Indiana UniversityCara Caddoo, associate professor in the Department of History and The Media School within the College of Arts and Sciences, was selected for the prestigious 2025 Organization of American Historians-Japanese Association for American Studies Japan Residency Program.

As part of the program, Caddoo will travel to Japan for a two-week residency. She will deliver lectures and seminars in English, engage with Japanese scholars and students, and participate in the academic life of the host institution. The program is designed to foster international scholarly exchange and strengthen networks between historians in the U.S. and Japan. It is funded in part by a grant from the Japan-United States Friendship Commission.

Johnny D. Fulfer, a Ph.D. student studying history at IU, was awarded the 2025 Louis Pelzer Memorial Award, which recognizes the best essay by a graduate student on any topic in U.S. history. Fulfer’s winning essay will be published in the Journal of American History, the Organization of American Historians’ flagship publication. The award commemorates the legacy of Louis Pelzer, who was the organization’s president from 1935 to 1936.

Johnny D. Fulfer, left, with former Organization of American Historians President David Blight. Photo by Howell Productions“The work of these historians inspires us, challenges us and deepens our understanding of the past,” said Beth English, executive director of the organization and adjunct associate professor at IU. “These honors underscore Indiana University’s strong presence in the field of American history and the important scholarly contributions of its faculty and students. It’s a joy to honor this year’s awardees.”

Each year, the Organization of American Historians recognizes excellence in historical scholarship, teaching and service to the profession with more than 30 awards, prizes and travel grants. Deadlines for the 2026 awards range from May to December 2025.

Founded in 1907, the Organization of American Historians is an international nonprofit organization housed in the IU University College of Arts and Sciences. It represents historians who are college and university professors, pre-collegiate teachers, archivists, museum curators, public historians, students, and professional historians working in a variety of institutional settings including national parks and historical societies.