2020s
- 2021 Marsha Weisiger, University of Oregon
- 2020 David Johnson, Portland State University
2010s
- 2019 Andrew L. Johns, Brigham Young University
- 2018 Mary Elizabeth Berry, University of California, Berkeley
- 2017 Katherine Morrissey, University of Arizona
- 2016 George J. Sanchez, University of Southern California
- 2015 Anne F. Hyde, University of Oklahoma
- 2014 David Igler, University of California, Irvine
- 2013 Carl Abbott, Portland State University
- 2012 Kyle Longley, Arizona State University
- 2011 Janet Fireman, California History & Loyola Marymount University
- 2010 Barbara Molony, Santa Clara University
2000s
- 2009 Rachel Fuchs, Arizona State University
- 2008 David M. Wrobel, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- 2007 Linda Hall, University of New Mexico
- 2006 Albert Camarillo, Stanford University
- 2005 Elizabeth Jameson, University of Calgary
- 2004 Roger L. Nichols, University of Arizona
- 2003 Vicki L. Ruiz, University of California, Irvine
- 2002 Thomas G. Alexander, Brigham Young University
- 2001 Sandra C. Taylor, University of Utah
- 2000 Carlos A. Schwantes, University of Idaho
1990s
- 1999 Iris H. Wilson Engstrand, University of San Diego
- 1998 Albert L. Hurtado, University of Oklahoma
- 1997 Joan M. Jensen, New Mexico State University
- 1996 Martin Ridge, California Institute of Technology
- 1995 Norris Hundley, Jr., University of California, Los Angeles
- 1994 E. Bradford Burns, University of California, Los Angeles
- 1993 Lois W. Banner, University of Southern California
- 1992 David Brody, University of California, Davis
- 1991 C. Warren Hollister, University of California, Santa Barbara
- 1990 Robert Middlekauff, University of California, Berkeley
1980s
- 1989 Peter Stansky, Stanford University
- 1988 Kathryn Kish Sklar, University of California, Los Angeles
- 1987 Kwang-Ching Liu, University of California, Davis
- 1986 Edwin R. Bingham, University of Oregon
- 1985 Alexander DeConde, University of California, Santa Barbara
- 1984 Don E. Fehrenbacher, Stanford University
- 1983 Donald C. Cutter, University of New Mexico
- 1982 Leonard J. Arrington, Brigham Young University
- 1981 Rodman Paul, California Institute of Technology
- 1980 Robert I. Burns, SJ, University of California, Los Angeles
1970s
- 1979 Donald W. Treadgold, University of Washington
- 1978 Woodrow Borah, University of California, Berkeley
- 1977 Wilbur Jacobs, University of California, Santa Barbara
- 1976 Arthur Bestor, University of Washington
- 1975 Carl Degler, Stanford University
- 1974 Lynn White, Jr., University of California, Los Angeles
- 1973 John A. Schutz, University of Southern California
- 1972 Arthur J. Marder, University of California, Irvine
- 1971 Gordon Craig, Stanford University
- 1970 Earl Pomeroy, University of Oregon
1960s