2018 CDA Book Award Winners
The recipients are:
The CDA Book Awards Committee led by Chair, Past President General Audrey Svensson has named the winners:
AWARD
Title:
OF ARMS AND ARTISTS: The American Revolution through Painters’Eyes
Author:
Paul Saiti
About
The founding of the United States was not only shaped by ideas and battles, but also by images—powerful works of art that captured a revolution in motion. This vivid account follows five influential artists of the era—Charles Willson Peale, John Singleton Copley, John Trumbull, Benjamin West, and Gilbert Stuart—whose portraits and historical paintings defined how Americans would remember their beginnings. These men lived through the chaos of revolution, interacted with the Founders, and translated upheaval into enduring visual icons. Their art offered both inspiration and critique, giving lasting form to a fledgling nation’s ideals, struggles, and identity.
CITATION
Title:
THE DOOLEYS OF RICHMOND: An Irish Immigrant Family in the Old and New South
Author:
Mary Lynn Bayliss
About
The Dooleys of Richmond tells the remarkable story of an Irish Catholic family whose wealth, influence, and philanthropy left a lasting mark on the South. Arriving in Virginia with education and capital, John and Sarah Dooley defied immigrant stereotypes, building a major hat business and becoming civic leaders. Their story spans antebellum prosperity, Civil War devastation, and Gilded Age revival, with son James emerging as a powerful lawyer, railroad magnate, and philanthropist. From battlefield service to the creation of Maymont estate, the Dooleys’ legacy reflects the triumphs and trials of a changing South shaped by ambition, resilience, and generosity.
YOUNG READER
Title:
The H. L. Hunley Submarine
History and Mystery from the Civil War
Author:
Fran Hawk
Illustrator:
Monica Wyrick
About
The H. L. Hunley was a marvel of Civil War innovation—the first submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat. Built by the Confederacy, it vanished after its historic mission, sparking a century-long mystery. This gripping account traces the Hunley’s invention, its daring wartime use, and the trials it faced without a motor or modern technology. Rediscovered over 100 years later, the submarine captivated archaeologists and historians, who unearthed remarkable findings and lingering questions. The story of the Hunley is one of courage, persistence, and curiosity—a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the enduring intrigue of the past.