Offered by the Forest History Society, the Walter S. Rosenberry Fellowship provides a $15,000 stipend to support the doctoral research of a graduate student attending a university in North America and whose research contributes to forest and conservation history.

Thomas received the award to complete his "Controlling Christmas: An Environmental History of Natural and Artificial Trees." His dissertation seeks to use these trees to better understand debates about conservation and forestry management from the late nineteenth century to today.

Walter S. Rosenberry (1931-2005), a long-time supporter and Forest History Society Board member, provided the Society’s first endowment in support of its awards program. Rosenberry received a B.A. degree in History from Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude in 1953. He taught English and history at the Kent Denver School from 1959 to 1981. In addition to his career in teaching, Rosenberry was known widely for his community service and philanthropy.