Norristown Area High School Social Studies teacher Mr. Michael C. Harris was awarded the 2026 Society of the Cincinnati Prize from the American Revolution Institute for his book, Fighting for Philadelphia: Forts Mercer and Mifflin, the Battle of Whitemarsh, and the Road to Valley Forge, October 5–December 19, 1777, published in 2025 by Savas Beatie.
According to the American Revolution Institute, “The Society of the Cincinnati Prize recognizes the author of an outstanding book that advances understanding of the American Revolution and its legacy. Established in 1989 as a triennial award, the prize is now presented annually. Honorees have included leading historians as well as rising scholars in the field. The prize was created with a generous endowment gift from the family of Dr. H. Bartholomew Cox.”
Mr. Harris’s book examines a series of military engagements following the Battle of Germantown in 1777, including the fighting at Forts Mercer and Mifflin, the Battle of Whitemarsh, and the events leading to George Washington’s Continental Army arriving at Valley Forge. The book continues Mr. Harris’s exploration of the Philadelphia campaign during the American Revolution, a subject he has studied and written about throughout his career as a historian.
Mr. Harris said he was surprised to learn he had received the prize. With several books behind him, he feels his latest work reflects his growth as a writer and researcher, including a better understanding of the writing process and the experience he has gained through previous publications.
Receiving the award was especially meaningful because of the recognition it represents within the community of historians who study the American Revolution. Mr. Harris traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive the prize and plaque. The experience gave him an opportunity to reflect on the significance of the accomplishment.
From Public Historian to Educator
Mr. Harris began working in the Norristown Area School District (NASD) in 2011. He brings years of experience in historical research and public education to his work with students. Before becoming a teacher, he worked as a government historian with the National Park Service and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. He also served as a museum educator at Brandywine Battlefield, where he helped visitors connect with the people, places, and events that shaped American history.
In 2009, Mr. Harris began exploring a new career path. Although he already held a master’s degree in history, he returned to school to complete the coursework needed for his teaching certification. He began substitute teaching at the high school level before securing a long-term substitute position that helped him earn his initial teaching certification.
Today, Mr. Harris brings both his classroom experience and his background in historical research to his teaching. His work as a historian has given him opportunities to publish books, lead tours, and speak at historical sites and events. Those experiences have also helped him understand how to make history accessible to different audiences.
Mr. Harris encourages students to think critically about historical sources, including how to distinguish primary sources from secondary sources and how to question and analyze the information they encounter. Those same skills are essential to his own research, where building an accurate understanding of the past requires examining evidence and considering different perspectives.
The Research Behind the Story
Writing about the American Revolution requires patience and persistence. Mr. Harris explained that one of the most challenging parts of his work is locating and interpreting primary sources, many of which are held in archives around the world.
Records related to the Revolution can be found in British archives and private collections in England and Scotland, as well as in German and French collections. Some documents require translation, and researchers must also work through historical handwriting that can be difficult to decipher. For Mr. Harris, piecing together these records is an essential part of developing a fuller understanding of the events he studies.
His dedication to historical research reflects the same curiosity and attention to evidence he encourages in his students. Although his published research focuses on a different historical period from the material he teaches in his high school courses, the habits of careful reading, questioning, and analysis connect both parts of his work.
NASD congratulates Mr. Michael C. Harris on receiving the 2026 Society of the Cincinnati Prize and celebrates this significant achievement in his work as a historian and author!