---
title: "Sidney Edelstein Prize"
chunk: 1/1
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Edelstein_Prize"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:11:07.256648+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

The Sidney Edelstein Prize, previously known as the Dexter Prize, is an award presented by the Society for the History of Technology (SHOT) to the author of an outstanding scholarly book in the field of the history of technology. The book must have been published during the preceding three years.
The award was established in 1968 through the generosity of Sidney Edelstein, a historian of dyes and the founder of the Dexter Chemical Corporation. It was renamed the Sidney Edelstein Prize to honor his commitment to scholarship in the history of technology and is currently donated by his family. The prize consists of a plaque and a monetary award, which is currently $3,500.


== History and design ==
The award was originally known as the Dexter Prize and was funded by the Dexter Chemical Corporation of New York City. When established, the prize carried a cash award of $1,000. It is awarded annually to outstanding books and monographs in the history of technology.
The design of the award plaque was created by the silver sculptor Edward Widstrom. The imagery on the plaque is derived from the Plictho of Gioanventura Rosetti (1548), which is considered the first basic printed book on the subject of dyeing. Sidney Edelstein, a noted expert on the history of dye processes, had co-translated and edited an English edition of the Plictho published by MIT Press in 1969.


== Recipients ==
Notable recipients of the prize include:


== References ==


== Sources ==
Lewis, W. David (Spring 1989). "A History of Technology: A Young and Vibrant Discipline". OAH Magazine of History. 4 (2). Oxford University Press: 10–15. JSTOR 25162653.{{cite journal}}:  CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
"The Dexter Prize". Technology and Culture. 21 (3). The Johns Hopkins University Press: 436–437. July 1980. JSTOR 3103158.
"Sidney Edelstein Prize". Society for the History of Technology. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
Awards, Honors, and Prizes. Gale Research Company. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4144-3893-1. Retrieved 27 December 2025.