Sarah Rose

Taft Winner Named

Sarah F. Rose has won the 2018 Philip Taft Labor History Prize, sponsored by the ILR School, for the best book in labor and working-class history.

An associate professor of history and the director of the minor in disability studies at University of Texas at Arlington, Rose published “No Right to Be Idle: The Invention of Disability, 1840s-1930s” in 2017.

This marks the 40th year of the ILR sponsored competition, and tenth year of the joint selection committee, comprised of the following members:

Labor and Working-Class History Association

  • Matthew Basso, associate professor, University of Utah
  • Talitha LeFlouria, associate professor, University of Virginia
  • Maria Montoya, associate professor, New York University

ILR School

  • Ileen DeVault, professor, chair of Philip Taft Labor History Prize Committee
  • Louis Hyman, associate professor

The committee chose Rose for her blending of the new field of disability studies with that of labor history. “This book offers new and compelling insights in every chapter,” DeVault said.  

In the book, Rose makes arguments about the spectrum of productivity and references changes on the policy front regarding disability. “This pathbreaking book promises to be profoundly influential,” said DeVault.

The Philip Taft Labor History Prize pays homage to Taft for his contributions to the field of labor and working-class history. Rose received $2,000 and a plaque in honor of the labor historian and economist.

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