The award in named for Henry A. Wallace (1888-1965), a prolific statesman who held many high ranking positions during his career. He followed in the fThe award in named for Henry A. Wallace (1888-1965), a prolific statesman who held many high ranking positions during his career. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Henry Cantwell Wallace, serving as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1933 to 1940. He was also 33rd Vice President of the United States under Franklin Delano Roosevelt from 1941 to 1945. After he was vice president, Wallace was United States Secretary of Commerce, editor of the New Republic, and the Progressive Party candidate in the 1948 Presidential election. The agricultural history Society has offered this award annually since 2010. The Wallace Prize is awarded to the best book on agricultural history outside of the United States.