Michigan State University History graduate student Jayson Otto wins Michigan Historical Review’s Graduate Student Essay Contest

Michigan State University History graduate student Jayson Otto recently won Michigan Historical Review’s Graduate Student Essay contest. Included with the award is $1,000, and his article will be published in the journal’s spring 2025 issue. 

Otto’s essay, “Better Flowers and Better Vegetables Easily Leads to the Subject of Better People: Back Down the Garden Paths with the Municipal Housekeepers of Grand Rapids, Michigan,” investigates the social and cultural influence of club women in Grand Rapids during the Progressive Era.