W. L. Morton (1908-1980) was one of the most important historians of his generation in Canada. He was a member of the University of Manitoba History department from 1939 to 1966, serving as Chair of the department from 1950 to 1964.
The medal and prize shall be awarded annually to the student who in fulfilling and completing the requirements for a Master of Arts degree in history of the University of Manitoba has, in the opinion of the selection committee, done outstanding work. Past winners are:
| 2011 | Margaret Anne Lindsay |
| 2010 | Alicia Rekrut |
| 2009 | Paul Burrows |
| 2008 | Nathan Hoepner |
| 2007 | Tyler Shipley |
| 2006 | Scott Rutherford |
| 2005 | Not awarded |
| 2004 | Norma Hall |
| 2003 | Sari Fields |
| 2002 | Matthew Neufeld |
| 2001 | Andrea Paci |
| 2000 | Roberta Woods |
| 1999 | Christopher Dooley |
| 1998 | Gavin Fridell |
| 1997 | Kelly Reimer |
| 1996 | Hans Werner |
| 1995 | Colin Green |
| 1994 | Wade Derkson |
| 1993 | Jason Yaremko |
| 1992 | Jim Daschuk |
| 1991 | Susan Bellay |
| 1990 | Graeme Voyer |
| 1989 | Richard Enns |
| 1988 | Barbara Angel |
| 1987 | Ronald Harpelle |
| 1986 | Marie Bouchard |
| 1985 | Ronald N. Finch |
| 1984 | James Mochoruk |
| 1983 | David E. Hall |
| 1982 | Donald J. Naylor |
| 1981 | Patricia Jasen |
| 1980 | Kenneth Stephen Coates |
| 1979 | Orest Martynowych |
| 1978 | Donald Merwin Loveridge |
| 1977 | Elliott Dale Dlin |
| 1976 | Florence Mary Berry |
| 1975 | Not awarded |
| 1974 | Not awarded |
| 1973 | Thomas M. Prymak |
| 1972 | Alvin Finkel and Selwyn M. McSween |
| 1971 | Not awarded |
| 1970 | A. Brian McKillop |
| 1969 | John H. Thompson |
| 1968 | Melfort Swidinsky |
| 1967 | Robert A.J. McDonald |