On December 28, 1961, the Academy of American Franciscan History presented the Serra Award of the Americas to Marcel Bataillon, Administrateur of the Collège de France, at a ceremony in the Academy building witnessed by about thirty-five guests, most of whom were Latin American historians. The occasion was dedicated to honoring one of the legendary figures in Latin American historical scholarship and Dr. Arturo Morales Carrion, formerly of the University of Puerto Rico and now Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, spoke briefly on behalf of historians in the field. Americo Castro, Professor Emeritus of Princeton University, spoke brilliantly of Bataillon, the humanist. In his reply, Professor Bataillon discussed with wit and great understanding a topic of special interest to him: the chroniclers of and the actors in the Pizarro Civil Wars.