William Foote Whyte, the Cornell sociologist who authored an early examination on street gangs culture, has received a newly established award from the American Sociological Association (ASA) for his "significant contribution to the practice of sociology."

The award is a double honor for the Cornell professor emeritus, as it will bear his name and be known as the William Foote Whyte Award. Whyte was honored at a meeting of the ASA in New York City last month. The award was presented by the Sociological Practice Section of the ASA.

Whyte, 82, a professor emeritus in the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations, is the author of numerous works, but he is best known for his book Street Corner Society, which was first published in 1943. Dismissed then as "another good slum study," the book was being hailed as a "sociologic classic" by the 1960s, as respect for Whyte's research methodology -- field work -- grew. The book has been translated into Spanish, Italian, French, German, Chinese and Japanese.

His autobiography, Participant Observer, was published in 1994 by ILR Press.

Whyte taught at Cornell from 1948 to 1980.