2010 CLHO Awards of Merit Winners

Each year the CLHO presents Awards of Merit in recognition of outstanding institutional and individual contributions, in keeping with current professional standards, that enhance and further the knowledge and understanding of Connecticut history. The purpose of the Awards of Merit is to recognize the care, thought and effort invested in these contributions and to inspire and encourage others by acknowledging exceptional contributions to state and local history.

In February and March of this year, a committee of museum professionals gathered to review applications submitted by their peers.  These applications represented some of the most professional and dedicated work that is happening at our historic sites across the state. 

Commission on Culture and Tourism – Publication: To All on Equal Terms:  The Life and Legacy of Prudence Crandall
The Commission on Culture and Tourism received an award for their film To All on Equal Terms which explores the life of Connecticut’s heroine and her lasting impact.  Superbly filmed and researched, the film brings Crandall’s story to life.  It illustrates an excellent use of film media in telling an important part of Connecticut and our nation’s history.

Danbury Railway Museum—Project: Baggage/Railway Post Office Railroad Car
The Danbury Railway Museum received this award for the restoration of their 1910 Railroad Baggage and Post Office Car.  In addition to a full and painstaking restoration, the museum also implemented a series of public events that included the Danbury Railway Day in 2008.  The review committee felt that it exemplified an impressive volunteer effort, nice outreach and exposure with programs, and impressive work for a relatively recently founded organization.

Keeler Tavern Museum—Publication: A View From the Inn: Ridgefield During the Civil War
A View from the Inn was produced by the Keeler Tavern Museum as a Web-based multimedia presentation that also involved well-crafted teacher guides.  It is an outstanding example of how historic sites can utilize new media to bring their stories to a broad public.  The project shares a story that holds both local and national significance and its superior production quality is even more impressive given its low budget. 

Marian K. O’Keefe—Individual Achievement Award
For over 50 years Marian O’Keefe has researched, written, surveyed, photographed, published and advocated for history and historic preservation in Derby, Norwich, Shelton, Seymour, Bridgeport and across the state in order to educate herself and the public about Connecticut’s fascinating and sometimes obscure past.  Her body of work is as diverse as the communities she has studied and includes updating the Works Progress Administration Survey of old houses in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, co-authoring the book, Norwich Historic Homes and Families, lecturing on historic preservation, local history and genealogy, and sitting on the board for the Seymour Historical Society.  Ms. O’Keefe is a model advocate and scholar for our field.  She has dedicated much of her life towards promoting and furthering a knowledge and appreciation of Connecticut History.

Mary J. Mycek, Marion O’Keefe, Carolyn Ivanoff—Publication: Ebenezer D. Bassett, 1833–1908
The book Ebenezer D. Bassett is the biography of the first African-American in the history of the United States chosen to serve as a diplomat.  Through extensive research and accompanying illustrations, Mycek, O’Keefe, and Ivanoff wonderfully document the important role Bassett plays in American history.  Their book and the supplemental educational materials are strong examples of how a local story can be used to help tell our nation’s history, document our diverse (and often overlooked) heritage, and make meaningful connections to the local schools.

Middlesex County Historical Society—Project: Hard & Stirring Times: Middletown and the Civil War
The Middlesex County Historical Society received an award for its exhibit and Web-site, entitled Hard and Stirring Times.  A timely topic as we approach the Civil War’s anniversary, the project team performed a superb job making this national story relevant to the local community.  The exhibit and Web-site tapped into the Historical Society’s extensive Civil war collection and used it as a way to reach the community and build life within the organization.  

Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society – Project: Tomorrow’s Museum
The Noah Webster House received an award for its Tomorrow’s Museum Capital Campaign Projects that transformed the way the museum presents Webster’s story and West Hartford’s past.  The ambitious project involved renovating the museum’s Visitor Reception Center (including an orientation film and permanent exhibit), restoring Webster’s 1750s birthplace, installing the family-friendly Discovery Learning Space, and a series of 250th birthday events.  These activities exemplify professionalism and show how a museum can reinvent the way it connects with its community.

Sherman Historical Society—Project: The Roger Sherman Cobbler Shop
The restoration of the Roger Sherman Cobbler Shop by the Sherman Historical Society represents a significant undertaking by an all-volunteer organization.  It illustrates the important role Connecticut’s historic organizations play in preserving and sharing our local and national heritage.   The project and related programs were inclusive, reached a town-wide audience, and helped to place the organization on solid strategic footing for the future.

Slater Memorial Museum—Project: Around the World on the Yacht Eleanor: The Slaters’ Grand Tour
The Slater Memorial Museum received their award for the permanent exhibit The Yacht Eleanor: The Slaters’ Grand Tour.  The exhibit helped to reshape how the museum shares the Slater family’s history and better meets the needs of its primary audience, Norwich Free Academy students.  It represents how a museum can better address its audience’s needs through its collection, an amazing range of topics, and exhibit themes.

In additional to the Award of Merit recipients, three other organizations received an Honorable Mention.  These include:
Commission on Culture and Tourism – Project: Living Modern in New Canaan
Mansfield Historical Society—Publication: Wormwood Hill, Its Settlement and Growth, Including Mount Hope and Atwoodville
Rowayton Historical Society—Publication: Historic Rowayton

Do you know of an outstanding program, project or person who should be acknowledged with an Award of Merit in 2011?  Please see the information below….

2011 Awards of Merit
The Connecticut League of History Organizations presents Awards of Merit to institutions and individuals who exhibit the highest of professional standards, and who enhance and further the knowledge and understanding of Connecticut history. The purpose of the Awards of Merit is to recognize the care, thought and effort invested in these contributions and to inspire and encourage others by acknowledging exceptional contributions to state and local history. Currently, the League presents Awards of Merit in four categories:

1. Project: exhibition, restoration, preservation, special research, web site, etc.
2. Publication: book, exhibition catalog, video, DVD, newsletter, pamphlet, etc.
3. Educational Program: for schools, children, adults, groups with special needs, lecture series, demonstrations, Power Point presentation, etc.
4. Individual Achievement: an individual’s long-term efforts towards promoting and furthering a knowledge and appreciation of Connecticut History

History organizations are encouraged to nominate their own work, as well as outstanding contributions by neighboring organizations. Individuals may nominate their own work, with the exception of the Individual Comprehensive Work award. Only works completed in the preceding 18 months are eligible for nomination.

Nominated works must be historically accurate, properly documented, easily used and understood and have specific goals. Nominated books should contain accurate citations, an index and a bibliography or list of works cited. Project nominations must contain photographic or video documentation of the final installation. All nominations must include an accurate budget, showing sources of funding, and expenses incurred. Nominations must be postmarked by January 15, 2011. You can submit any project completed within the 18 months leading up to the deadline (e.g. projects completed between July 15, 2009 - January 15, 2011). Awards will be announced at the CLHO Annual Conference in June 2011. For more information contact: Sandy Elgee, CLHO, (203) 624-9186, or e-mail.