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SHSND Home > History Award Nomination Forms > Excellence in Local History Award

Excellence in Local History Award

The Excellence in Local History award recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations who have dedicated their time, talent, and efforts to local and regional history that can serve as a role model of excellence. The award honors those associated specifically with local, county, and regional historical organizations within North Dakota.

Eligibility:
Eligible nominees may be individuals, groups, or organizations that have made a significant contribution in preserving, interpreting, researching, publishing, promoting or otherwise extending knowledge and understanding of the history of their locality, county, or region. Their efforts demonstrate evidence of long-term dedication and personal commitment to advancing the understanding of local history.

Nominations will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • Programs and Activities
    Examples of eligible programs and activities include, but not are not limited to: educational and interpretive programs; special events; festivals; reenactments; exhibits; historic preservation projects; tours (walking, auto, bicycling); publications; development and implementation of new technology (websites, social media, documentaries); genealogical and archival work; oral history projects; and workshops, seminars and public presentations
  • Scope of work including research, documentation, conservation, preservation, methodology, and creative and innovative techniques
  • Using historical records to reach new audiences
  • Promoting primary and secondary source materials to researchers and schools, including the National History Day in North Dakota program
  • Overall impact of activities to identify, preserve, interpret, and promote the history of North Dakota

How to Apply:
Nomination packets should include some or all of the following supporting documentation:

  • Nomination Contact Form (pdf)
  • A biography (for individuals) or organizational history (for groups and organizations) and brief description of significant contributions of the nominee (not to exceed two typed, double-spaced pages)
  • Narrative description of activities; research; budgets; staffing (paid and volunteer); and the effectiveness of delivery (not to exceed four typed, double-spaced pages)
  • Copies of articles and reviews (either by or about the nominee), brochures, and any other supporting materials that document exhibits, programs, historic preservation, and any other activities
  • Photographs or illustrations of the nominee and any activities described in the narrative
  • Letters of support

Awards are reviewed by a committee appointed by the Director of the State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND). All materials submitted to the awards program become the property of SHSND, may be used by SHSND in promoting the awards program, and will not be returned.

Due Date:
Nomination packets must be delivered or postmarked by 5 p.m. on the second Friday of July. Entries delivered or mailed after this date may be held for consideration the following year. Send five copies of all materials to: Local History Awards;State Historical Society of North Dakota; 612 East Boulevard Avenue; Bismarck,ND 58505. If you are submitting an electronic copy, all individual files should be compiled into a single PDF document.

For more information about the Local History Award program, contact 701.328.2666 or history@nd.gov. Visit the State Historical Society of North Dakota's website at history.nd.gov.

Past Recipients
Year Honored
Grand Forks County Historical Society
2019
Dr. Rosalie Etherington
2019
Pioneer Trails Regional Museum
2018
Trish Short Lewis
2015
Henry Mische
2015
Lois Berndt
2014
Keith Norman
2014
Kinley Slauter
2013
Hiddenwood Cemetery Research Project
2013
Whitestone Hill Battlefield Historical Society
2012
Ella Guenther
2012
Merle Clark
2011
Friends of Fort Union and Fort Buford
2011
Griggs County Historical Society
2011
Leilani Baisch Meyhoff
2010
Steven M. Reidburn
2010
Jean M. Miller
2009
NE North Dakota Heritage Association/Icelandic State Park
2009
Ray Pladson
2008
Keith Johnson
2008
Fort Ransom Sodbuster Association
2008
Gertrude Reep
2007
Leonard Berce
2007
Dorotha Pelton
2006
Wes Anderson
2005
Ellen Woods
2004
Aagot Nysveen
2003
Dorothy Pearson
2002
Marilyn Hudson
2002
Society for the Preservation of the Former Governors' Mansion
2001
Montee Nelson
1999
Theresa Bogner
1999
Daisy I. Hermanson
1989
Rudolph A. Helland
1989
Mary F. Young
1988
Frances Wold
1988

Address:
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