Awards to Kentucky individuals and organizations for projects related to state or local history. The awards are intended to recognize and express appreciation to civic and business leaders, volunteers, historians, libraries, historical organizations, and communities that strive to promote the awareness, preservation, and appreciation of state and local history.
Award categories:
Service Awards:
Thomas D. Clark Award of Excellence: Presented to a local historical organization for outstanding achievement throughout the year.
Award of Distinction: Presented to a non-paid individual for significant contribution as a volunteer, board or other member of a history-related organization.
Frank R. Levstik Award for Professional Service: Presented to a recently retired (within the last two years) paid staff member of a Kentucky-related organizations.
Dr. James C. Klotter Lifetime Dedication to Kentucky History Award: Presented to an individual who demonstrates a consistent, long-term commitment to Kentucky history through work, activities, or support of Kentucky history-related organizations.
Special Awards:
Brig. Gen. William R. Buster Award: Presented to an individual for significant contributions to Kentucky’s military history through work, activities or support of Kentucky history-related organizations.
Volunteer Organization or Group: Presented to an organization managed exclusively by volunteers or a volunteer group for substantial contribution through non-paid work, activities, or support of a Kentucky history-related organization.
Community Impact Award: Presented to an organization for significant contribution to a local community through long-term engagement and expanded access to a Kentucky history-related organization.
Kentucky Public History Intern Award: Presented to higher education student at the undergraduate or graduate level for significant contributions as an intern with a Kentucky public history institution.
General Awards recognize exemplary historical projects in two categories:
Education: (1) Exhibitions (2) multimedia (including audio/visual and oral history projects) (3) preservation (4) programming (public or school) and (5) special projects.
Publications: (1) Books, pamphlets and other printed materials and (2) websites or online indexes.
Nominations must pertain to some aspect of Kentucky state or local history or must have been a project sponsored by or initiated to benefit a museum, historical society, library, genealogical society, or other history-related organization in Kentucky.
Nominees may be:
- Individuals
- Organizations
- Museum Professionals
- Volunteers
- Board Members
- Business and Civic leaders
- Historians
- Librarians
- Community Representatives
- History-Related Organization
Pre-Application Information
Nominations are due by Friday, March 17, 2023, at 5:00 PM EST.
All award recipients will be notified by email on Monday, May 1, 2023.
Recipients will be honored at the Kentucky History Awards breakfast and presentation on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, KY.
Number of Grants
One award recipient will be selected in each award category for Service and Special awards.
Term of Contract
All nominated projects must have been initiated or completed from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022.
Or mail/hand-deliver applications to:
Kentucky History Awards Nomination
Attn: Tyler McDaniel
Kentucky Historical Society 100 W Broadway
Frankfort, KY 40601
Direct questions to Tyler McDaniel at the email address above.
