Georgia Historical Society Annual Awards

 

 

Hank Aaron, center, accepts his 2010 Georgia Trustees Award from Senator Johnny Isakson, left, and GHS President & CEO W. Todd Groce, right

Georgia Trustee Ted Turner (left) with Dr. Groce

The Georgia Trustees Award: In conjunction with the Governor’s Office, the Georgia Historical Society reconstituted the Georgia Trustees as a way of recognizing Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the highest ideals of the founding body of Trustees.  The original Georgia Trustees, a governing body chartered and appointed by His Majesty King George II of England in 1732 to establish a new colony in North America, founded the Georgia colony upon the principle of Non Sibi, Sed Aliis, “Not for Self but for Others.” They established and governed the colony with this vision until their disbandment in 1752, after which Georgia became a royal colony. Reestablished in 2009, the Governor will make an annual appointment of new Trustees whose history-making accomplishments and service reflect the original Trustees’ ideals. Previous winners include:

 

2010: Hank Aaron, Baseball Legend 

          Ted Turner, CNN founder and Chairman of Turner Enterprises, Inc.

2009: Marguerite Neel Williams (honored posthumously), Entrepreneur

          Bernard Marcus, Home Depot founder

   

Board Chairman Bill Jones III (left) and President Dr. Todd Groce (right) present the 2009-2010 John Macpherson Berrien Award to Don and Kaye Kole.

The John Macpherson Berrien Award: The Berrien Award is given for a lifetime of achievement in and service to Georgia history. The award is presented annually by GHS in the Spring. The award was established in 2000 and named in honor of John Macpherson Berrien, one of the founders of GHS and the Society's first president. He also served in the U.S. Senate and as Attorney General. Previous winners include:

 

2010-2009: Don and Kaye Kole, Savannah

2008: Bradley Hale, Atlanta

2007: Tom Watson Brown, Atlanta

         (posthumous)

2006: Craig Barrow III, Savannah

2005: W. W. Abbot, Charlottesville, VA

2004: George Hooks, Americus

2003: Emma & Lee Adler, Savannah

2002: Edwin L. Jackson, Athens

2001: Edward J. Cashin, Augusta

2000: Malcolm Bell, Jr. (posthumous)

 

 

Malcolm Bell, Jr., and Muriel Barrow Bell Award: This award was established in 1992 to honor the best book in Georgia history published the previous year. The award is named in honor of Malcolm Bell, Jr. and Muriel Barrow Bell in recognition of their contribution to the recording of Georgia's history. The award is announced annually at GHS's Annual Meeting in Savannah. The submission deadline is December 15 of each year. Four copies of the books submitted should be sent to GHS. Nominated books cannot be returned. For more information and to see a list of previous winners, click on the individual link above.

Lilla M. Hawes Award: This award was established in 1993 to recognize the outstanding county or local history book pertaining to Georgia. The award honors Lilla M. Hawes, the Society's Director from 1948 to 1976. The award is announced annually at GHS's Annual Meeting in Savannah. The submission deadline is December 15 of each year. Four copies of the books submitted should be sent to GHS. Nominated books cannot be returned. For more information and to see a list of previous winners, click on the individual link above.

E. Merton Coulter Award: This award was established in 1973 for the best article published in The Georgia Historical Quarterly during the previous year. The award honors Dr. E. Merton Coulter, editor of the Quarterly from 1923 to 1973. The award is announced annually at GHS's Annual Meeting in Savannah.

William Bacon Stevens Award: This award was established in 1980 for the best article published by a student (full-time student at the time of the article's submission) in The Georgia Historical Quarterly in the previous two years. The award honors William Bacon Stevens, one of Georgia's premier historians and a founder of the Society. The award is given every other year.

Roger Warlick Local History Achievement Awards: These awards were established in 1998 to recognize outstanding achievements by a local history organization and are named in honor of Roger Warlick, president of the Society from 1990 to 1994. Deadline for submissions is December 1 of each year. The awards are presented annually at GHS's Annual Meeting in Savannah. For more information, click on the individual link above. Awards are given in the following categories:

 

• Programs
• Preservation
• Archival Excellence
• Exhibits
• Media

J.C. Bonner Award: This award is presented jointly with Georgia College & State University for the best Master's thesis on Georgia history in the previous year. The award is named in honor of James C. Bonner, former professor of history at GCSU and carries a cash prize of $500. The award is presented annually in the fall. Nominations should be made to the director for the Center for the Study of Georgia History, History Dept., Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA,  31061. 

Sarah Nichols Pinckney Volunteer of the Year Award: This award recognizes individuals and groups who have selflessly contributed their time and resources to advance the mission of the Georgia Historical Society. It is named in honor of Sarah Pinckney, who for many years has given so generously of her time and resources to this organization. The award is presented annually in the Spring. Previous winners include:

2010: Buddy Sullivan, Richmond Hill
2009: The Savannah Jewish Archives, Savannah
2008: Archie H. Davis, Savannah
2007: Dolly Chisholm, Savannah
2006: Darlene Wilson, Savannah
2005: Lara Gill, Sumter Historic Trust
2004: Savannah Area Genealogical Association
2003: Leigh Lawless, Savannah
2002: Gordon Varnedoe & Harry Jennings, Savannah
2001: Rita Trotz, Savannah
2000: Lorraine Warlick, Savannah
1999: Robert Glenn, Savannah