Alaska History

Each year the Alaska Historical Society recognizes, through its awards program, individuals, historical societies, and public institutions for outstanding research, writing, and promotion of Alaska history.  

The Society is pleased to announce the 2011 winners in the following categories:

The Esther Billman Award of Excellence is given to a state or local society, museum, government agency, or other organization which has completed a project or series of projects contributing to the preservation and understanding of Alaskan history during the past year.  Esther Billman’s efforts to preserve Alaska history and develop the Sheldon Jackson Museum are commemorated by the award now given in her name.

The 2011 award is to Jane Norris Williams for her lifetime of work in the preservation and documentation of Fairbanks and interior Alaskan history, including her work with the Central Historical Society, her involvement in the relocation of the Wickersham house in Fairbanks to Pioneer Park, her role with the Friends of Creamer's Field, and her pioneer efforts to preserve Alaska in moving images at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

 The Evangeline Atwood Award is given to an individual in recognition of significant long-term contributions to Alaska state or local history.  Evangeline Atwood’s promotion and practice of the study and publication of Alaska history, as well as her efforts to organize historical societies including the Alaska Historical Society, are commemorated with this award. 

The Anchorage Woman's Club, Karen A. Kizis, President, is the recipient of the award in 2011.  Since 1980, the Anchorage Woman's Club has given Anchorage school children the opportunity to spend a day as a student at the Pioneer Schoolhouse, experiencing what school was like in 1916 Anchorage.  Volunteers dressed in period attire deliver lessons on life in early twentieth century Alaska.  Volunteers have delivered the pioneer school house experience to over 1,000 students a year.

 The Historian of the Year Award is given to an Alaska resident for publication of significant new material about Alaska’s past during the past year.  The society initiated this award in 1974.  

The 2011 Historian of the Year is Terrence Cole for his book Fighting for the Forty-Ninth Star: C. W. Snedden and the Crusade fo Alaska Statehood, which provides a fresh interpretation of a topic that many scholars believed had been "put to bed."  The book has a section on Ted Stevens' early career that is a good starting point for the Stevens scholarship to follow as Stevens' papers became available.

The Pathfinder Award is given to an individual or several individuals who have indexed or prepared guides to Alaska historical material that has not been accessible. 

The 2011 Pathfinder award goes to the Lost Alaskans:  Morningside Hospital History Project, and its primary researchers Ellen Ganley, Meg Greene, Karen Perdue, Robin Renfroe, Niejse Steinkruger, Sally Mead, Deborah Smith, Marylou Elton, and Vivian Hamilton.  This group has worked to uncover the documentary record of mental health care during the years in which Alaskans were institutionalized out of state at Morningside Hospital.  Their work not only helps reveal the past, but has had an impact on the lives of living family members seeking to understand what happened to their relatives. 

The Contributions to Alaska History Award recognizes an individual or individuals who have made singular and significant recent contributions to Alaska history.  In 2011, the Society recognizes three awardees:

Ray Bonnell and the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, awarded for the weekly column "Sketches of Alaska."  The column has included pen and ink sketches and accompanying narratives about historic structures in Alaska, with coverage ranging from the Skarland Cabin on the UAF campus to the Lacey Street Theatre.  The column feeds community interest in the built environment of Fairbanks, and captures the essence of these structures before, as Bonnell notes, "time, vandals, and development permanently erase these pieces of our history."

The second Contributions to Alaska History Award recognizes Mike Blackwell, Marie Darlin and Jim Geraghty for their foundaitonal work with the Friends of the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, and for their successful bid to bring an important work of art back to Alaska.  The group spearheaded the incorporation of the Friends group, ran a successful membership campaing, and secured at auction an original Sydney Laurence oil painting, Early Morning, Juneau, now held in public trust.  The three demonstrate both how to build a successful support group and the good work that such an organization is capable of doing.

The third Contributions to Alaska History Award honors Suellyn Wright-Novak for her work to establish the Alaska Veterans Museum, which opened its doors in Anchorage in April 2011.  Suellyn served as a volunteer and President of the Board of Directors, spearheading the Alaska Veterans Oral History Project, generating public interest and support for the project, raising funds, securing a downtown location, and bringing the dream of a museum to honor Alaska's veterans to fruition.

The Student and Beginning Professional Travel Scholarship Awards are given to help several individuals attend and participate in the Alaska Historical Society annual meeting and conference. 

The 2011 award recipients are Rachel Seale and Erin Shew.  Rachel is a new employee at the Alaska and Polar Regions Department, Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Erin is a graduate student in the Northern Studies program, also at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.


All award winners are selected by the Alaska Historical Society Awards committee based on nominations made by the public.  Award committee members include Bridget Burke, Chair, Ross Coen and Michael Hawfield. 

Alaska Historical Society P.O. Box 100299 Anchorage AK, 99510-0299 (907) 276-1596     Contact Us