Individuals and organizations from across the commonwealth were honored at the 2005 Kentucky History Awards Program, held March 4 at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.  Sponsored by the Kentucky Historical Society and the Historical Confederation of Kentucky, these annual awards recognize the best history achievements and projects relating to state and local history.

“This is an opportunity to recognize the hard work of those who cherish Kentucky history,” says Kent Whitworth, executive director.  “We are pleased to honor individuals and programs that provide all of us with connections to the past, perspective on the present, and inspiration for the future.”

The President’s Award of Excellence for Outstanding Museum or Historical Organization was given to the Lexington History Museum and to the Frazier Historical Arms Museum.

Danny Blevins, president of the Van Lear Historical Society received the Award of Distinction for an Individual.

Special Awards presented were:

·         Government: City of Fort Wright for Battery Hooper and the James A Ramage Civil War Museum

·         Media Award: Byron Crawford, journalist

·         Business Award:  AU Associates

·         Community History Award: Liberty Baptist Association, Ralph Bunche Community Center

·         Frank Levstik Award for Professional Career Contribution to Kentucky History: Kim Lady Smith

·         Lifetime Dedication to Kentucky History Award: Dorothy Donnell Steers, Simpson County Historical Society

General award categories included educational program for schools, educational program for community, volunteer group, museum exhibit, family history publication, local or state history publication, brochure or pamphlet, and poster, exhibit catalog, or other publication.  Winners included:

Award of Merit

·        Museum Exhibit: Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate/International Museum of the Horse/H. Clay Simpson for Kentucky Bloodlines: The Legacy of Henry Clay exhibit

·        Educational Program for Public: Cliff and Joan Howard, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln interpreters

·        Volunteer Group: William Crenshaw Kennedy, Jr. Memorial Museum

·        Volunteer Group: The Outriders Society/ Kentucky Derby Museum

·         Audiovisual Project: Caldwell County Historical Society for My Kentucky Home-Caldwell County documentary

·        Publications—Brochure or Pamphlet: Historic House Network of Kentucky for Historic House Museum brochure

·        Publication: Tom Stephens for First Cats: Amazing Origins of the UK Sports Tradition

Certificate of Commendation

·         Educational Program for the Public:

o        William Crenshaw Kennedy, Jr. Memorial Museum for 50th Anniversary of Griffin School Integration

o        Georgetown and Scott County Museum for Richard Mentor Johnson exhibit

o        John R. Thelin for Town and Gown in Kentucky: Campus and Community in the Commonwealth

o        Liberty Hall Historic Site for Hunger for History

o        Riverview at Hobson Grove for Portraits of the Past 

o        Shaker Museum at South Union for The South Union Seminar

·         Museum Exhibit

o         Behringer-Crawford Museum for History of Wine in the Rhine Valley of America exhibit

o        Marie and Eugene Callahan Museum for Historic Braillewriters: A Traveling Exhibit

o        Georgetown and Scott County Museum for Monday at the Museum

·         Volunteer Group

o        William Crenshaw Kennedy, Jr. Memorial Museum 

o        Riverview Tea Committee

·         Publication—Newsletter or Journal

o       Bullitt County History Museum for Friends of the Bullitt County History Museum E-Newsletter

o        Wayne County Historical Society for Overview, Quarterly Newsletter

o        Van Lear Historical Society for The Bankmule

·         Audiovisual Project:

o        Van Lear Historical Society for Van Lear: Portrait of a Town

·         Publications—Family History

o        William Crenshaw Kennedy, Jr. Memorial Museum for Sketches of Memory Stories of My Grandma’s Life

·         Publications-- Brochure or Pamphlet

o        Farmington Historic Home for Farmington Self-Guided Grounds Tour brochure

o        Riverview at Hobson Grove for Portraits of the Past pamphlet

·         Publications—Local or State History

o       Back Home in Kentucky magazine for Kentucky’s Civil War 1861-1865

·         Publications—Poster/Exhibit Catalog/Other

o        Back Home in Kentucky magazine for Kentucky Map of Civil War Sites

-30-