Nominate Indiana History Movers and Shakers

Caleb Mills Indiana History Teacher of the Year is awarded to a teacher (grades 4 through 12) currently teaching American or Indiana history and recognized by his or her colleagues as making a significant contribution to the understanding of these two fields by his or her students. This award is named in honor of Caleb Mills, the father of Indiana’s common schools.

Dorothy Riker Hoosier Historian Award recognizes a historian who has made distinguished contributions to a) the field of historical scholarship, including presentation, use of materials, and preservation, or b) the affairs and activities of IHS. Dorothy Riker was a 50-year employee and editor for the Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Historical Bureau from 1929 to 1979.

Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions over an extended period of time to a) the field of history and/or b) the affairs of IHS. This award is named after philanthropist Eli Lilly, a lifelong leader of the Indiana Historical Society.

Hubert Hawkins History Award is made annually to a local historian for his or her distinguished service and career in local history. Hubert Howard Hawkins was executive secretary of IHS and director of the Indiana Historical Bureau. He was instrumental in increasing membership through visits around the state and with the Indiana Junior Historical Society.

Willard C. Heiss Family History/Genealogy Award is awarded to a family historian for his or her distinguished service and career in Indiana family history, helping genealogists discover connections between themselves and their ancestors through source material, family records, and well-documented stories. Presentation may include articles, books, use of materials, preservation, workshops and lectures, or it may include work in a library or archive, helping the public with questions about genealogy and family history over a long career. Willard C. Heiss was a preeminent authority on Indiana Quaker history and genealogy, and is credited with bringing order to the archives of Indianapolis.

Indiana History Outstanding Event or Project Award recognizes an organization for an exceptional educational event or history project implemented during the past year, either one-time or ongoing, which relates to that organization’s mission. Examples include reenactments, publications, innovative media usage, exceptional teacher training and displays/exhibitions.

Outstanding Collaborative Project Award recognizes an exceptional project by a historical or heritage organization in Indiana with one or more partners implemented during the past year. Projects must be a history-based event or project, either one-time or ongoing. Special consideration will be given to projects that share county or regional history.

Outstanding Historical Organization Award is presented to a local or county historical society, organization, or site in Indiana which has demonstrated remarkable service to and programs for its community, and has demonstrated excellent application of professional standards and best practices. Consideration will also be given to nominations that demonstrate organizational transformation within two years preceding the nomination deadline.

The nomination deadline is July 1, 2024.
All nomination forms and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2024 to be considered. Late nominations will not be accepted.

Nomination forms must be submitted online, and supporting documents must be emailed to localhistoryservices@indianahistory.org.

Entry Guidelines:

• Nominations must pertain to some aspect of Indiana history – state or local.
• A completed nomination form, including the nomination narrative, must accompany each submission.
• All nominations must be submitted with at least two letters of support.
• Articles, brochures, and other supporting documents are encouraged.
• Nominations must be completed online and all supporting documents emailed by July 1, 2024 to be considered.
• Late nominations will not be accepted.

NOMINATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Fill out the online nomination form and click Submit
2. Send supporting documents (2 required letters of support and optional supporting documents)
   by email to: localhistoryservices@indianahistory.org

QUESTIONS?
Contact Tamara Hemmerlein, Local History Services director
themmerlein@indianahistory.org 
(317) 234-0170

The Awards Committee is composed of IHS staff and Trustees, and community members as appointed by
IHS. The Awards Committee reserves the right to move nominees into different categories, award multiple
nominees within a category, or decline granting of an award within a category, as appropriate.

All nominators will receive notice of results, and award winners will be contacted in September 2024.
Awards will be presented in-person at local community sites.

Congratulations to the 2023 award winners!

Jacob P. Dunn Jr. Award
The Jacob P. Dunn Jr. Award is named after the Indiana historian and author and is given annually to the author of the best article in Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History, published by the Indiana Historical Society Press.

Peter J. De Kever, Mishawaka – Peter J. De Kever is historian laureate for the City of Mishawaka and curator of the Mishawka Historical Museum. Peter’s article “Photo by W. A. Stickler: The Life and Legacy of Mishawaka’s Walter Stickler,” appeared in the Summer 2023 issue of Traces. His article examines the remarkable life of Walter A. Stickler — Minnesota resort pioneer, a nationally-known nature photographer, a Florida theme park promoter, and politician. Stickler also became one of the most accomplished Princess City residents of the 20^th century.

Caleb Mills Indiana History Teacher of the Year
The Caleb Mills Indiana History Teacher of the Year Award, named in honor of Caleb Mills, the father of Indiana’s common schools, is made annually to a teacher (teaching grades 4-12) currently teaching American or Indiana history and recognized by his or her colleagues as making a significant contribution to the understanding of these two fields by his or her students.

Jeff Swisher, Hammond – Jeff Swisher teaches American and Indiana History at Morton High School with an incredible passion that is contagious to all those around him. He is committed to teaching his students about connecting the past to the present on both a national and local level, immersing his students in engaging teaching games, sparking curiosity about how the community has been shaped over time and creating a supportive and inclusive classroom environment for all students to express thoughts and ideas.

Dorothy Riker Hoosier Historian Award
The Dorothy Riker Hoosier Historian Award is named for Dorothy Riker, who was a 50-year employee and editor for the Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Historical Bureau from 1929 to 1979. This award is made annually to a historian who has made distinguished contributions to the field of historical scholarship, including presentation, use of materials and preservation, or the affairs and activities of the IHS.

Thomas Hamm, Richmond – Dr. Thomas Hamm is Emeritus Professor of History and Quaker Scholar in Residence at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., as well as the historian for Wayne County. He has published many genealogical works, and there would not be the abundance of resources related to Hoosier genealogical research without his efforts. In the 1970s, he worked with the youth of Henry County, Ind., to document pioneer cemeteries in the county — these records are priceless.

Tom and Marty Davis, Indianapolis – Tom and Marty Davis have both dedicated their work and volunteer hours to the history and interpretation of Crown Hill Cemetery. The relationship Crown Hill Cemetery has with the Crown Hill Foundation has put the site in the forefront of rural, or garden, cemeteries. It is partly because of the work and dedication Tom and Marty Davis have given Crown Hill that has made this possible.

Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award
The Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions over an extended period of time to a) the field of history and/or b) the affairs of IHS. This award is named after philanthropist Eli Lilly, a lifelong leader of the Indiana Historical Society.

Barbara Wood, Indianapolis – Barbara Wood became the Indiana State Archives’ volunteer coordinator in 2000, a position she held for 23 years until her retirement in 2023. As a State Archives volunteer, Barbara indexed several archival collections, and that work is now available as finding aids and indexes on the Research Indiana Indexes website. Some of her projects include the Walker and Weeks World War memorial collection, Vanderburgh County Insanity Inquests, several counties of naturalization records, and State Board of Pharmacy records. Many vital collections were made accessible during her tenure.

Michael Mavis, Muncie – Delaware County native Michael Mavis spent a lifetime researching, collecting and sharing the history of Delaware County. He was an active member of the Delaware County Historical Society (DCHS) for more than 30 years, serving as a board member, volunteer, collections committee member and exhibit curator. He was also a long-time board member of Delaware County’s Historic Preservation and Rehabilitation Commission, providing guidance to those seeking to rehabilitate and preserve local homes and buildings. This award will be given posthumously.

Hubert Hawkins History Award
The Hubert Hawkins History Award is named for Hubert Howard Hawkins, past executive secretary of IHS and director of the Indiana Historical Bureau. Mr. Hawkins was instrumental in increasing IHS membership during his work around the state and with the Indiana Junior Historical Society. This award is given to a local historian for his or her distinguished service and career in local history.

Ed Fujawa, Indianapolis – Since Ed Fujawa established the “Class 900: Indianapolis” blog in 2018, he has published 134 in-depth articles about the history of Indianapolis and its people. In addition to “Class 900,” Ed has also written a book, “Vanished Indianapolis.” When Ed is not researching and writing about local history, he serves as Deputy General Counsel for the Indiana Department of Insurance, president of the Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association and as a commissioner on the Meridian Street Historic Preservation Commission.

Frank Vargo, Whiting – Frank Vargo is a retired teacher from St. John the Baptist School in Whiting. In that role, he taught history to hundreds of students in the Whiting-Robertsdale community. He also played a major role in establishing order to the collections held by the Whiting-Robertsdale Historical Society. He led the effort to conduct oral history interviews for a major project to collect the memories of those who lived through the massive explosion at the Standard Oil Refinery in Whiting in 1955, and he researches and responds to most of the requests the Historical Society receives from those seeking information.

Indiana History Outstanding Organization Event or Project Award
The Indiana History Outstanding Organization Event or Project Award recognizes an organization for an exceptional educational event or history project implemented during the past year, either one-time or ongoing, which relates to that organization’s mission.

SullivanMunce Cultural Center, “Zionsville Interim Report, Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory” – The mission of the SullivanMunce Cultural Center is to facilitate the operations of the Patrick Henry Sullivan Museum, Zionsville Genealogy Library and the Munce Art Center. This project specifically benefits the Patrick Henry Sullivan Museum, which collects and interprets the history of the Zionsville Community. The project focused on updating the Zionsville Interim Report, Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory originally published in 1983. The report was completed in 2022 — now available in print and digital format online for home researchers and Town of Zionsville departments. It helps enhance and promote Zionsville’s valuable historic heritage.

Outstanding Collaborative Project Award
The Outstanding Collaborative Project Award recognizes an exceptional project by a historical or heritage organization with one or more partners implemented during the past year, particularly for projects that share county or regional history.

Delaware County Historical Society, Muncie, “Notable Women of Delaware County and Muncie Project” – DCHS’s Notable Women of Delaware County and Muncie Project has prompted collaboration both between institutions and within courses and programs at Ball State University. Within the History Department, the project has encouraged greater involvement of students in original research building local historical knowledge — researching women who have made significant contributions to Muncie, the county, state and nation. It also has played an important role in training Indiana’s future historians and teachers. The project was featured at the Philadelphia Area Consortium for Special Collections in 2021, three Indiana Historical Bureau conferences, the Indiana Association of Historians Conference, Ball State University Alumni magazine, and Women’s and Unity Week at Ball State University.

Outstanding Historical Organization Award
The Outstanding Historical Organization Award is presented to a local or county historical society, organization or site in Indiana which has demonstrated remarkable service to and programs for its community, and has demonstrated excellent application of professional standards and best practices.

Evansville Wartime Museum, Evansville – The Evansville Wartime Museum (EWM) was founded in 2017 with a mission to acquire, preserve and interpret historical artifacts; and educate all ages of how industry, home front workers and military supported the nation in times of conflict. EWM works with local school corporations to present tours to more than 1,000 elementary students annually, supporting their engagement with history beyond textbooks. The museum was also the catalyst for the U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service to designate Evansville as an “American WWII Heritage City,” the only designee in Indiana.

Irvington Historical Society, Indianapolis – A group of Irvingtonians in 1964 founded the Irvington Historical Society to collect and preserve the history of greater Irvington. In 2002, The Society opened the Bona Thompson Memorial Center (Bona), the former Butler library. There it maintains thousands of artifacts and an art collection focused on the Irvington Group and offers exhibits with related programming. It was successfully nominated to the National Register of Historic Places of five historic districts in Irvington, including more than 4,600 historic buildings — the largest single concentration of historic places in Marion County.

Willard C. Heiss Family History-Genealogy Award
The Willard C. Heiss Family History-Genealogy Award is awarded to a family historian for his or her distinguished service and career in Indiana family history, helping genealogists discover connections between themselves and their ancestors through source material, family records and well-documented stories. Presentation may include articles, books, use of materials, preservation, workshops and lectures, or it may include work in a library or archive, helping the public with questions about genealogy and family history over a long career. Willard C. Heiss was a preeminent authority on Indiana Quaker history and genealogy and is credited with bringing order to the archives of Indianapolis.

Sheila Kell, Vernon – In 2005, Kell became the county coordinator for Jennings County and Jefferson County with INGenWeb, an online genealogy database project; she still serves in both positions. She became the local history and genealogy librarian at the Jennings County Public Library in late 2010. Shortly after, Kell became a member of the board of directors of the Jennings County Historical Society and at historic Eleutherian College in Lancaster, Jefferson County. She set up a research center focusing on family history in her home in Vernon, across the street from the Jennings County Historical Society.  She remained with the Jennings County Public Library for 10 years and retired in 2021. She still acts as a consultant with the library and with the Historical Society and is the historian for Jennings County.

Click here to see the full list of Indiana Historical Society Award winners from previous years.

Where can I get a nomination form?
See the Online Nomination Form. Contact Tamara Hemmerlein, Local History Services director, at themmerlein@indianahistory.org or (317) 234-0170 with any questions.

What information do I need to have in order to fill out the nomination form?
There are four sections to fill out on the nomination form:

• The award category for the nomination
• The name and contact information for the individual or organization being nominated
• The name and contact information of the person submitting the nomination
• The nomination narrative: Introduce the project, organization, or individual and describe the achievements and impact on the community served. (Max. 350 words) For nominated individuals, highlight their achievements and their contributions to the field of state and/or local history.  For nominated projects and organizations, highlight how the work supports the organizational mission, increases engagement with history, and, if applicable, encourages community collaborations.

Which award category should I choose?
Choose the category that you feel best describes the work of the person or organization being nominated. You can learn more about each of the awards by clicking on “Award Categories.” The Awards Committee reserves the right to move nominees into different categories, award multiple nominees within a category or decline granting an award within a category as appropriate.

What material is required along with the nomination form?
All nominations must include the nomination form and a minimum of two letters of support. Additional material which helps to document the individual’s or organization’s work may include additional letters of support, newspaper articles, brochures, photographs, book title pages, resumes, mission statements, and project summaries. All supporting documents must be emailed to localhistoryservices@indianahistory.org.

What should a letter of support contain?
Letters of support should clearly state the nominator’s relationship to the nominee and knowledge of his/her/its achievements. Letters may also address the quality of work undertaken by the nominee and/or describe the nominee’s impact on the community.

To whom do I address the letter of support?
Letters of support should be addressed to the Annual Awards Committee, and emailed to localhistoryservices@indianahistory.org.

Can I nominate myself?
There are no rules to discourage self-nomination. However, the nomination should include at least two letters of support from people who know you or your organization.

Should I nominate the organization or one person from the organization?
The three organization awards – the Outstanding Historical Organization Award, the Indiana History Outstanding Event or Project Award, and the Outstanding Collaborative Project Award – are given to an organization rather than an individual. A nomination for these awards should still include the name and contact information for someone at the organization who can be the main contact in the event that the organization is selected as an honoree. If the achievements of an individual from an organization meet the qualifications for any of the other award categories, that individual may be nominated separately.

Who makes up the award selection committee?
The Awards committee is composed of a diverse panel of Indiana Historical Society staff, trustees and community members as appointed by the IHS Executive Committee.

When will I be notified of my nomination’s status?
All nominators will be notified in writing about the outcome of the Awards selection in September. Award winners will also be contacted in September.

I missed the deadline. Can I resubmit my nomination next year?
Nominations will be accepted only if they are submitted on or before July 1, 2024. If you miss the deadline, you are welcome to resubmit your nomination the following year. With the exception of the Indiana History Outstanding Event or Project Award and the Outstanding Collaborative Project Award, nominations may be resubmitted if the person or group has not received an award in the previous years.

I have additional questions. Who do I contact?
Please contact Tamara Hemmerlein, Local History Services director, at themmerlein@indianahistory.org or (317) 234-0170.