Hello from your Maine state rep for the AASLH Leadership in History Awards  program! Over the years, a number of Maine organizations have been recognized for their outstanding work through this program, including last year's honoree, the Seal Cove Auto Museum. It would be great to have a Maine recipient every year, and it is my job to help you through the nomination process. I am including the full press release below, which includes links to all the details. Please do no hesitate to contact me, Julia Gray, at riversidemuseumsolutions@gmail.com, if you have any questions, and let me know if you are putting together a nomination.

Call for AASLH Leadership in History Awards Nominations

The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) invites nominations for the 2019 Leadership in History Awards. Now in its 70th year, the Awards Program is the most prestigious national recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of local, state, and regional history. AASLH initiated the Awards Program in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout America.

The AASLH Leadership in History Awards Program recognizes exemplary work completed by state or federal historical societies, institutions, or agencies; regional, county, or local historical societies, institutions, or agencies; specialized subject societies in related fields such as oral history, genealogy, folklore, archaeology, business history, etc.; junior historical societies; privately owned museums or foundations; individuals; and organizations outside the field of traditional historical agencies. Awards are given for exhibits, public and educational programming, special projects, publications, multimedia, and individual achievement. Nominees need not be members of AASLH to qualify. See a list of 2018 winners.

Informational Video

To learn about the program and why you should apply, no matter what your budget size, AND get tips for how to put together an award-winning nomination watch this video of the informational webinar from 2018 which will give you an overview of the program, as well as providing tips for submitting a nomination (54 minutes).

Nominations are due on March 1, 2019. A list of state award representatives who can advise nominees can be found at the AASLH website. Nominations are then reviewed by a national committee in the summer of 2019 with a formal presentation of the awards made during the AASLH Annual Meeting, August 28 to 31, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

About the American Association for State and Local History
The American Association for State and Local History is a non-profit association for state and local history, with a primary focus on history professionals, history volunteers, museums, historical societies, and other history-related organizations and public history professionals. AASLH provides leadership and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history to make the past more meaningful.