Iñupiaq men in qayaqs, Noatak, Alaska, circa 1929. Edward S. Curtis Collection, Library of Congress Digital Collections.
Crossing the Chilkoot Pass, circa 1898. Courtesy Candy Waugaman and Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
The Gold Rush boomtown of Nome on the Seward Peninsula, 1900. Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library.
The Alaska Historical Society is inviting nominations for its annual awards to individuals, historical societies and public institutions for notable research, writing and promotion of Alaska history. Special exhibits, historic walking tours, sign projects, oral histories, anthologies, digitizing archival materials, creating a website and commemorating an anniversary are among projects that have been recognized in the past.
Nominations are due September 15, 2024. A nomination should have sufficient detail and supporting materials. It should be submitted to the AHS Awards Committee, by email to members@alaskahistoricalsociety.org or by mail to P.O. Box 100299, Anchorage, AK 99510. Nominations for the Ducker Award must include a copy of the publication for the committee’s use.
The awards are:
JAMES H. DUCKER ALASKA HISTORIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD – given to an Alaska resident for publication of significant new material published in the last 16 months about Alaska’s past. Historian Ducker edited the society’s scholarly journal Alaska History for 30 years.
ESTHER BILLMAN AWARD – given to a local or state organization for a project contributing to the preservation and understanding of Alaska history. Billman was the long-time curator at the Sheldon Jackson Museum.
EVANGELINE ATWOOD AWARD – given to an individual for significant long-term contributions to Alaska state or local history. Atwood was an AHS founder.
BARBARA SMITH PATHFINDER AWARD – given for indexing or preparing guides to Alaska historical material. Smith, a historian, archivist and exhibit curator, prepared invaluable guides to Alaska Native, Russian Orthodox and Russian American records.
ELVA R. SCOTT LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY AWARD –
for a special achievement of a community historical society or museum. Scott was a founder of Homer’s Pratt Museum, and after moving to Eagle was newsletter editor, tour guide and official of its historical society.
TERRENCE M. COLE STUDENT AND BEGINNING PROFESSIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS are cash awards
given to help individuals attend the AHS’s annual conference. Cole taught at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and led its public history program.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALASKA HISTORY AWARD – recognizes an individual or group that has made a singular and significant recent contribution to Alaska history.
