Robert Kelley Memorial Award

Award of $500 to a USA, Canada, or International individual, IHE, nonprofit organization, or corporate entity for efforts to make history engaging to audiences outside of academia. Applicants will be nominated based on long-term contributions and achievements in the public history movement.

The award recipient will receive a complimentary registration for the awards breakfast at the 2019 NCPH annual meeting in Hartford, CT, March 27-30.

This award seeks to perpetuate the legacy and memory of a founder of the public history movement, Dr. Robert Kelley. It honors distinguished and outstanding achievements by individuals, institutions, non-profit or corporate entities for having made significant inroads in making history relevant to individual lives of ordinary people outside of academia.

Award Criteria - Individuals:

Individuals may be nominated based on their achievements and specific contributions to the public history movement, usually over a sustained period of time.

Evidence of scholarly excellence must be combined with two or more of the following:
-Sustained service to NCPH in an appointed and/or elected capacity
-Demonstrated innovation in teaching and/or development of institutional training programs
-Creativity as evidenced through the development of teaching and/or educational outreach materials
-A singular achievement (i.e. a motion picture, major exhibit, or a well-recognized book) that significantly contributes to the general public’s understanding and appreciation of history
-A distinguished record of creating, administering, or managing an undergraduate or graduate public history program at an institution of learning

Award Criteria - Organizational Entities:

Institutions, colleges and university departments of history, nonprofit, corporate or other organizational entities may be nominated based on the institution’s achievements and specific contributions in advancing the cause of public history, usually over a sustained period of time.

Evidence of program excellence must be combined with two or more of the following in evaluating the contribution of each nominated institution:
-Innovative excellence in the training of public historians (either at the undergraduate or graduate level) as evidenced by a quality public history curriculum and/or success in placement and accomplishments of graduates in public history related jobs
-Sustained commitment to the development of scholarly or other educational or teaching materials relating to the field of public history
-Sponsorship and/or delivery of high quality training courses, conferences, or educational outreach to the public or the public history community
-An outstanding record of public outreach programs (i.e. mass media, exhibitory, lecture series) that advance the appreciation of public history
-Demonstrated commitment to the value of expanding the public’s knowledge and appreciation of history in the institutional or corporate setting