Awards of Merit

Program Overview

The Connecticut League of History Organizations presents Awards of Merit to institutions and individuals who demonstrate the highest of professional standards, and who enhance and further the understanding of Connecticut history. The purpose of the Awards of Merit is to recognize the care, thought and effort invested in these contributions and to inspire and encourage others by acknowledging exceptional contributions to state and local history. The mere fulfillment of routine functions does not justify an award. Action over and above the ordinary call of duty is prerequisite for an Award of Merit. 

The CLHO presents Awards of Merit in two categories:

1. Project: exhibition, restoration, preservation, special research, web site, book, exhibition catalog, video, newsletter, pamphlet, educational program (for children, adults, groups with special needs, etc.), lecture series, demonstration, slide presentation, virtual program/series, etc.
2. Individual Achievement: an individual’s long-term efforts towards promoting and furthering a knowledge and appreciation of Connecticut history.

History organizations are encouraged to nominate their own work, as well as outstanding contributions by neighboring organizations. Individuals may nominate their own work, with the exception of the Individual Achievement award. Only works completed in the preceding 18 months are eligible for nomination. Nominated works must be historically accurate, properly documented, easily used and understood, and have specific goals. Nominated books should contain accurate citations, an index and a bibliography or list of works cited. Project nominations must contain photographic, video or other documentation of the final installation. All nominations must include an accurate budget, showing sources of funding, expenses incurred and relationship to institutional budget. 

CLHO's Awards of Merit Committee

The CLHO’s Awards of Merit Committee reviews all nominations. The committee is composed of at least five individuals representing different areas of expertise and different size institutions, including volunteer and non-volunteer organizations. The CLHO continually searches for outstanding new ideas that might serve as a model for other societies, and the Awards Committee will consider nominations that use models developed by other organizations but improve and carry such models to a higher level of excellence. The Awards Committee may give more than one award or no award in any category. Incomplete nominations will not be judged and will be returned to the nominator. Decision of the Awards Committee is final.

How We Evaluate Nominations

The Awards Committee considers the following questions for each nomination to guide its deliberations.

• Does it further the understanding of Connecticut history?
• Is it in keeping with current professional standards?
• Is it historically accurate? Or does it perpetuate historical myths?
• Is it scholarly or antiquarian in approach?
• Does it duplicates past efforts or offer a new approach to relating history?
• Does it serve as a model for others?
• Does it reflect care, thought, and effort?
• What is the specific historical context of the nomination?
• Is the nomination clear, easily understood, properly documented?
• Were artifacts or sites endangered by the project?
• What does budget reveal about the nomination?
• Do supporting letters give credible endorsements?
• What are the nomination's goals? Were they met?

Apply for the 2021 Awards of Merit

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Awards of Merit! The deadline is January 20, 2021.

How to Apply

To begin your application, please download the following documents:

Cover Sheet

Instructions

You may nominate any work from the previous 18 months. Please read this webpage and the instructions prior to completing your application.

How to Submit

When your application package is complete, please upload all files to the 2021 Awards of Merit Dropbox.

What about the Pandemic?

We recognize that this has been an unusual year, and that exhibits and projects might not have gone as originally planned. That's just fine! We encourage you to submit projects that paid special attention to events of 2020, as well as those that accommodated restrictions imposed by the pandemic. We know you've been creative, and we look forward to seeing the results.

Questions?

We hosted a live Q&A via Zoom on Friday, December 11 at 12:00 noon to give an overview of the Awards process, offer tips and suggestions for assembling a great nomination package, and answer your questions. 

Watch the Q&A

If you have additional questions, please email Amrys Williams, CLHO executive director.