NCPH awards recognize excellence in the diverse ways public historians apply their skills to the world around us. The purpose of the award program is to promote professionalism and best practices among public historians and to raise awareness about their activities. Awards are presented to recipients during the annual meeting.

A challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities makes possible our expanding awards program. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Click for a list of 2024 award winners

Guidelines and current and past recipients are listed on each award page.

NCPH BOOK AWARD

A $1,000 award for the best book about or growing out of public history published within the previous two calendar years (2023 and 2024).

• Nominations are closed for the year.

OUTSTANDING PUBLIC HISTORY PROJECT AWARD

Two $750 awards recognizing projects–digital, print, film, exhibit, etc.–that contribute to a broader public reflection and appreciation of the past or that serve as a model of professional public history practice. One will go to a larger institution (6 or more paid staff) and the other to a smaller institution (5 or fewer paid staff).

• Nominations are closed for the year.

NCPH GRASSROOTS PUBLIC HISTORY AWARD

A $750 award recognizing an individual or community organization doing important public history work in their community.

• Nominations must be submitted through this form: https://community.ncph.org/page/grassrootsaward

G. WESLEY JOHNSON AWARD

A $750 award for the best article in The Public Historian for the 2024 calendar year.

EXCELLENCE IN CONSULTING AWARD

Up to two (2) $500 awards recognize outstanding work and contributions by consultants or contractors.

• Nominations are closed for the year.

NEW PROFESSIONAL AWARD

Two $500 travel grants to encourage new professionals, practicing public history for no more than three years, to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

• Nominations are closed for the year.

ROBERT KELLEY MEMORIAL AWARD

This $500 award honors distinguished achievements by individuals, institutions, or nonprofit or corporate entities for making history relevant to the lives of ordinary people outside of academia.

• This is a biennial award. The next round of submissions will be for the 2025-2026 award year.

MICHAEL C. ROBINSON PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL ANALYSIS

A $500 cash award and a certificate, rewarding historical studies that contribute directly to the formation of public policy.

• Nominations must be submitted through this form: https://community.ncph.org/page/robinsonprize

Diversity Travel Award

Four $500 travel grants to support attendance at the NCPH Annual Meeting for representatives of minority-supporting institutions that base their primary work in supporting marginalized communities through public history, broadly defined.

• Nominations must be submitted through this form: https://community.ncph.org/page/diversitytravelaward

STUDENT PROJECT AWARD

The $500 travel grant to attend the 2025 Annual Meeting recognizes the contributions of student work to the field of public history.

• Nominations must be submitted through this form: https://community.ncph.org/page/studentprojectaward

GRADUATE STUDENT TRAVEL AWARD

Five travel grants of up to $300 each for graduate students presenting (session, poster session, or working group) at the 2025 Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

• Nominations must be submitted through this form: https://community.ncph.org/page/studenttravelaward

NCPH FOUNDERS AWARD

The NCPH Founders Award recognizes those individuals who were present at the creation of NCPH and who played critical roles in the organization’s success.

NCPH BOARD OF DIRECTORS AWARD FOR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE

The Board of Directors Award for Extraordinary Service is given when the NCPH Board seeks to recognize publicly an individual who has, through long-term and substantive effort, made transformational contributions to the work of NCPH.