About the Reuben Gold Thwaites Trophy for Local History
Submission Guidelines
Reuben Gold Thwaites
Quarter-length studio portrait of Reuben Gold Thwaites,second Director of the Wisconsin Historical Society. Thwaites initiated the affiliation program 120 years ago, the first such program nationwide. View the original source document: WHI 4158
The Reuben Gold Thwaites Trophy is presented annually to one affiliated historical organization for continued excellence and overall service to its community over a period of at least five years. The trophy is held by the winning affiliate for one year. Each affiliate is invited to review its own performance and submit itself in nomination for the trophy.
Eligibility
Only affiliates in good standing with the Wisconsin Historical Society may be nominated for the award. An affiliate that has previously received the trophy is not eligible to be nominated again for a period of 25 years following its selection to receive the trophy.
Award Criteria
An affiliate selected to receive the Reuben Gold Thwaites Trophy must demonstrate the excellence of its achievements in collecting, preserving and sharing history.
Collecting and preserving history may include acquisition and preservation of museum artifacts, historic buildings, archaeological sites, archival and manuscript records, photographs and visual images, and oral history interviews and recordings. Examples of excellence in collecting and preserving history include:
- Acquiring historical materials that represent the breadth and diversity of a community's past
- Preserving historical materials with appropriate climate control, maintaining appropriate collection records, or implementing restoration with appropriate standards
- Informing a society's members and the public about the need for proper care of historical materials in public or private ownership
Sharing history with the public may include providing historical information and education through public programs, school programs, tours, historic sites and exhibits, historical markers, published material, and broadcast media. Examples of excellence in sharing history include:
- Employing a variety of services to provide historical education or addressing a variety of historical topics that represent the breadth and diversity of a community's past
- Providing historical information and education to a variety of audiences
- Maintaining appropriate standards of historical accuracy based on historical research and professional standards
- Partnering with other community organizations to promote history
The impact of an affiliate's overall services to its own community is a major component used in evaluating nominations for the Reuben Gold Thwaites Trophy. A small affiliate that provides excellent overall service to a small community can compete with a larger affiliate that provides excellent overall service to a larger community.
Due Date
March 10 of each year (postmarked or delivered)
How to Apply
To nominate an affiliate for the award, the nominator must submit a narrative describing the accomplishments of the affiliate over at least the previous five years. The narrative may not exceed 10 single-spaced pages. All nominations must include:
- The name of the affiliated historical organization
- The name and address of the president of the affiliate
- The name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of the author of the nomination
Send applications to:
Local History - Thwaites Award
Wisconsin Historical Society
816 State Street - Room 455
Madison, WI 53706
Awards are initially reviewed by a committee of judges appointed by the Society and then approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Curators. The date and presentation of the award will be made at a time and location convenient for the recipient. Employees and members of the Board of Curators of the Wisconsin Historical Society are not eligible to receive awards.
Past Award Winners
2018 — Juneau County Historical Society
2016 — Oulu Historical Society
2015 — Rock County Historical Society
2014 — Evansville Grove Society
2013 — De Pere Historical Society
2012 — Sheboygan Historical Society
2011 — Bay View Historical Society
2010 — Dunn County Historical Society
2009 — Heritage Military Music Foundation
2008 — No trophy conferred
2007 — Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society
2006 — Chippewa Valley Museum
2005 — Burnett County Historical Society
2004 — Wisconsin Marine Historical Society
2003 — Fort Atkinson Historical Society
2002 — DeForest Historical Society
2001 — Mount Horeb Area Historical Society
2000 — Watertown Historical Society
1999 — Two Rivers Historical Society
1998 — New Berlin Historical Society
1997 — Cedarburg Cultural Center
1996 — Portage County Historical Society
1995 — Merrill Historical Society
1994 — McFarland Historical Society
1993 — Vernon County Historical Society
1992 — Mazomanie Historical Society
1991 — Clear Lake Historical Society
1990 — Manitowoc County Historical Society
1989 — Marathon County Historical Society
1988 — Kenosha County Historical Society
1987 — Wisconsin Slovak Historical Society
1986 — Bay View Historical Society
1985 — Wauwatosa Historical Society
1984 — Manitowoc Maritime Museum
1983 — New Holstein Historical Society
1982 — La Crosse County Historical Society
1981 — Outagamie County Historical Society
1980 — Waukesha County Historical Society
1979 — Chippewa Valley Museum
1978 — St. Croix County Historical Society
1977 — Hawks Inn Historical Society
1976 — Brown County Historical Society
1975 — Ripon Historical Society
1974 — Menomonee Falls Historical Society
1973 — Barron County Historical Society
1972 — Fort Atkinson Historical Society
1971 — Rock County Historical Society
1970 — Dunn County Historical Society
1969 — Ozaukee County Historical Society
1968 — Beloit Historical Society
1967 — Milwaukee County Historical Society
1966 — Wild Rose Historical Society
1965 — Watertown Historical Society
1964 — Fond du Lac County Historical Society
1963 — Oconto County Historical Society
1962 — South Wood County Historical Society
1961 — Douglas County Historical Society
1960 — Northland Historical Society
1959 — Menasha Historical Society
1958 — Marathon County Historical Society
Have Questions?
For more information, contact Janet Seymour at 715-836-2250 or write to the address above.