Montana Historical Society Board of Trustees
Trustees' Award Policy
The Board of Trustees have selected Trustees' award winners since 1978. The Society's "Statement of Philosophical and Procedural Guidelines"(3.8.1) outlines the parameters for this award. Changes to the guidelines were adopted by the Board at the April 2006 Board of Trustees meeting. The revised guidelines are as follows:
The person selected for this annual award should be conspicuous for his/her service within the many allied fields which together make up the interests and responsibilities of Montana's historical community. These include: identification, preservation, and proper use of historic properties, historic sites, artifacts, historical manuscripts and records, and library materials; furtherance of local historical societies; research and writing; service to historical institutions; and general support and promotion of the interests of Montana history.
Consideration which should be taken into account for selection include: length of involvement of service; effectiveness of service; level of prior recognition; and degree of commitment to the general concepts and highest goals of the historical community. The service given in Montana history and the preservation of Montana historical materials may have occurred within a statewide, regional or community context. The person's service to the historical community should extend beyond the confines of making a livelihood.
Method of Selection
The Trustees' award will be promoted through a variety of pertinent methods, such as the State Archivists newsletter, preservation list serves, etc. Anyone, including Society staff and Board members can submit a completed nomination form to the Awards Committee chair or the chair's designee.
The Awards Committee will select finalists and recommend the top three nominees and present the person(s) to the Board of Trustees at the July Board meeting. From these finalists, the Trustees, by majority vote, shall ordinarily select no more than one individual per year to receive this award. Group awards may also be given under circumstances where two or more people have worked together to achieve a common goal of historical significance. It is the opinion of the Awards Committee that giving more than one Trustees' award per year compromises the prestige of the award. The Trustees should, if at all possible, attempt to honor living individuals who, though having demonstrated a full life of service to Montana history, can still enjoy the award. The Trustees may consider individuals for the award who have served previously on the MHS Board of Trustees, so long as their contributions to Montana history meet all other criteria described here.
After selection by the Board of Trustees, the staff of the Society shall arrange for suitable awards to be presented at the annual Montana History Conference. Staff will maintain a file of all previously considered candidates and the dates on which they were considered and not selected.
History of the Trustees' Award
The Board of Trustees have selected Trustees' award winners since 1978. In some of those years, they have made a single appointment. One year they selected four winners. Most years they have made two selections.
