History Commission Awards Program

The History Commission's Awards Program was established to both stimulate and reward interest in the history of Fairfax County, Virginia. This program includes the Mary Fahringer Memorial Award,the Distinguished Service Awards, and the Fairfax Heritage Awards.

Through these awards, we hope to encourage interested citizens and students to research, write about, and help preserve Fairfax County history. We believe that such actions provide an increased sense of community and place.

Rules of Submission; Entry Application Form; Entry Deadline The rules of submission and the required entry application form may be obtained by writing to:

    Fairfax County History Commission
    ATTN: Awards Committee
    Fairfax City Regional Library
    Virginia Room
    3915 Chain Bridge Road
    Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Entries should be submitted on or before June 1 of each calendar year.
Notification of awards will be by October 1 of the same calendar year.

The Mary Fahringer Memorial Award was established in honor of the meritorious contribution made by Fahringer, who served as Chair of the History Commission (1972-1974) and liaison with the Architectural Review Board. Prize $1000. One award may be given per year. It recognizes outstanding achievement in education, concentrating in areas of history and architecture.

The Distinguished Service Awards (non-monetary) recognize the contributions of a great variety of efforts by many people to the support of historic preservation. These contributions might include: hours of service, projects such as indexing, or donations of time or money or material support. Between 1982 and 1992, awards were given to 26 people. In 1998, the History Commission revived this award program when three recipients were designated to receive recognition before the Board of Supervisors.

The Fairfax Heritage Awards are given for original research and writing. Because these require significant effort, the History Commission offers cash prizes to reward that effort.

They are the Edith Moore Sprouse Award ($100), the C. J. S. Durham Prize ($250), the Nan Netherton Prize ($1,000), and the Fairfax Heritage Prize ($2,500). Each has specific guidelines, in addition to general rules of submission that need to be followed.

Your research topic may involve the history of a local community, church, road, or simply a place name. Or it may involve a broader topic. The important point is that you focus on Fairfax County. The presentation should be of interest to the general public. And it should be supported by accurate documentary evidence.

Your research should involve primary sources-such as journals and diaries, old letters, census records, and court records (like wills and property deeds). You can use a variety of techniques and disciplines such as historical and architectural photography, too.

Interpretation may be in the form of an essay (manuscript), a series of slides accompanied by a written text, or as a properly documented video. Please refer to the rules of submission for more specific details.

five awards.

• A fully-documented essay (manuscript) 10 pages in length on a specific topic related to Fairfax County history.
• or a 25 slide presentation accompanied by written text and documentation on a specific topic related to Fairfax County history.
• Refer to the rules of submission for further details.

Edith Moore Sprouse Award Prize $100. The number of awards to be determined annually; up to five awards.

• A fully-documented essay (manuscript) 10 pages in length on a specific topic related to Fairfax County history.
• or a 25 slide presentation accompanied by written text and documentation on a specific topic related to Fairfax County history.
• Refer to the rules of submission for further details.

C. J. S. Durham Prize Prize $250. One award per year may be given.

• A nomination of a Fairfax County structure to the National Register of Historic Places with the necessary supporting documentation.
• Or a narrative slide presentation of at least 75 slides and written text with supporting documentation interpreting architectural history of Fairfax County.
• Or a 15-minute video with written text and supporting documentation interpreting architectural history in Fairfax County.
• Refer to the rules of submission for further details.

Nan Netherton Prize Prize $1,000. One award per year may be given.

• Approximately 50 or more pages of interpretive writing with supporting documentation on a general topic relating to the history of Fairfax County (e.g., a community history or other such general topic).
• Or a 140 slide presentation with fully documented written text on a general topic relating to Fairfax County history.
• Or a 30-minute video presentation with fully documented written text on a general topic relating to Fairfax County history.
• Refer to the rules of submission for further details.

Fairfax Heritage Prize Prize $2,500. One award per year may be given.

• A major interpretive book-length manuscript (at least 250 pages and with supporting documentation) on a broad topic related to Fairfax County history.
• Or a one-hour professional quality video with written narration and supporting documentation on a broad topic related to Fairfax County history.
• Refer to the rules of submission for further details.