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TextHistory 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, the Commission hopes to encourage interested citizens and students to research, write about, and help preserve Fairfax County history. The Commission believes that such actions provide an increased sense of community and place.
The Mary Fahringer Memorial Award was established in honor of the meritorious contribution made by Ms. Fahringer, who served as Chair of the History Commission (1972-1974) and liaison with the Architectural Review Board. One award may be given per year. It recognizes outstanding achievement in education, concentrating in areas of history and architecture. Prize $1000.
The Distinguished Service Awards (non-monetary) recognize the contributions of a great variety of efforts by people who work in support of historic preservation. These contributions might include donations of time, money, or material support. For example, a citizen may have spent many hours of service on a project to index historical records or administer a historical website.
The Beth Mitchell Award was created to honor the memory of Ms. Mitchell whose primary-source document research resulted in the creation of valuable historical maps. This award recognizes significant contributions of pure research that consolidate and index primary source material into a format that can be used to support further understanding and interpretation of Fairfax County history. Prize: $500 - $1000, to be determined by the Awards Committee based on the merits of the research.
The Fairfax Heritage Awards, listed below, are given for original research and writing. Because these require significant effort, the History Commission offers cash prizes to reward that effort. The research topic may involve the history of a local community, church, home, road, a place name, or a broader topic; as long as the focus is on Fairfax County history. The work should be of interest to the general public, and it should be supported by accurate documentary evidence. Research should include primary sources, such as journals and diaries, old letters, census records, and court records (e.g., wills, property deeds, tax records).
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.
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.
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 (For example, a community history or other general topic on Fairfax County history), 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.
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.
Rules of Submission:
For the Mary Fahringer Memorial Award and the Distinguished Service Awards, submit a letter to the Fairfax County History Commission stating the name of the person you are nominating, the contributions or achievements the person made that the award seeks to recognize, your contact information, and the nominee’s contact information.
For the Beth Mitchell Award, submit a letter to the Fairfax County History Commission providing your contact information and the contact information for the author of the project, if different from the applicant. Provide one copy of the project with supporting documentation.
For the Fairfax Heritage Awards, submit a letter to the Fairfax County History Commission stating the name of the award/prize being sought, your contact information, and the contact information for the author of the project, if different from the applicant. Provide one copy of the project with supporting documentation.
Entries should be submitted on or before June 1 of each year. Notification of awards will be made that year before or at the annual Fairfax County History Conference held in the fall.
Mail entries to:
Fairfax County History Commission
Attn: Awards Committee
10360 North Street
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
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