Clark Spence Award: The Spence Award goes to the best book in mining history published during a two year period. A three-person committee selects the winner based on the high academic standards of the award's namesake, Clark Spence, which includes consideration for research, interpretation, and writing. To be considered for the award, authors or the presses must submit three copies of the book to the committee chair. The winning author receives a $500 cash prize from the Mining History Association. For books published in 2011 and 2012, the award will be presented at the 2013 MHA annual meeting. The current chairperson is David Wolff, and three copies of the book should be sent to him at: Dept of History and Social Science, Black Hills State University, 1200 University St., Spearfish, SD 57799.
David.Wolff@bhsu.edu
 

Recent Recipients

• 2001-2002 Laurie Mercier for “Anaconda: Labor, Community, and Culture in Montana’s Smelter City.”
  
  

• 2003-2004 David A. Wolff for “Industrializing the Rockies: Growth, Competition, and Turmoil in the Coalfields of Colorado and Wyoming, 1868-1914.”
  
  

• 2005-2006 Liston E. Leyendecker, Christine Bradley, and Duane Smith for “The Rise of the Silver Queen: Georgetown, CO, 1859-1896.”
  
  

• 2007-2008 Thomas G. Andrews for “Killing for Coal: America’s Deadliest Labor War.”
  
  

• 2009-2010 Ronald H. Limbaugh for “Tungsten in Peace and War, 1918-1946” and Duane A. Smith for “The Trail of Gold and Silver: Mining in Colorado, 1859-2009.” Special Recognition to Sheila Kelly for “Treadwell Gold: An Alaska Saga of Riches and Ruin.”
  

Rodman Paul Award: The Rodman Paul Award is given for outstanding contributions to mining history. Questions about the nominating process may be directed to the chair of the committee: Johnny Johnsson at johnsson5@verizon.net
 

Recent Recipients 

• 2000 Don Hardesty.  Author. Anthropology professor, University of Nevada, Reno.
  
  

• 2000 Chris Huggard.  Former Editor, The Mining History Journal. Professor, Northwest Arkansas Community College.   
  
  

• 2001 Liston Leyendecker. Author. Professor, Colorado State University.
  
  

• 2001 Fred Quivik. Preservationist. Industrial archeologist, known for his work in Butte, Montana.
  
  

• 2002 Roger Burt.  Author. Professor, University of Exeter, United Kingdom.
  
  

• 2002 Ed Hunter. Mining engineer.  Author. Preservationist known for his work at Cripple Creek, Colorado and the Western Museum of Mining and Industry
  
  

• 2004 Eleanor Swent.  Senior Editor, Regional Oral History Office, University of California-Berkeley.  Project director and research interviewer, “Western Mining in the Twentieth Century” series.
  

• 2004 Jay Fell. Adjunct Professor, University of Colorado at Denver and Regis University, Denver, and MHA Treasurer.
  
  

• 2006 James McBride. Adjunct Professor, Arizona State University, and former MHA President.
  
  

• 2009 Richard Francaviglia.  Author. Professor, University of Texas at Arlington.
  
  

• 2010 Terry Humble. Miner. Mining historian, preservationist, tour guide, museum volunteer, and lecturer in southwestern New Mexico.
  
  

• 2011 Dawn Bunyak. Historic preservationist and former MHA Secretary
  
  
  

John Townley Award: The John Townley Award is given for the best essay published in the MHA Journal. Selection is made by the editorial board.

Recent Recipients 

• 2000 Articles: Noel W. Kirshenbaum, "The Giant Gold Diggers: California's Lang Going Fleet of Dredges" and Karen Pickett, "Environmental Battlefield: Ruston, Washington, Home to an ASARCO Smelter and Superfund Site."
  
  

• 2001 Article: Keith Long, "Tailings under the Bridge: Causes and Consequences of River Disposal of Tailings, Coeur d' Alene Mining Region, 1886-1968."
  
  

• 2002 Article: Robert Sorgenfrei, "Anatomy of a Mine Report: John H. Marks' Report on the San Juan Placer Operations, San Juan River, Utah, 1909."
  
  

• 2003 Article: Jeremy Mouat, “Looking for Mr. Wright: A Tale of Mining Finance from the Late-Nineteenth Century.”
  
  

• 2004 Article: Ronald Limbaugh, “Pragmatic Professional: Herbert Hoover’s Formative Years as a Mining Engineer, 1895-1908.”
  
  

• 2005 Article: Stephen D. LeDuc, “The Ethnic Composition of Underground Labor in a Michigan Copper Township: A Quantitative Portrait, 1870-1920.”
  
  

• 2006 Article: L. Michael Kaas, “A History of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, with Some Highlights of Its Involvement in Anthracite Mining.”
  
  

• 2007 Article: Roger Burt, “Technological Backwardness in the Western American Mining Industry in the Nineteenth Century.”
  
  

• 2008 Article: Peter Siems, “A History of the Schemnitz (Banska Stiavnica) Silver-Gold Mines.”
  
  

• 2009 Articles: Terry S. Reynolds, "A Tale of Two Companies," and L. Michael Kaas, "The Silver Hill Mine."
  
  

• 2010 Article: Eric Nystrom, “Underground Photography and American Mining before 1920.”
  
  
  

Cherry Hunter Award: The Cherry Hunter Award is given to an individual whose works show outstanding commitment to and skill in recording mining history through graphic arts. Questions about nominations should be directed to the chair of the committee: Mark Langenfeld at mlangen@execpc.com.
 

Recent Recipients 

• 2006 Art Williams
  
  

• 2007 Ted Mullings
  
  

• 2008 Susan Robinson
  
  

• 2009 Muriel Sibell Wolle
  
  

• 2010 George Foote
  
  
  

MHA Distinguished Service Award: The MHA Distinguished Service Award is given to persons who have made extraordinary contributions to the MHA. Questions about nominations should be directed to the chair of the committee: Ed Raines at ghs@peakpeak.com.

Recent Recipients 

• 2006 Bob Spude, Mark Vendl, and Karen Vendl
  
  

• 2007 Bob Sorgenfrei
  
  

• 2010 Duane A. Smith and Jay Fell