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Mining History Association Awards
The Mining History Association (MHA) presents awards that recognize important contributions in the field of mining history. CLICK ON the name of an award below for its description and a list of past recipients. For information on MHA Research Grants, CLICK ON the Grants tab on the navigation bar above. Mary Lee Spence Award Ed Hunter Distinguished Service Award John Livermore Award Nominations for this award are due to the Rodman Paul Award Committee by April 1st of each year via e-mail or U. S. mail, and should include a description of the outstanding contributions that the nominee has made in the field of mining history. Endorsements by others may accompany the nomination. Nominations and questions about the nominating process should be sent to the committee Chair, Johnny Johnsson. Recent Recipients
The John Townley Award is given for the best paper published in The Mining History Journal.John Townley initiated the creation of the journal and served as first editor before his untimely death. An excellent historian and author of exceptional mining history articles and books, the John Townley Award is given in his memory. The recipient is awarded a certificate and $250. The recipient is selected by the Editorial Board.
2016 Article: John Anthony Byczynski, "Rethinking Radicalism: Socialism, the IWW, and Communism on the Cuyuna Iron Range, 1912-1933" 2015 Article: Gregory Bill, “Gilman, Colorado: From Metal Mining Frontier to Colorado’s Most Successful Company Town.” 2014 Article: Roger Burt, “Diamond Core Drills: Their Evolution, Early Development, and Consequences for Mining and Quarrying.” 2013 Article: Robert L. Spude, “Men of Scope: The Assayer and the Western Mining Community, 1848-1920.” 2012 Article: Mark Langenfeld, “The ‘Old Stonebreaker’: James Gates Percival and the Lead Mines of Wisconsin.” 2011 article: David Wolff, “Saving a Boomtown: The Reinvention of Deadwood.” 2010 Article: Eric Nystrom, “Underground Photography and American Mining before 1920.” 2009 Articles: Terry S. Reynolds, "A Tale of Two Companies," and L. Michael Kaas, "The Silver Hill Mine." 2008 Article: Peter Siems, “A History of the Schemnitz (Banska Stiavnica) Silver-Gold Mines.” 2007 Article: Roger Burt, “Technological Backwardness in the Western American Mining Industry in the Nineteenth Century.” 2006 Article: L. Michael Kaas, “A History of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, with Some Highlights of Its Involvement in Anthracite Mining.” 2005 Article: Stephen D. LeDuc, “The Ethnic Composition of Underground Labor in a Michigan Copper Township: A Quantitative Portrait, 1870-1920. 2004 Article: Ronald Limbaugh, “Pragmatic Professional: Herbert Hoover’s Formative Years as a Mining Engineer, 1895-1908.” 2003 Article: Jeremy Mouat, “Looking for Mr. Wright: A Tale of Mining Finance from the Late-Nineteenth Century.” 2002 Article: Robert Sorgenfrei, "Anatomy of a Mine Report: John H. Marks' Report on the San Juan Placer Operations, San Juan River, Utah, 1909." 2001 Article: Keith Long, "Tailings under the Bridge: Causes and Consequences of River Disposal of Tailings, Coeur d' Alene Mining Region, 1886-1968." 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." The Clark Spence Award is presented every other year to the author(s) of the best book in mining history published during the previous two years. The three-person Book Award Committee selects the winner that comes closest to achieving the rigorous documentation and narrative standards set by the works of Clark C. Spence. To be considered for the award, a book must focus on the history of a specific mining region, or a mining-related theme or topic, especially within the American West, or an individual or individuals prominent in the history of American mining. There are no temporal limits on subjects. The book must be published either in the year 2021 or 2022. The award comes with a $500 cash prize, which will be presented to the winning authors at the 2023 Mining History Association Annual Meeting. Spence was one of the MHA’s founding members, a professor of history at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, from 1961-1990, and the author of a number of books. Clark Spence is considered the dean of mining historians and served as the MHA’s first president. Recent Recipients
Mark Milton Chambers
(Gray Gold: Lead Mining and its Impact on the Natural and
Cultural Environment, 1700-1840)
Eleanor Herz Swent
(One Shot for Gold: Developing a
Modern Mine in Northern California).
Special recognition for
Rudy Davison
(Rudy’s View: A Driving
Guide from Telluride to the Top of Imogine Pass).
Mary Lee Spence Documentary Book Award The Mary Lee Spence Documentary Book Award was established in 2013. It recognizes the mining history book that best represents the high quality of editing documents, letters, diaries, photographs, oral histories and similar works set by Mary Lee Spence. The book must be published either in the year 2021 or 2022. The award comes with a $500 cash prize, which will be presented to the winning authors at the 2023 Mining History Association Annual Meeting. Professor Mary Lee Spence, editor of the John C. Fremont papers and other works, is professor emeritus of history at the University of Illinois, Champaign - Urbana, and has been a supporter of the MHA since its founding.
MHA Life-time Achievement in Publication Award 2020 Duane A. Smith in recognition of the editing, authorship, or co-authorship of over fifty books including most recently, with Christine A. Bradley, The Once and Future Silver Queen of the Rockies, Georgetown, Colorado, and the Fight for Survival into the Twentieth Century. The Cherry Hunter Award is presented to an individual whose works show outstanding commitment to and skill in recording mining history through graphic arts. The award honors the late Cherry Hunter, a long-time MHA member and accomplished artist. The award is not necessarily given on a yearly basis, but only when a qualified candidate has been nominated and selected. Recipients receive a plaque and monetary award of $250. Nominations for this award are welcome from any MHA member and are due to the Cherry Hunter Award Committee by April 1st of the year. They may be sent via e-mail or U. S. mail. Nominees may have credentials in any of the graphic arts. The Committee will base its decision on the body of a nominee’s work and its contribution to mining history. Nominations and questions about the nominating process should be sent to the committee Chair, Mark Langenfeld. Recent Recipients
The Beselme-Orrell Heritage Award was established in 2013 to recognize outstanding achievements which have demonstrably contributed to the understanding and appreciation of our mining heritage. The award is named for two MHA members, Jim Beselme and Lew Orrell, whose work represented the grass roots nature of most heritage projects. Project eligibility includes, but is not limited to, document and image preservation, oral histories, museum displays/exhibits, the preservation and interpretation of mining architecture, mining landscapes, and engineering works, documentary film/video projects, and the development and use of well-grounded educational materials and/or curriculum units incorporating important mining heritage themes.
Nominations for the award are welcome and are due to the Beselme-Orell Heritage Award Committee by February 1, 2022. A nomination may be sent via e-mail or U. S. mail. Nominees are generally non-profit organizations, such as museums, historical societies, or historic preservation organizations, and may include individuals. Questions about submitting a nomination should be sent to the committee Chair, Robert Spude.
The Distinguished Service Award is given to persons who have made extraordinary contributions to the MHA. The award is not necessarily given on a yearly basis, but only when a qualified candidate has been nominated and selected. Recipients receive a plaque and a monetary award in the amount of $250.
Nominations for the Distinguished Service Award should be submitted by MHA members to the committee Chair by April 1st. They may be sent via e-mail or U. S. mail. Nominations and questions about the nominating process should be sent to the committee Chair, Ed Raines.
Recent Recipients
Keith Long Presentation Award This annual award, first presented in 2022, honors former MHA President, Keith Long. It is given for the best presentation at the MHA’s annual conference.
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