2007 Annual Award winners

The Illinois State Historical Society presented more than 35 awards to statewide teachers, curators, museum professionals, and authors at its 108th Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon, held at Pere Marquette Lodge in Grafton on April 28.

Five Illinois social studies/history teachers received the annual Olive Foster Outstanding Teacher Award, sharing $2,000 in cash prizes. The 2007 winners are Jeffrey Welker of Wood River, Mary Bellmar of Chicago, Katy Arme of Plainfield, and Jenni Dahl and John Taylor of Springfield. Recipients of the Olive Foster Award actively promote Illinois history in schools as well as in their local communities, using resources of one or more local historical societies, museums, the Illinois State Historical Society, and other organizations.

The 2007 Malkovich Award for a Young Museum Professional was presented to Natalie Gacek of the St. Charles Heritage Center. Ms. Gacek received a cash stipend to attend the 2007 annual meeting of the Midwest Museum Association in Michigan later this year.

The Society's Annual Awards recognize and encourage the efforts of individuals, groups, and organizations that collect, preserve, interpret, or disseminate state and local history. The complete list of 2007 winners follows:

Public Programming
•   Richard P. Bessette, Orland Park, "Illinois Central History Public Library Display," Certificate of Excellence.
•   Naper Settlement, "History Shapes Art: Naperville through the Youthful Eye," Certificate of Excellence.
•   Alice Toebaas, curator, Galena Historical Society and Museum, "Deep Roots: Farming in Jo Daviess County," Certificate of Merit.
•   Naperville Community Television Channel 17, "Community Building on the Great Frontier: The Story of Joseph Naper & the Founding of
     Naperville," Superior Achievement.
•   Mark Herman, Midway Village and Museum, "1900 Rockford: An American Chautauqua," Certificate of Excellence.
•   Macon County Historical Society and Museum, "Read All About It: History of the Newspaper Business in Decatur," Certificate of Excellence.
•   Nipwaantikaani and Demostenes Productions, "The Early History of the Illinois Indians" (documentary), Superior Achievement.
•   Schuette-Biermann Farmhouse Museum, "I Remember When: Celebrating the Last 50 Years of Elk Grove Village," Certificate of Excellence.
•   Center for History, Wheaton Historic Preservation Center, "Fairways, Greens, and Club Exhibition," Superior Achievement.

Special Projects
•   Sterling Rock Falls Historical Society, "Lincoln Statue Project," Superior Achievement.
•   Naper Settlement, "Naper Settlement 2007 Calendar of Events", Superior Achievement.
•   Naper Settlement and Naper Heritage Society, "Planning for the Future: 2005 Annual Report," Superior Achievement.
•   Naper Settlement and Naperville Heritage Society, "Heritage Hall of Honor" (Invitation and Program), Superior Achievement.
•   Hinsdale Historical Society, "The Campaign to Rehabilitate Historic Immanuel Hall," Superior Achievement.

Publications
•   Book of the Year. Robber Baron: The Life of Charles Tyson Yerkes, by John Franch, Univ. of Illinois Press.
•   Antonio DeMattos & the Portuguese Community in Antebellum Illinois, by David J. Langum, Sr. Superior Achievement.
•   Owen Coon and the American Dream, Richard Cahan, Certificate of Merit.
•   Chicago: Metropolis of the Mid-Continent 4th Edition, by Irving Cutler. Southern Illinois Univ. Press, Certificate of Excellence.
•   An Honest Calling, by Mark Steiner. Northern Illinois Univ. Press, Superior Achievement.
•   Cardiff: Ghost Town of the Prairie, by Jim Ridings, Certificate of Excellence.
•   Death Underground: The Centralia and West Frankfort Mine Disasters, by Robert Hartley and David Kenney. Southern Illinois Univ.
     Press. Superior Achievement.
•   Good Hearts: Catholic Sisters in Chicago's Past, Suellen Hoy. Univ. of Illinois Press. Certificate of Excellence.
•   The Chicago Black Renaissance and Women's Activism, by Ann Meis Knupfer. Univ. of Illinois Press. Superior Achievement.
•   Visionary: An Elmhurst Retrospective by Dr. Virginia Stewart, Elmhurst Historical Museum, Certificate of Excellence.
•   Glen Ellyn Public Library: The First Century 1907-2007, Lynda Hoornbeek and Judy Webster, Superior Achievement.
•   Richard Nickel's Chicago and Photographs of a Lost City, by Michael Williams and Richard Cahan. CityFiles Press. Superior Achievement.
•   Piatt County Barn Tour, Piatt County Museum, Certificate of Excellence.
•   Lost Mount Prospect, Mount Prospect Historical Society, Certificate of Excellence.

Nonbook Publications
•   "Treasures Magazine," Naper Settlement and Naperville Heritage Society, Superior Achievement.
•   New Updated Website. Macon County Historical Society. Certificate of Excellence.
•   "Glimpses of the Past: 5th Annual Historical Calendar," Forsyth/Hickory Point Township Historical Society, Certificate of Merit.

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