2013 Awards Recognizing Achievements in 2012
2013 Award Winners Are:
David Douglas Fellowship Award: Irene Martin for the "Legacy of the Columbia River Fishery" project, a traveling exhibit on Columbia River Commercial fishing, both tribal and non-tribal, historical and present-day.
The Douglas award recognizes the significant contribution of an individual or an organization through projects, exhibits, educational products or any other vehicle that informs or expands our appreciation of any field of Washington State history during the previous year.
Robert Gray Medal: Gerry Alexander for his long-term contributions to Washington State and Pacific Northwest history. Gerry Alexander has been a life-long supporter of local and state history. He has supported numerous Olympia community efforts including serving as president of the State Capitol Historical Association. He has been a frequent and valued contributor to Columbia Magazine and has promoted and preserved the judicial history of the state. He was chief judge in the Washington Historical Court of Justice for the Chief Leschi Exoneration trial in 2004.
The highest award bestowed by the Washington State Historical Society, the Robert Gray Medal recognizes distinguished and long-term contributions to Pacific Northwest history through demonstrated excellence in one or more of the following areas: teaching, writing, research, historic preservation, and service to local historical societies.
Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching History in Washington State Award: Darin Detwiler for his outstanding contributions to teaching Pacific Northwest History at Redmond Middle School in Redmond, Washington. Darin has taught U.S. and Pacific Northwest History to students in grades 7-12 and at the community college level. He has involved students in such projects as testing exhibits for Seattle’s new Museum of History and Industry and has been an active participant in National History Day. He has been a leader in standards based grading in assessing social studies.
The award is presented to an outstanding certified teacher of Pacific Northwest history in an accredited K-12 school in Washington or to a nonprofit organization. The awards committee welcomes nominations of persons who demonstrate effective teaching by any measure of excellence. This may include, but is not limited to the use and development and an innovative curriculum, consistent effectiveness in utilizing Pacific Northwest history in either the classroom or the community over an extended period of time, the advancement of Pacific Northwest history as a field of academic inquiry, a lasting impact on students, the use or development of innovative technology, and the encouragement of Pacific Northwest themes in History Day presentations. The award includes a $750 and a Gold Star of recognition.
R. Lorraine Wojahn Award: Wayne Capps for his outstanding volunteer service advancing the work of the Washington State Historical Society. Wayne is especially effective in working with students in History Lab, finding ways to cultivate new historians through the History Lab experience.
R. Lorraine Wojahn Staff Award: Annie Roberts for her outstanding volunteer service advancing the work of the Washington State Historical Society. She goes above and beyond by volunteering to weed and beautify the museum grounds and by volunteering at many events on evenings and weekends.
The Wojahn Award is given to a person who has provided outstanding volunteer service to the Washington State Historical Society or the Washington State History Museum (Tacoma).
Peace and Friendship Award: Jim Boyd for advancing public understanding of the cultural diversity of the peoples of Washington State. As Chair of the Culture Committee of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, he carries cultural concerns of the tribe to a variety of agencies and guides staff in policy decisions about cultural resources. He is also a nationally and internationally known musician.
Peace and Friendship Award: E. Richard Hart for advancing public understanding of the cultural diversity of the peoples of Washington State. An expert in historical and ethno-historical research, he has helped to bring the tribal voice and perspective to legal issues through his work with tribal elders and officials and diligent research.
The Peace and Friendship Awards are presented to a Native American and a second individual, each of whom have advanced public understanding of the cultural diversity of the peoples of Washington State.
John McClelland Jr. Award: Gwen Perkins for her article "Dreamland: The Lost Worlds of James Tilton Pickett," recognized as the best article published in Columbia Magazine in 2012. In the article, the author masterfully combines research from disparate sources, along with some 21st century technology to "paint" a picture of artist, James Tilton Pickett, the son of Civil War General George Picket and his Native American wife, Morning Mist.
Download article in PDF format (5MB)
The McClelland Award is for the best article in a particular volume of Columbia. The article exhibits the readability and general interest that typifies Columbia, plus $100.
Charles Gates Award: Dr. Jill K. Gill for her article, "Idaho’s ‘Aryan’ Education: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Racial Politics," recognized as the most significant achievement among all articles published in the Pacific Northwest Quarterly in the previous year. In the article, Dr. Gill skillfully presents the campaign to establish Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Idaho giving the credit for its passage in 1990 ironically to the troubling presence of the Aryan Nations, and the human rights movement it helped stir, along with the state’s changing racial views.
Download article in PDF format (6MB)
The Gates Award recognizes the most significant achievement among all articles published in Pacific Northwest Quarterly during the previous year, plus $100.