| Contact:
Jeff Morgan, Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov,
(515) 281-3858
(DES
MOINES) – The State Historical Society
of Iowa announced today it has received an Award of
Merit for preservation and interpretation of state
and local history.
The American Association for State and Local History
named SHSI and the Meskwaki Nation Historical Preservation
Office as recipients of a Leadership in History Award
of Merit for producing Meskwaki History, an interactive
CD-ROM that documents and preserves the history of
the Meskwaki tribe. The AASLH Leadership in History
Awards, now in its 62nd year, is the most prestigious
recognition for achievement in the preservation and
interpretation of state and local history.
“Being named a Leadership in History Award
of Merit recipient validates the important work done
by the State Historical Society to preserve and protect
Iowa’s rich history,” said Cyndi Pederson,
director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
“Our staff worked hand in hand with the Meskwaki
tribe to produce this interactive CD-ROM, and we are
grateful for their enthusiastic cooperation in helping
to preserve their history, which is an integral part
of Iowa’s past.”
The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to
establish and encourage standards of excellence in
the collection, preservation and interpretation of
state and local history throughout the United States.
The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor
significant achievement in the field of state and
local history, but also brings public recognition
of the opportunities for small and large organizations,
institutions and programs to make contributions in
this arena.
SHSI Project Manager Mary Bennett of Iowa City and
tribal historians, Johnathan Lantz Buffalo and Dawn
Suzanne Wanattee, created the CD-ROM as a primary
and secondary source on Meskwaki history. Chockfull
of information, the CD contains 1,230 pages of text
and documents; 357 images or photographs; 13 film
clips; 8 audio segments; 12 historical maps; artifact
images from SHSI collections; documents such as treaties,
census records and tribal constitution; examples of
Meskwaki language; history and archaeology information;
extensive bibliography of literature relating to the
tribe; a timeline and lesson plans.
“As a learning tool, Meskwaki History promotes
greater awareness and celebration of tribal heritage
while creating a better understanding of the contributions
of the Meskwaki,” Bennett said. “This
CD-ROM brings to the public photographs, audio clips,
movies, documents, maps and artifacts from the collections
of the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Historical
Preservation Office of the Sac and Fox Tribe of the
Mississippi in Iowa.”
Meskwaki History was created with support from SHSI,
the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, Humanities
Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
A division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs,
the State Historical Society of Iowa is a trustee
of Iowa’s historical legacy and an advocate
for understanding Iowa’s past. It identifies,
records, collects, preserves, manages and provides
access to Iowa’s historical resources. Its dual
mission of preservation and education serves Iowans
of all ages, conducts and stimulates research, disseminates
information, and encourages and supports historical
preservation and education efforts of others throughout
the state. Please visit www.iowahistory.org
or call 515-281-5111 for more information.
The AASLH is a not-for-profit professional organization
of individuals and institutions working to preserve
and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville,
Tenn., AASLH provides leadership, service and support
for its members who preserve and interpret state and
local history in order to make the past more meaningful
in American society.
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