Awards

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The Confederation of South Carolina Local Historical Societies established an award program to recognize the special achievements of historical organizations, volunteers in historical organizations, professionals, and other entities that further the programs and projects of historical organizations. Awards are available to member organizations, individuals, and others for outstanding work in promoting and preserving South Carolina’s heritage.  The Confederation recognizes winners at its Awards Banquet at the South Carolina Landmark Conference each year.
 
Please encourage undergraduate and graduate students to submit papers relating to South Carolina history for the Margaret Watson History Award.  We offer first and second place cash prizes ($500, $300) and we plan to publish them online, making them available to the public.

All papers and awards must be submitted electronically to President Brenda Baratto at [email protected].
~~~ Submit award nominations by February 28, 2025, for consideration at the 2025 Landmark Conference Awards Lunch on Friday, March 28, at 12:15 in the Health Sciences Center of Central Carolina Technical College in Sumter. ~~~

Award Criteria & Forms

• Robert N. Pryor Volunteer Service Award
• Alexander S. Salley Professional Service Award
• Award of Merit

• Margaret Watson History Award

awards_program_criteria.pdf
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awards_nomination_form.pdf
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margaret_watson_history_award_criteria_24.pdf
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Papers from the Margaret Watson History Award are available on our website. If you are a past recipient and don't see yours, please contact us. We may need a copy.

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South Carolina Hall of Fame

The Confederation accepts and vets nominations to the South Carolina Hall of Fame. A new class of inductees is named every other year. Submissions for the next class may be submitted at any time.

2020_schof_nomination_form.pdf
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Visit the South Carolina Hall of Fame online or in person in Myrtle Beach, SC.

Past Award Winners

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Note: In documenting past award recipients, we find that our records are a bit scattered. If you received an award and/or know others who have, please share that information with us at [email protected].

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2024
Pryor Award: Tony Scully, Kershaw County Historical Society
Watson Award: Olesya Williams, "The Barringer" - USC School of Visual Art and Design, nominated by Dr. Lydia Brandt
​Achievement of Excellence Award: Rickie Good, Director of the Kershaw County Revolutionary War Visitor Center
Award of Merit: Dr. Walter Curry - Exhibit: Ancestral Reflections, Renaissance Publications, LLC
2023
Salley Award: George McDaniel, Executive Director, Drayton Hall
Awards of Merit:

• Lon Outen, Gateway to the Carolinas Backcountry
• Kershaw County Historical Society and Historic Camden Foundation, Moving and restoring the Bonds-Conway House
• Daniel Island Historical Society, Cainhoy Collective, Oral History Project
• Daniel Island Historical Society, Cemetery Committee, Preservation of historical cemeteries and graves

2022
Pryor Award: George Forbes, Jr., Arts & Heritage Council of North Augusta
Watson Award: Elizabeth Aranda, USC Upstate, "A Noble Duty: Ladies' Aid Associations in Upstate South Carolina During the Civil War"
Awards of Merit:

• Dr. Bobby Donaldson, "Justice for All" exhibit featuring items from University of SC Special Collections
• Joan & Glen Inabinet, The World of Jak Smyrl: South Carolina Artist, Journalist, and Cartoonist

2020
Pryor Award: Allen Riddick, Aiken County Historical Society
Salley Award: Michael C. Scoggins, Historian, Culture & Heritage Museums of York County (posthumously)
Awards of Merit:

• "Celebrations & Memories of World War I," Calhoun County Museum
• "How Did We Get to Now," SC African American Heritage & Culture Foundation [Publication Links: Volume 1 (2016) and Volume 2 (2019)]

2019
Pryor Award: Walt Joseph
Awards of Merit:

• Hampton County Historical Society, Vietnam War Program
• Historic Columbia, Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens Interpretive Enhancements and Capital Improvements
• SC Department of Archives & History, Reconstruction, Restoration, Revolution, Reaction
• Sumter County Museum, Temple Sinai Jewish History Center

2018
Pryor Award: Milledge Murray
Watson Award: Brittany McCarver, "A People-Oriented Company"
2017
Watson Award: Tanya Jones, "Hidden Jewels"
Awards of Merit:

• Fort Mill History Museum, History Trunk for Schools
• Fort Mill History Museum, Newsletter
• Achievement of Excellence, Fort Mill History Museum, Elizabeth Ford Living History Project

2016
Pryor Award: Anne Sheriff, Central
2015
Pryor Award: Jean Boyd, Horse Creek Valley
2014
Pryor Award: Ben Hornsby, Columbia
Salley Award: Brent Holcomb, Columbia
Awards of Merit:

• Aiken County Historical Society Rack Card, "Homes of the Winter Colony"
• Fort Mill History Museum, Overall Programming
• Historic Columbia, Restoration and Reinterpretation of Woodrow Wilson's Family Home "A Museum of Reconstruction"

2013
Pryor Award: Joan Inabinet, Kershaw County
Salley Award: Dr. Tracey Power, Columbia
Awards of Merit:

• Arts & Heritage Center of North Augusta, Hamburg Exhibit
• Springs Close Family Archives, "Between the Springmaid Sheets" Exhibit

2012
Pryor Award: James G. Clamp, Newberry
Salley Award: Tonya Browder, Edgefield
2011
Pryor Award: Don Barclay, Dillon County
2010
Award of Merit: Culture & Heritage Museums at Historic Brattonsville, Hightower Hall
2009
Pryor Award: Rodger Stroup
Watson Award: Mary Elizabeth Layne, "The Changing Views of the Hamburg Massacre"
Awards of Merit:

• Calhoun County Museum & Cultural Center, Calhoun County Centennial Celebration
• Fairfield County Museum, "Birthing a Community: Midwives of Fairfield County"
• Horry County Historical Society, The Bryan House
• North Augusta Olde Towne Preservation Association, "Colonial Times: A Day to Remember"
• Pendleton Historic Foundation, Christmas at Ashtabula

2008
Pryor Award: William L. "Bill" McKinney, Jr, Editor of Marlboro Herald Advocate, Marlboro County Historical Museum
Salley Award: Debbie Roland, Director, Calhoun County Museum and Cultural Center
Watson Award: Lindsey Sink, Presbyterian College
Awards of Merit:

• Culture and Heritage Museums of York County, Outstanding redesign of Links magazine.
• Yorkville Historical Society, Stories in Stone program
• Fairfield County Museum, Oral History Project
• Pendleton Historic Foundation, Programming of Christmas at Ashtabula Plantation, A Staged Historic Reenactment.
• Colleton County Historical and Preservation Society, Entire slate of activities in 2007.

2007
Pryor Award: Eleanor (Nina) Sledge Burke
Awards of Merit:

• Friends of the Lexington County Museum, Fundraising Efforts for the Lexington County Museum
• Georgetown County Historical Society, Locating, purchasing and showing to the public the 1923 silent movie, Pied Piper Malone, shot on location in Georgetown, SC
• Lancaster County History Commission, Preservation of the 1841 Invincible Militia Flag
• Lexington County Museum, Leaphart-Harman House Restoration Project
• South Carolina Fall Line Consortium, "Meeting in the Middle: Material Culture from South Carolina's Fall Line Region, 1700-1900"
• Town of Iva, Mayor Bobby Gentry and Town Council
• Willington on the Way, Restoration and revitalization efforts in downtown Willington

2005
Special Recognition: "In Honor of Louise Pettus in recognition of her sixteen years of service to the York County
Genealogical and Historical Society as founder and editor of The Quarterly 1989-2005"
2004
Pryor Award: Betty "Beeka" Coleman, Greenwood County Historical Society
2002
Pryor Award: Bob F. Edmonds, McCormick
Watson Award: Katie Sisk "With All Deliberate [lack of] Speed: The Desegregation of Cherokee County Schools" - USC Upstate, nominated by Dr. Carmen Harris
2001
Pryor Award: Margaret Flynn Bowie, Abbeville
Salley Award: Horace S. Harmon, Lexington
2000
Salley Award: Hurley Badders, Anderson
1994
Pryor Award: Louise Pettus, Rock Hill
1993
Pryor Award: Billie Rivers Allen, Laurens
1991
Pryor Award: Martha Johnson Patterson, McCormick
Outstanding New Periodical Publication: The Quarterly, a publication of York Co. Genealogical and Historical Society
1986
Pryor Award: Fannie Lee Sparks, Union
1984
Pryor Award: Mike & Edna "Teeny" Miles McLendon, Marion
1982
Pryor Award: Bill Kinney, Bennettsville