About the Governor's Archives Awards
Submission Guidelines
The State Seal of Wisconsin
Three Governor's Archives Awards are given each year for archival achievement, archival innovation, and archival advocacy.
The Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board (WHRAB) and the Wisconsin Historical Society invite nominations for the Governor's Archives Awards. The WHRAB consists of members appointed by the governor and assists Wisconsin institutions in applying for federal grants for archival work and in improving the appreciation and care of historical records in Wisconsin
The awards honor outstanding work with historical records in Wisconsin. They recognize individuals, programs or organizations that have made significant contributions to preserving or increasing the availability of original historical documents in any format. There are three award categories: archival achievement, archival innovation, and archival advocacy.
The Governor's Archives Award is presented with the generous support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
General Requirements
All Governor's Archives Award nomination applications must meet the general eligibility and criteria requirements. See more below.
Application Eligibility
- All Governor's Archives Awards are for outstanding work with historical records or manuscripts in Wisconsin.
- Historical records or manuscripts are defined as original documents in the following formats: letters, diaries, scrapbooks, journals, photographs, films or videos, sound recordings, maps, microfilm, or original digital documents such as databases, spreadsheets, narrative text, or graphic images. Work with personal and family papers, business records, organizational documents, state and local government records, or court files qualify for all the awards. Published sources such as newspapers are not considered historical records for the purposes of these awards.
- An individual or organization may only win once for any given project. Non-winning nominations are allowed to be re-submitted for awards in subsequent years.
Application Criteria
- Be sure to state clearly the archival nature of the nomination. A published or other secondary source does not qualify for the award unless the overall activity encourages the use of primary source material. Work with newspapers is not considered archival for the purposes of this award.
- The inclusion of supporting materials, such as letters of support and media coverage, is highly recommended but not required. Such material should establish the merits of the work being nominated. All submitted materials become the property of the Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board (WHRAB) and will not be returned.
- If the nomination is for the production of an original work in print format, five copies of such material should be submitted. If possible, please send a link to an online version of the created resource.
- If the nomination is for a new or significantly expanded archival program, three letters of support may be submitted (at the discretion of the nominator). These letters must be from individuals not affiliated with the program but who have substantial knowledge of the activities being nominated. Each letter should be no longer than three typewritten pages.
Specific Requirements
Each award category—achievement, innovation, and advocacy—for the Governor's Archives Awards has specific eligibility and criteria requirements. See more below.
Governor's Award for Archival Achievement
Eligibility
The Archival ACHIEVEMENT Award recognizes a historical records repository that has made an outstanding contribution to the archival profession or a notable achievement of value to the archives community, its patrons or constituents. It is open to Wisconsin archival repositories and individuals only. The activity or contribution being nominated must be for work that is continuing.
Criteria
- Establishing sound and active archival programs, where none has previously existed
- Substantially increasing public access and usefulness of an existing archival collection
- Contributing to a graduate degree program for archives students or to continuing education programs for professional archivists and other archives staff
- Preserving a threatened archival collection
- Making any other major contribution to the preservation, use or appreciation of Wisconsin's archival heritage worthy of recognition
Governor's Award for Archival Innovation
Eligibility
The Archival INNOVATION Award recognizes individuals, programs or organizations that successfully experiment with new ways to demonstrate the significance or relevance of historical records for understanding the past or that use historical records to reach new audiences. This award is open to Wisconsin archival repositories and individuals only. The activity or contribution being nominated must have occurred during the last 3 years and may be continuing.
Criteria
- Experimenting with new approaches to raising awareness and appreciation of historical records as keys to Wisconsin's cultural heritage
- Using new technologies for disseminating information about historical records
- Conducting public programs or classroom teaching that employ historical records in new ways
- Using historical records to reach new audiences
Governor's Award for Archival Advocacy
Eligibility
The Archival ADVOCACY Award honors an individual or organization in Wisconsin or elsewhere for notable contributions to archival programs through organizational leadership, public advocacy, and financial or volunteer support. The nominated individual or organization must be advocating for Wisconsin programs. The activity or contribution being nominated must be for work that is continuing.
Criteria
- Establishing an educational or public history program designed to encourage the use of archival collections
- Creating writings, research or publications that contribute to a better understanding of archival collections in Wisconsin
- Teaching, public speaking or public programming that increases use or appreciation of archival collections
- Providing state, local or national leadership on archival issues
- Providing legislative support for Wisconsin archives or historical records
- Financially supporting work with historical records
- Making significant contributions of volunteer time to an archival repository or organizing volunteers for work with historical records
How to Apply
See 2025 GAA Nomination Instructions (PDF) for complete details.
- A completed copy of the 2025 GAA Nomination Cover Form Sheet (PDF) must be included with the nomination.
- Nominations must include a typewritten, double-spaced narrative of historical records work or contributions for which a nomination is being made. The narrative may not exceed five double-spaced pages.
- Nominations must include a simple timeline of the nominated work.
- Nominations may include supporting materials.
- Send cover sheet, narrative and supporting materials by mail or email to:
Wisconsin Historical Society
Governor's Archives Awards
Attention: Abbie Norderhaug
816 State Street
Madison, WI 53706
abbie.norderhaug@wisconsinhistory.org
Due Date
March 10 of each year (postmarked or delivered)
Nominations CLOSED for 2025. All submitted 2025 GAA nomination material is currently under review.
Selection Process
- Each year, the Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board (WHRAB) sets up a panel of independent judges consisting of at least three Board members and one non-Board member to select who they recommend as the winner(s) of the Governor's Archives Awards in each category.
- The Wisconsin Historical Society Board of Curators Executive Committee then reviews and votes upon the recommendations from the WHRAB.
- The date and presentation of each award will be made at a time and location agreed upon with the recipient.
2024 Award Winners
Archival Achievement: Carrol Bannen, Research Librarian, Wauwatosa Historical Society, Wauwatosa, WI & Wisconsin Latinx History Collective, Statewide
Archival Innovation: Milwaukee Hip Hop Archive Project, Milwaukee, WI
Archival Advocacy: Ann Waidelich and the Historic Madison Inc. Volunteers, Madison, WI
Learn More
About the Wisconsin Historical Records Advisory Board (WHRAB).
A full listing of all PAST GAA WINNERS.
Have Questions?
For more information, contact:
Mara Rodewald, Program Associate for the WHRAB | mara.rodewald@wisconsinhistory.org