The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) invites nominations for the 2008 Leadership in History Awards. Now in its 63^rd year, the Awards program is the most prestigious national recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of local, state, and regional history. AASLH initiated the Awards program in `945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout America.

      The AASLH Leadership in History Awards Program recognizes exemplary work completed by state or federal societies, institutions, or agencies; regional, county or local historical societies, institutions, or agencies; specialized subject societies in related fields such as oral history, genealogy, folklore, archaeology, business history, railroad history, etc.; junior historical societies; privately owned museums or foundations; individuals; and organizations outside the field of traditional historical agencies.  Awards are given for general excellence, exhibits, public and educational programming, special projects, publications, multimedia, individual achievement, and preservation or restoration projects. Nominees need not be members of AASLH to qualify.

     Nomination forms may be obtained by visiting the AASLH website, http://www.aaslh.org/, or by contacting the AASLH office by phone:  (615) 320-3203 or email: Hawkins@aaslh.org.

     Nominations are due to state award representatives on March 1, 2008. Oklahoma's representative is Erin Brown and she can be contacted by phone: (918) 762-2513 or email: ebrown@okhistory.org. Nominations are reviewed by a national committee in the summer of 2008 with formal presentation of the awards made during the AASLH Annual Meeting, September 9-12, 2008, in Rochester, New York.

      The American Association for State and Local History is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all Americans. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, and monthly newsletter. The association also sponsors regional and national training workshops and an annual meeting. For more information about the Awards Program, contact Bethany Hawkins in the AASLH office at (615) 320-3203