John Lewis Award for Public Service to the Discipline of History

Established in 2021, the John Lewis Award for Public Service to the Discipline of History is offered annually to recognize individuals outside the ranks of professional historians who have made a significant contribution to the study, teaching, and public understanding of history, in the interest of social justice. The prize was established with an endowment gift from the Agentives Fund and replaces the Association's Roosevelt-Wilson Award for Public Service, which was presented to Congressman Lewis in 2006. Recipients can be individuals or collaborative groups who have made a significant contribution to the support and encouragement of history through their actions. Such noteworthy activity may include advocacy for historical work and the importance of history to public culture and social justice, philanthropy, support for organizations that promote history in public life, historic preservation, or other work that cultivates public awareness of history and its value to public culture. The prize is named in memory of John Lewis (1940–2020), the civil rights leader who represented Georgia with grace and distinction in the United States House of Representatives for 34 years. The executive director and the AHA president serve as the jury and recommend nominees to the AHA Council, which makes the final selection at its June meeting. Recipients are announced at the Association's annual meeting.