National Humanities Medals Nominations

Nominations

The National Humanities Medal honors individuals and organizations whose work has deepened our nation’s understanding of and engagement with history, literature, languages, philosophy, and other humanities subjects. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) established the award in 1997 as the successor to the Charles Frankel Prize in the Humanities, which was awarded from 1989 to 1996.

Qualifications

NEH welcomes nominations for individuals and organizations whose activities and achievements conform with the purpose of the Medal. Examples of such activities include:

• significant scholarship or writing that has expanded our knowledge and understanding of the humanities;
• outstanding education programs for students, teachers, or adult learners;
• exemplary television documentaries and radio programs;
• compelling interpretive exhibitions, reading and discussion programs, or other programs that enrich Americans’ understanding of the humanities;
• programs that preserve and create access to the nation’s cultural heritage and intellectual legacy;
• design and implementation of innovative technologies that enhance public, scholarly, or educational access to the humanities; and
• sustained philanthropic efforts on behalf of humanities activities or organizations.

The National Endowment for the Humanities will only consider living candidates and existing organizations. Self-nominations are not permitted. Please consult the list of previous honorees [1] before submitting a nomination.

Please note: For individuals or organizations involved in the creative or performing arts, please see the description of the National Medal of Arts [2] on the National Endowment for the Arts Web site.

Selection Process

The President of the United States selects recipients of the National Humanities Medal in consultation with NEH. The National Endowment for the Humanities initiates and administers the nomination and selection process. Nominations are first considered by the National Council on the Humanities—NEH’s 26-member presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed board of advisors—during its summer meeting and then by the Chairman of NEH. The NEH Chairman forwards the agency’s recommendations to the President for consideration with candidates of the President’s own choosing. The White House typically announces the winners of the Medals in the fall or winter. The principal criterion for selection is the significance of the nominee’s contributions to the humanities. Up to 12 Medals are awarded each year.

How to Submit a Nomination

To nominate an individual or organization, please use the online nomination form. Please note that once a nomination is submitted, it will remain active for an additional two years.

Deadline

NEH will accept nominations until the deadline of Friday, May 17, 2013.

 

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National Humanities Awards Nomination Form

Nominee

Name of Individual or Organization: *

Institutional Affiliation (if applicable):

City:

State: - None -AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarshall IslandsMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Marianas IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPalauPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirgin IslandsVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Nominee's Contribution to the Humanities

Please summarize the nominee's accomplishments and contributions to the humanities (up to 400 words).

Nominator's Contact Information (optional)

Street Address:

Name:

City:

State: - None -AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarshall IslandsMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Marianas IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPalauPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirgin IslandsVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Daytime Phone:

Evening Phone:

Question about the submission of nominations can be sent to medalists@neh.gov [3].