Recent Excellence in History Award Winners

"The Arc of Iowa History," The Annals of Iowa, fall 2021

As an archaeologist, historian and preservationist, Leah Rogers has literally dug into the past to conduct field research, develop hands-on workshops for all ages, and rally communities to preserve their history. She has prepared nearly 100 nominations for the National Register of Historic Places and has written or contributed to nearly 200 reports (roughly one in 11) in the Historic Architectural Database maintained by the State Historic Preservation Office of Iowa.

Throughout five decades, these two sisters and their late husbands championed numerous local history projects, including revitalizing the 1896 pipe organ (which Steve Story often played) at the Union Sunday School in Clermont, caring for artifacts at the Clermont Museum and nearby Montauk Historic Site, contributing expertise to displays at the Meskwaki Cultural Center in Tama, and preserving several pioneer cemeteries.

This American House: Frank Lloyd Wright's Meier house and the American System-Built Homes

Controlling Water: Exploring Low Head Dams and Minor Water Control Structures throughout the State of Iowa

Document preparation and digitization, "Read All About It"

Event, Haunted Historic Building Tour 

Podcast “Accidentally Historic” and video “Council Bluffs Revealed.”

Documentary, "Get That Note Out"

“Unwavering: 21st Century Activism,” an exhibit about contemporary social movements.

Event, Historical Headstone Tour

“James B. Morris Sr.: Preservering war veteran, lawyer, publisher and civil rights activist” (Iowa History Journal, January/February 2021)

“'Iowa’s First Lady' Phebe Sudlow: Educator broke national gender barriers in 19th century” (Iowa History Journal, November/December 2021)

“Amish School Crisis Captured the World’s Attention in 1965” (Iowa History Journal, January/February 2021)

“Inexcusable by Us as Soldiers: Wartime Dissent at the 1863 Keokuk Soldier Mob” 
The Annals of Iowa, summer 2021

“Inkpaduta in Iowa: Dakota Decline, Dispossession, and Erasure” 
The Annals of Iowa, spring 2021

“The Orphans of Davenport: Eugenics, the Great Depression, and the War Over Children's Intelligence”
Norton Press