Mining History Association Awards The Mining History Association (MHA) presents awards that recognize important contributions in the field of mining history. CLICK ON the name of an award below for its description and a list of past recipients. For information on MHA Research Grants, CLICK ON the Grants tab on the navigation bar above. Rodman Paul Award John Townley Award Clark Spence Award Mary Lee Spence Award Cherry Hunter Award Beselme-Orrell Heritage Award Ed Hunter Distinguished Service Award Rodman Paul Award The Rodman Paul Award is given for outstanding contributions to mining history. It is in honor of scholar and mining historian Rodman Paul, whose influence in the field of Western mining research inspired a generation of future mining historians. The award is not necessarily given on a yearly basis, but only when a qualified candidate has been nominated and selected. Recipients receive a sampling pan engraved with the year and their name, as well as a monetary award in the amount of $250. Nominations for this award are due to the Rodman Paul Award Committee by April 1st of each year via e-mail or U. S. mail, and should include a description of the outstanding contributions that the nominee has made in the field of mining history. Endorsements by others may accompany the nomination. Nominations and questions about the nominating process should be sent to the committee Chair, Johnny Johnsson.
Recent Recipients 2021 Silvia Pettern, author, publisher, historic preservationist, and MHA conference organizer 2019 Ed Raines, Collections Manager, Colorado School of Mines, former MHA President, host of MHA conferences. 2018 Robert Wolensky, Anthracite Mining Historian, Professor of Sociology Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Points, Oral Historian, Author 2017 William R. Hunt, Alaska Mining Historian, Professor of History Emeritus, University of Alaska-Fairbanks 2016 Hauck Family of Franklin, New Jersey. Preserved the Sterling Hill Zinc Mine and established the Sterling Hill Mining Museum at Ogdensburg, New Jersey. 2015 Ronald M. James, State Historic Preservation Officer of Nevada (Retired), Author, and Founder of Comstock Foundation for History and Culture 2014 Beverly Rich, Historic Preservationist, for her work in Silverton, Colorado 2013 Erik Nordberg, Archivist at Michigan Technological University, host of MHA Conferences 2012 David Wolff, former MHA President, Professor: Black Hills State University. 2011 Dawn Bunyak. Historic preservationist and former MHA Secretary 2010 Terry Humble. Miner. Mining historian, preservationist, tour guide, museum volunteer, and lecturer in southwestern New Mexico. 2009 Richard Francaviglia. Author. Professor, University of Texas at Arlington. 2008 Robert Trennert. Author. Professor, Arizona State University. 2006 James McBride. Adjunct Professor, Arizona State University, and former MHA President. 2004 Jay Fell. Adjunct Professor, University of Colorado at Denver and Regis University, Denver, and MHA Treasurer. 2004 Eleanor Swent. Senior Editor, Regional Oral History Office, University of California-Berkeley. Project director and research interviewer, “Western Mining in the Twentieth Century” series. 2002 Ed Hunter. Mining engineer. Author. Preservationist known for his work at Cripple Creek, Colorado and the Western Museum of Mining and Industry. 2002 Roger Burt. Author. Professor, University of Exeter, United Kingdom. 2001 Fred Quivik. Preservationist. Industrial archeologist, known for his work in Butte, Montana. 2001 Liston Leyendecker. Author. Professor, Colorado State University. 2000 Don Hardesty. Author. Anthropology professor, University of Nevada, Reno. 2000 Chris Huggard. Former Editor, The Mining History Journal. Professor, Northwest Arkansas Community College.
John Townley Award The John Townley Award is given for the best paper published in The Mining History Journal. John Townley initiated the creation of the journal and served as first editor before his untimely death. An excellent historian and author of exceptional mining history articles and books, the John Townley Award is given in his memory. The recipient is awarded a certificate and $250. The recipient is selected by the Editorial Board. Recent Recipients 2020 Article: Khaled Bloom, "Why Didn't They Do Something About It?' Gold vs. Grain in Post WW2 California." 2019 Article: John R. Henris, "Trout Fishing Must Eventually Give Way To Mining.' Cyanide Mills and Recreation on Spearfish Creek in South Dakota Black Hills." 2018 Article: Gage McKinney, “Order L-208: The Closing of America’s Gold Mines during World War II.” 2017 Article: Brian Leech, "Competition, Community, and Entertainment: The Anaconda Company's Promotion of Mine Safety in Butte, Montana, 1915-1942". 2016 Article: John Anthony Byczynski, "Rethinking Radicalism: Socialism, the IWW, and Communism on the Cuyuna Iron Range, 1912-1933" 2015 Article: Gregory Bill, “Gilman, Colorado: From Metal Mining Frontier to Colorado’s Most Successful Company Town.” 2014 Article: Roger Burt, “Diamond Core Drills: Their Evolution, Early Development, and Consequences for Mining and Quarrying.” 2013 Article: Robert L. Spude, “Men of Scope: The Assayer and the Western Mining Community, 1848-1920.” 2012 Article: Mark Langenfeld, “The ‘Old Stonebreaker’: James Gates Percival and the Lead Mines of Wisconsin.” 2011 article: David Wolff, “Saving a Boomtown: The Reinvention of Deadwood.” 2010 Article: Eric Nystrom, “Underground Photography and American Mining before 1920.” 2009 Articles: Terry S. Reynolds, "A Tale of Two Companies," and L. Michael Kaas, "The Silver Hill Mine." 2008 Article: Peter Siems, “A History of the Schemnitz (Banska Stiavnica) Silver-Gold Mines.” 2007 Article: Roger Burt, “Technological Backwardness in the Western American Mining Industry in the Nineteenth Century.” 2006 Article: L. Michael Kaas, “A History of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, with Some Highlights of Its Involvement in Anthracite Mining.” 2005 Article: Stephen D. LeDuc, “The Ethnic Composition of Underground Labor in a Michigan Copper Township: A Quantitative Portrait, 1870-1920. 2004 Article: Ronald Limbaugh, “Pragmatic Professional: Herbert Hoover’s Formative Years as a Mining Engineer, 1895-1908.” 2003 Article: Jeremy Mouat, “Looking for Mr. Wright: A Tale of Mining Finance from the Late-Nineteenth Century.” 2002 Article: Robert Sorgenfrei, "Anatomy of a Mine Report: John H. Marks' Report on the San Juan Placer Operations, San Juan River, Utah, 1909." 2001 Article: Keith Long, "Tailings under the Bridge: Causes and Consequences of River Disposal of Tailings, Coeur d' Alene Mining Region, 1886-1968." 2000 Articles: Noel W. Kirshenbaum, "The Giant Gold Diggers: California's Lang Going Fleet of Dredges" and Karen Pickett, "Environmental Battlefield: Ruston, Washington, Home to an ASARCO Smelter and Superfund Site."
Clark Spence Award The Clark Spence Award is presented every other year to the author(s) of the best book in mining history published during the previous two years. The three-person Book Award Committee selects the winner based on the high academic standards of the award’s namesake, Clark C. Spence, which includes consideration for research, interpretation, and writing. Spence is one of the MHA’s founding members, a professor of history at the University of Illinois from 1961-1990, and the author of a number of books. Clark Spence is the dean of mining historians and served as the MHA’s first president. His long list of mining history publications are known for their narrative style and solid documentation, attributes expected of recipients of the award given in his name. The winning author(s) receive a $500 cash prize from the MHA. For books published in 2017 and 2018, the award will be presented at the 2019 MHA annual meeting. Nominations for this award are due to the Book Award Committee by April 1st of the year in which the award is to be presented. They may be sent via e-mail or U. S. mail. To be considered for the award, authors or the presses must submit three copies of the book to the committee Chair, Ron Brown. The three copies of the book should be sent to him at: Ron Brown, Taylor Murphy Building, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666.. Recent Recipients - 2019-2020:
- Jarod Roll, "Poor Man's Fortune: White Working-Class Conservatism in American Metal Mining, 1850-1950."
- Robert Burt, Special Recognition Award, "Miners, Mariners, and Masons: The Global Network of Victorian Freemasonry."
2017-2018:- Brian James Leech, The City that Ate Itself: Butte, Montana and Its Berkeley Pit
Paul J. White, The Archaeology of American Mining
2015-2016:- Mark Wasserman, Pesos and Politics: Business, Elites, Foreigners, and Government in Mexico
2013-2014:
- Eric C. Nystrom for “Seeing Underground: Maps, Models, and Mining Engineering in America.”
2011-2012: - Richard Lingenfelter for “Bonanzas and Borrascas: Gold Lust and Silver Sharks, 1848-1884” and “Bonanzas and Borrascas: Copper Kings and Stock Frenzies, 1885-1918).”
- Christopher J. Huggard and Terrence M. Humble for “Santa Rita del Cobre: A Copper Mining Community in New Mexico.”
- Special Recognition: Ronald M. James and Robert E. Stewart, editors, for “The Gold Rush Letters of E. Allen Grosh and Hosea B. Grosh.”
2009-2010: - Ronald H. Limbaugh for “Tungsten in Peace and War, 1918-1946”
- Duane A. Smith for “The Trail of Gold and Silver: Mining in Colorado, 1859-2009.”
- Special Recognition to Sheila Kelly for “Treadwell Gold: An Alaska Saga of Riches and Ruin.”
2007-2008: - Thomas G. Andrews for “Killing for Coal: America’s Deadliest Labor War.”
2005-2006:- Liston E. Leyendecker, Christine Bradley, and Duane Smith for “The Rise of the Silver Queen: Georgetown, CO, 1859-1896.”
2003-2004:- David A. Wolff for “Industrializing the Rockies: Growth, Competition, and Turmoil in the Coalfields of Colorado and Wyoming, 1868-1914.”
2001-2002:- Laurie Mercier for “Anaconda: Labor, Community, and Culture in Montana’s Smelter City.”
Mary Lee Spence Documentary Book Award The Mary Lee Spence Documentary Book Award was established in 2013 to recognize mining history books that are edited works, compilations of documents (letters, previously unpublished manuscript reminiscences, oral histories), or significant photograph histories, or related genres. Professor Mary Lee Spence, editor of the John C. Fremont papers and other works, is professor emeritus of history at the University of Illinois, Urbana – Champaign, and has been a supporter of the MHA since its founding. The winning author(s) receive a $500 cash prize from the MHA. For books published in 2014 and 2015, the award will be presented at the 2015 MHA annual meeting. Nominations for this award are due to the Book Award Committee by April 1st of the year in which the award is to be presented. They may be sent via e-mail or U. S. mail. To be considered for the award, authors or the presses must submit three copies of the book to the committee Chair, Ron Brown. The three copies of the book should be sent to him at: Taylor Murphy Building, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666. - 2019-2020:
- St. Louis County (Minnesota) Historical Society, Erie Mining Company History Project Team, Taconite, New Life for Minnesota's Iron Range: The History of Erie Mining Company
- Priscilla Wegars, Polly Bemis: The Life and Times of a Chinese American Pioneer
2017-2018:R. Bruce Craig, ed., Portrait of a Prospector: Edward Schiefflin's Own Story
2015-2016:Catherine Spude, "All for the Greed of Gold: Will Woodin's Klondike Adventure"
2013-2014:Mark A. Vendl,Duane A. Smith, and Karen A. Vendl for “My Home at Present: Life in the Mine Boarding Houses in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado."MHA Life-time Achievement in Publication Award 2020 Duane A. Smith in recognition of the editing, authorship, or co-authorship of over fifty books including most recently, with Christine A. Bradley, The Once and Future Silver Queen of the Rockies, Georgetown, Colorado, and the Fight for Survival into the Twentieth Centuty. Cherry Hunter Award The Cherry Hunter Award is presented to an individual whose works show outstanding commitment to and skill in recording mining history through graphic arts. The award honors the late Cherry Hunter, a long-time MHA member and accomplished artist. The award is not necessarily given on a yearly basis, but only when a qualified candidate has been nominated and selected. Recipients receive a plaque and monetary award of $250. Nominations for this award are welcome from any MHA member and are due to the Cherry Hunter Award Committee by April 1st of the year. They may be sent via e-mail or U. S. mail. Nominees may have credentials in any of the graphic arts. The Committee will base its decision on the body of a nominee’s work and its contribution to mining history. Nominations and questions about the nominating process should be sent to the committee Chair, Mark Langenfeld.
Recent Recipients
Beselme-Orrell Heritage Award The Beselme-Orrell Heritage Award was established in 2013 to recognize outstanding achievements which have demonstrably contributed to the understanding and appreciation of our mining heritage. The award is named for two MHA members, Jim Beselme and Lew Orrell, whose work represented the grass roots nature of most heritage projects. Project eligibility includes, but is not limited to, document and image preservation, oral histories, museum displays/exhibits, the preservation and interpretation of mining architecture, mining landscapes, and engineering works, documentary film/video projects, and the development and use of well-grounded educational materials and/or curriculum units incorporating important mining heritage themes. Nominations for the award are welcome and are due to the Beselme-Orell Heritage Award Committee by February 1, 2022. A nomination may be sent via e-mail or U. S. mail. Nominees are generally non-profit organizations, such as museums, historical societies, or historic preservation organizations, and may include individuals. Questions about submitting a nomination should be sent to the committee Chair, Robert Spude.
- 2019:
- The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums, Plattevill, WI, "African American Lead Miners in Wisconsin" exhibition
- 2017:
- The Rimrocker Historical Society, Naturita, CO, for their interpretation of the Colorado Plateau Uranium Mining History
- 2015:
- Ann McMahon and Andrew Lindlof for “Documenting the Disappearing Mining Landscape of Grant County, NM.”
Ed Hunter Award for Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award is given to persons who have made extraordinary contributions to the MHA. The award is not necessarily given on a yearly basis, but only when a qualified candidate has been nominated and selected. Recipients receive a plaque and a monetary award in the amount of $250. Nominations for the Distinguished Service Award should be submitted by MHA members to the committee Chair by April 1st. They may be sent via e-mail or U. S. mail. Nominations and questions about the nominating process should be sent to the committee Chair, Ed Raines. Recent Recipients 2016 Rudy Davison 2015 Barbara Clements
2013 Eric Clements 2010 Duane A. Smith and Jay Fell 2007 Bob Sorgenfrei 2006 Bob Spude, Mark Vendl, and Karen Vendl
John Livermore Award
2020 Ann Carpenter, Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Tonopah Mining Park
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