Annual Awards
Each year the Society acknowledges significant contributions made by individuals and organizations in the advancement of local historical knowledge and preservation. The awards are presented at our Annual Gala.
Voting has now ended for the 2024 Awards. Keep an eye out for our announcement of this year’s recipients!
Our 2015 awards recipients: Loni Shibuyama (ONE archives), Joseph Hawkins (ONE archives), Martin Krieger, Gary Leonard, Regina O’Brien (Los Angeles Conservancy 2014), Chris Nichols (Los Angeles Conservancy 2014), Michael Sanborn (on behalf of the the Muller family). Photo: Michael Locke
The Todd Gaydowski Award
In honor of Todd Gaydowski, a long-term member and President of the Los Angeles City Historical Society, this award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated leadership in the field of historic research, authorship, publishing, grant-making, records, or historic site management.
David G. Cameron Preservation Award
The David G. Cameron Preservation Award is named for preservationist and attorney David Cameron, who helped to found the Los Angeles Conservancy and was instrumental in saving the 1926 Los Angeles Central Library building. This honor is awarded for promoting preservation of our city's physical heritage.
2019 Susan Orlean
2018 Center for the Study of Political Graphics
2016 Las Angelitas del Pueblo
2015 Bill Muller of the Banning Museum
2014 LA Conservancy’s ModCom Committee
2013 Glenn Creason
2012 Jennifer A. Watts
2011 Dace Taube
2010 Christy Johnson McAvoy
2009 UCLA Library Special Collections
2008 Wayne Ratkovich
2007 Robert Marshall
2006 AC Martin Partners
2005 Los Angeles Public Library
2004 Ken Bernstein
2003 Roberta Greenwood
2002 Project Restore
2001 Tom Gilmore
2000 Jean Bruce Poole
1999 The Los Angeles Conservancy
1998 Huell Howser, KCET
1997 John Wellborne
J. Thomas Owen History Award
The J. Thomas Owen History Award is named in honor of librarian Tom Owen, a long-time fixture and friend at the Los Angeles Central Library, and an inexhaustible font of local historical knowledge who was always eager to assist researchers.
2019 Los Angeles Police Museum
2018 Thomas Pinney
2016 Betsy Kalin
2014 D.J. Waldie
2013 LA as Subject
2012 Nick Curry
2011 Paddy Calistro and Scott McAuley
2010 Kevin Roderick and J. Eric Lynxwiler
2009 Abraham Hoffman
2008 Marc Wanamaker
2007 Leonard and Dale Pitt
2006 Michael Engh
2005 Tom Sitton
2004 Cecilia Rasmussen
2003 Glen Dawson of Dawson's Bookstore
2002 Gloria Ricci Lothrop
2001 Hynda L. Rudd
2000 Bill Mason
Miriam Matthews Award
The Miriam Matthews Award honors the first African-American librarian in the Los Angeles Public Library system, who was also a community activist and archivist. Recipients of this award have made important contributions to knowledge of Los Angeles's racial and ethnic past.
2019 Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson
2018 Marne L. Campbell, PhD
2016 Viet Thanh Nguyen
2015 ONE Archives at the USC Libraries
2013 Darnell Hunt and Anna Christine Ramon
2012 Arnett L. Hartsfield, Jr.
2011 Southern California Library
2010 Father Gregory Boyle
2009 La Opinion Newspaper
2008 The California African American Museum
2007 The Mayme Agnew Clayton Library and Museum
2006 The Japanese-American National Museum
2005 Lawrence de Graaf
2004 Carolyn Kozo Cole
2003 Munson Kwok and Suellen Cheng
Honorary life membership
Honorary life memberships to LACHS are awarded for actively supporting the pursuit of local history, in various forms. Recent recipients include:
2018 Alan Hess
2015 Martin Krieger
2013 Raphe Sonenshein
2012 Anton Calleia
2011 William Deverell
2010 Hugh Hefner
2009 Gil Garcetti
2008 John Welborne
2007 LA CityView Channel 35
2006 Jane Pisano
2005 The John Randolph Haynes & Dora Haynes Foundation
2004 Sue Laris
2004 Thomas F. Andrews
1999 Doyce Nunis
1998 J. Michael Carey
1997 Tom LaBonge
Special recognition
On occasion, LACHS recognizes certain unique individuals and institutions in honor of their contributions to the history of Los Angeles and their service to the community. Recent recipients include:
2018 Xaviera Flores Schmied and Self Help Graphics & Art
2015 Gary Leonard
2014 Tom LaBonge
2013 Lauren Bon, Metabolic Studio
2012 Geraldine Knatz & The Huntington Library
2011 Danny Munoz and The Getty Foundation
2009 The Farmers Market
2008 Ann Shea
2007 Ariane Smith
2006 The City Employees Club of Los Angeles
2005 Doyce B. Nunis, Jr.
2002 Joseph Northrop
2000 Sam Luna