2024 Certificate of Merit Awards Announced

The Tennessee Historical Commission celebrates National Preservation Month each May by presenting Certificate of Merit Awards in recognition of exemplary work by individuals, groups, organizations, corporations, or governmental entities that further promote historic preservation or the study of history in Tennessee. Since 1975, THC’s Certificate of Merit Program has solicited Merit Award nominations from the public. All nominations are judged by category.

The Historic Preservation category recognizes excellence in the preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation of a historic or archaeological site, preservation leadership, preservation planning, publications related to historic preservation, public programming, or research.

The 2024 awards in this category goes to:

David Britton for the completed restoration work of the 1859 Masonic Lodge and General Store at Port Royal State Historic Park.

Mary Watkins for the Evergreen Cemetery Section M project. The Evergreen Cemetery in Murfreesboro was established in 1872 as a public cemetery.

Sharon Hayes for her work to erect a memorial for unmarked graves at the Haywood County Farm. This multi-year project provides a better understanding of the 156-year-old farm.

The Book or Public Programming category recognizes notable achievements toward advancing the study of Tennessee history through certain types of books or public programming.

The 2024 awards in this category goes to:

Christopher Gose for his creation of the “What’s Your Story” program at the Elmer Cox Genealogical Library in Greeneville.

Frederick Murphy for his ongoing work with the nonprofit History Before Us.

From the Mouth of Boyds Creek, a book that provides an extensive history of two rural communities in Sevier County.