founders award

The Louisville Historical League was founded in 1972 by Rev. Clyde Crews & Allan Steinberg.  Rev. Crews was a professor at Bellarmine University and has written numerous books on local history. Allan was a guidance counselor at Jefferson Community College (JCTC) as well as an Alderman with the old City of Louisville. He was also with the American Printing House for the Blind.  

The first Founders Award was presented in 1990 to Sister Mary Michael Creamer, who was a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, and a native of Boston, MA. She served on the LHL Board for many years. She taught history at Spalding University and was also the archivist there. She authored articles for the Filson Quarterly. She died on October 12, 1991 and is buried at Nazareth, Ky.

2022: Underhill Associates 

2021: Not presented due to Covid Pandemic

2020: Martina Kunnecke, President, Samuel Plato Foundation, and Neighborhood Preservation & Planning

2019: John Asher, Vice President of Communications for Churchill Downs and Ky Derby historian

 2018 Carl Kramer, noted historian and author of numerous books and articles on local history

2017 Gary Falk, longtime LHL Board member and author of numerous local history books

2016 Nathalie Andrews, Executive Director of the Portland Museum

2015 Kadie Engstrom, river / steamboat historian

2014 John E. Kleber, noted historian and editor of the "Encyclopedia of Louisville"

2013 Walter Hutchins, longtime LHL Board member and African American historian

2012 Steve Porter, noted preservationist

2011 Rick Bell, longtime LHL Board member and river historian

2010 Ed Hamilton, sculptor of many historic statues

2009 Bill & Carol Butler, book publishers of many local history books

2008 Charles ‘Chuck’ Parrish, longtime LHL Board member and river historian

2007  David Jones, Sr., co-founder of Humana and benefactor of many historic sites

2006  Bill Weyland, preservationist

2005 Clest Lanier, Executive Director of the African American Heritage Center

2004  Mary Jean Kinsman, noted preservationist and historian

2003  Owsley Brown Frazier, philanthropist and founder of Frazier History Museum

2002  Grady Clay, author of numerous books and noted urbanist

2001 David Armstrong, former Mayor of Louisville and noted preservationist

2000 Steve Wiser, longtime member of LHL Board, preservationist, and author of 10 local history books

1999 Edie Bingham, noted preservationist

1998 Emilie Strong Smith, noted preservationist

1997 Mark Thompson, longtime member of LHL Board and treasurer

1996 Mae Salyers, noted preservationist

1995 Ann Hasset, noted preservationist

1994 John and Joellen Johnston, longtime members of LHL Board of Directors

1993 Sam Thomas, noted Louisville historian and author of over 20 local history books

1992 George Yater, noted historian of Louisville and author of "Two Hundred Years at the Falls of the Ohio"

1991  Tom Owen, noted historian of Louisville and archivist at U of L

1990 Sister Mary Michael Creamer, longtime LHL Board member and Spalding University archivist