Nominate Your 2026 History Hero Below!
The Bay State Legacy Award
Bay State Legacy Award
For someone who’s made a lasting mark on History in Massachusetts!
The Bay State Legacy Award is given to an individual who has made long-term, outstanding contributions to the interpretation and presentation of Massachusetts history or to the local history field in Massachusetts. This individual can be a professional or volunteer from a variety of fields and organizations in local and public history, archives, academia, and beyond.
The Bay State Historical League, which dissolved in 2005, awarded the John F. Ayer award to individuals who contributed to Massachusetts history. The Massachusetts History Alliance carries on the BSHL’s legacy of service and recognition with the Bay State Legacy Award. See all BSLA Awardees here.
The MHA Star Awards
For local history heroes of all stripes and sorts!
In 2021, the Mass History Alliance resurrected the former Baystate Historical League Local History Hero award as the MHA Star Awards. MHA Star Awards are granted to Massachusetts people who have made outstanding contributions to the research and interpretation of the history of their communities. MHA Star Award recipients are recognized for long term commitment, outstanding work with concrete results, exemplary innovation, local leadership for change, or contributions to equity and justice.
MHA Rising Star Awards
Rising Star Award
For newcomers who are making a big splash!
To recognize those growing in their careers in the field of public history in Massachusetts, the Mass History Alliance is pleased to present the MHA Rising Star Awards. They are granted to Massachusetts people who have made, or show the promise of making outstanding contributions to the research and interpretation of the history of their communities, regions, or across the Commonwealth. MHA Rising Star Award recipients are recognized for commitment, outstanding work, innovative approaches, local leadership for change, or contributions to equity and justice in our state. Anyone who has been in the field for fewer than 10 years can be nominated – that can mean a young professional, student, volunteer, or someone who has recently made a career change into the local and public history field.
Fill out https://masshistoryalliance.org/2025-award-nominations-form/ to submit your nominations. You will be asked to provide a 250-word statement of your nominee’s achievements, as well as a headshot if you can get one. The Bay State Legacy Award, MHA STAR Awards, MHA Rising Star (under 45) Awards, and Mass Humanities’ Mass History Commendation will be conferred at the Massachusetts History Conference, to be held on June 12 at College of the Holy Cross.
(featured image: Lawrence High School, 1959 homecoming. Courtesy Lawrence Public Library, Digital Commonwealth.)