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Lemhi County Historical Society Receives State’s Highest Museum Honor

The Lemhi County Historical Society in Salmon will receive the 2011Sister Alfreda Elsensohn Award for Outstanding Service. Given annually by the Idaho Humanities Council, Idaho State Historical Society, and Idaho Heritage Trust, the Sister Alfreda recognition includes a $10,000 award to be used by the winning museum to continue its educational efforts. In the past few years, the Lemhi County Historical Society has completely redesigned its exhibits, engaged the community with numerous annual public events, and provided professional assistance to other museums in the area. It is the epitome of what an active historical society and museum should be.

The Award will be presented on Tuesday, January 3 rd at 2:00 p.m. at the Lemhi County Historical Museum at 210 Main Street in Salmon. Celebratory refreshments will be served.

The Award is named for Sister Alfreda Elsensohn, who founded the Historical Museum at St. Gertrude in the 1930s. Sister Alfreda, one of Idaho’s outstanding historians, sought to collect, preserve, and interpret artifacts from Idaho County and the surrounding area to better educate the public. "A museum is a bridge which links the present with the past," she said. It is her vision of Idaho museums as exciting, interactive, and educational institutions that the Award seeks to recognize by honoring one outstanding Idaho museum each year.

"The Idaho State Historical Society engages communities by building upon shared experiences to inspire further action in preserving and sharing our history," said Executive Director Janet Gallimore. "We greatly appreciate the professional collaboration of many partners throughout the state who work to preserve Idaho’s rich history on a daily basis. The Lemhi County Historical Society exemplifies the finest quality work being undertaken in the state. It is an honor for us to recognize their outstanding efforts."

"The Idaho Humanities Council encourages public awareness and understanding of history and other humanities disciplines," noted Rick Ardinger, Executive Director of the Idaho Humanities Council. "The Lemhi County Historical Society has for years led public discussions of the humanities that greatly aid in this effort."

"It is the goal of the Idaho Heritage Trust to preserve the historic fabric of Idaho," said Idaho Heritage Trust Executive Director Katherine Kirk. "Idaho’s museums lead our state in the preservation of significant artifacts and research collections that make up a vital part of that historic fabric. The Lemhi County Historical Society is one of the outstanding museums in Idaho at professionally caring for its invaluable resources."

While the Heritage Trust, Humanities Council, and State Historical Society collaborate on many projects, this is their only joint award. Prior awards include the Bonner County Historical Museum in Sandpoint (2008), the South Bannock County Historical Center in Lava Hot Springs (2009), and the Historical Museum at St. Gertrude’s (2010).

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The Idaho State Historical Society is an extraordinary system of cultural and historic resources comprised of the Idaho State Historical Museum, State Archives, State Historic Preservation Office, and Historic Sites Program. We seek to inspire, enrich and engage all Idahoans by leading the state in preserving, sharing, and using history and cultural resources relevant to today to inform and influence the future. Learn more about ISHS at www.history.idaho.gov.