Needham Resident Accepts 2024 AASLH Award of Excellence

NEEDHAM, Mass. —The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) proudly announces that Old North Illuminated (ONI) is the recipient of an Award of Excellence for new programming at the Old North Church & Historic Site that shines a light on the overlooked stories of the church’s early Black and Indigenous congregants. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 79th year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.

Old North Illuminated team members Nikki Stewart, Executive Director, Catherine Matthews, Director of Education, and Emily Spence, Associate Director of Education, were onsite at the Mobile, AL event to accept the honor. This year, AASLH conferred 47 national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history.

“I’m incredibly proud of the interpretive work our team is doing at Old North Church,” says Spence, a Needham resident. “We hope this award encourages people to explore the new exhibit at Old North, listen to our immersive audio guide, and experience three fascinating centuries of American history — with all of its contradictions and complexities.”

Old North Illuminated is the secular nonprofit entrusted with all interpretive, educational, programmatic, and preservation work related to Boston’s Old North Church & Historic Site. The church is famous for the signal lanterns held in its steeple on April 18, 1775, and its connection to Paul Revere’s ride. In June 2022, Dr. Jaimie D. Crumley of the University of Utah joined ONI for a year-long research fellowship focused on recovering the stories of Black and Indigenous people who were part of Old North’s early history. Dr. Crumley’s fascinating research was incorporated into Old North’s educational programming in three recent projects that were collectively recognized by the Award of Excellence:

• Illuminating the Unseen is an 11-episode video series written and presented by Dr. Crumley that is available for free on YouTube. Each episode draws on primary sources to engage with topics like the conversion of Black and Indigenous peoples and the social construction of race.
• Sparking Revolutions: Lanterns, Leadership and the Evolving Legacy of Old North Church is a new permanent exhibit that incorporates best practices in accessible design. Exhibit panels offer visitors an opportunity to engage with an inclusive and comprehensive narrative of the church’s history and its people.
• An accompanying audio guide that incorporates Dr. Crumley’s work and weaves a cohesive narrative of Old North’s 300-year history. In this 35-minute audio tour (available in English and Spanish), visitors hear the stories of Black and Indigenous congregants and consider how the architecture of the church reinforced social hierarchies.

The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievements in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena. For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, contact AASLH at 615-320-3203 or go to www.aaslh.org.

About Old North Illuminated / Old North Church & Historic Site

Old North Illuminated is a secular nonprofit that inspires active citizenship and courageous, compassionate leadership by interpreting and preserving the Old North Church & Historic Site. Offering onsite experiences, K-12 classroom lessons, and virtual programming, Old North Illuminated shines an analytical light on the past to build a brighter future. Old North Illuminated envisions a future in which everyone will see their stories, struggles, and hopes reflected in places of prominence and our shared American history. Last year, Old North Church & Historic Site was designated as a Site of Conscience by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC). Founded in 1999, the ICSC is the only global network of historic sites, museums, and memory initiatives that connects past struggles to today's movements for human rights. For more information, visit: www.oldnorth.com.

About The American Association for State and Local History

The American Association for State and Local History is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful to all people. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, and maintains numerous affinity communities and committees serving a broad range of constituents across the historical community. The association also sponsors an annual meeting, regional and national training in-person workshops, and online training.

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