Category Archives: Merit Award

Merit Award Recipients 2023

The Society of Ohio Archivists Membership & Awards Committee is pleased to announce two Merit Award recipients. The awards were presented at the Annual Meeting on May 12, 2023.

Photograph of three people holding plaques. These are the SOA Merit Award winners.

2023 Merit Award recipients: Warren County Records Center & Archives, accepted by Jennifer Haney Conover and Jenifer Baker, and Adam Wanter

Adam Wanter is honored for his outstanding service and dedication to ensuring that the Society of Ohio Archivists thrives. For the past several years, Adam has gone above and beyond to lead SOA through challenging times. Elected as Vice-President/President Elect in 2019, Adam stepped up to serve as president for an additional year when the current president
resigned. In his first year, Adam shepherded SOA through a transition in its leadership structure. In 2020, he directed SOA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to the murder of George Floyd. Under his watch, SOA pivoted to an online conference, increased its free offerings to members, began its hardship program, and oversaw the creation of the Social Justice Black Lives Matter Task Force. After finishing his extended term as president and time as past-president, Adam co-chaired the Educational Programming Committee which planned the 2023 Annual Meeting. For his efforts to lead and improve SOA, it is fitting that the Society of Ohio Archivists presents Adam Wanter with the 2023 SOA Merit Award.

The Warren County Records Center & Archives is honored for its work to make vital records such as birth, death, Commissioners’ Journals, and Common Pleas Court indexes available to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working from home, staff cropped, transcribed, and added metadata to these records, ultimately making well over 30,000 records accessible. Once back in the office, staff added metadata and images to the first twenty-four Commissioners’ Journals, which are key records to understanding the history of Warren County. They also finished a multi-year project to place all the Old Common Pleas Estate Packets online, a collection which included over 90,000 searchable images and is frequently requested by researchers. For its efforts to make important county records more accessible to researchers, it is fitting that the Society of Ohio Archivists presents the Warren County Records Center & Archives with the 2023 SOA Merit Award.

Congratulations to the 2023 Merit Award recipients! Visit the Merit Award page for more information and past award winners.

Call for Nominations: 2023 SOA Merit Award

The SOA Membership & Awards Committee seeks nominations for the 2023 Society of Ohio Archivists Merit Award.

The award is given to individuals or organizations that have by excellence in deeds, actions, or initiatives improved the state of archives in Ohio over the past year. The award will be announced at the SOA Annual Meeting, which will be held on Friday, May 12, 2023 at the Dayton Metro Library in Dayton.

Applications are due by March 10, 2023.
Continue reading →

Extended! Call for Nominations: 2021 SOA Merit Award

The SOA Membership & Awards Committee seeks nominations for the 2021 Society of Ohio Archivists Merit Award.

The award is given to individuals or organizations that have by excellence in deeds, actions, or initiatives improved the state of archives in Ohio over the past year. The award will be presented at the SOA Annual Meeting, which will be held virtually on June 7-8, 2021.

Applications are due by ~~April 21,~~ Friday May 7, 2021.

Nominations should include the following information:

Name of nominee;
Nominee’s employer or institution;
Nominee’s mailing address, phone number, and email address;
Brief reason for nomination;
The nominator’s contact information so that the awards committee may contact you for additional information.

See the list of past awardees on the Merit Award page.

Applications and inquiries can be sent via email or mail to Membership & Awards Committee Cochair Stephanie Shreffler, Roesch Library RM 304A, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469-1360.

SOA Merit Award Winner: Licking County Records & Archives

The Society of Ohio Archivists Merit Award is awarded to individuals or organizations that have by excellence in deeds, actions, or initiatives improved the state of archives in Ohio over the past year.

Licking County Records & Archives entrance. Photo courtesy Licking County Records & Archives

This year the Awards Committee chose two recipients for the 2020 award. The winners were Cate Putirskis and the Licking County Records and Archives Department. In this post we feature Licking County Records & Archives.

In 2018, Licking County Records and Archives was tasked with removing more than 100 years of records stored in the Licking County Courthouse attic. After three days of work, staff had removed hundreds of boxes and more than 300 bound volumes, including historical books from the County Clerk of Courts, Treasurer, and Auditor. All of the books were either contaminated with mold, covered in bird and bat feces, or deteriorating from poor storage conditions. Continue reading →

SOA Merit Award Winner: Cate Putirskis

Cate Putirskis portrait. Photo courtesy The Ohio State University.

This year the Awards Committee chose two recipients for the 2020 award.The winners were Cate Putirskis and the Licking County Records and Archives Department. In this post we feature Cate.

Cate Putirskis is honored for her exemplary contributions to archival practices and the profession. She has developed and shared innovative approaches to technical services for archival collections as manager of Archival Description and Access at The Ohio State University Libraries. Cate employs agile methodology and project tracking software to manage a busy team of permanent, contractual, and student employees. This novel approach to archival processing has led to significant gains. Continue reading →

SOA Merit Award: Call for Nominations

The Society of Ohio Archivists Merit Award is given to individuals or organizations that have by excellence in deeds, actions, or initiatives improved the state of archives in Ohio over the past year.

The 2020 awards will be announced at the annual spring meeting on Friday, May 15, 2020, at the Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Library in Columbus, Ohio. Nominations are due by March 13, 2020. Continue reading →

SOA Award Recipients 2015

Congratulations to the recipients of the SOA Merit Awards, New Professional Scholarships, and Student Scholarships to the SOA Annual Meeting! The awardees will be recognized at the upcoming Annual Meeting on May 15^th, at OCLC in Dublin, Ohio. Their hard work and accomplishments are greatly appreciated by Ohio archivists, and they serve as excellent role models in our profession.

New Professional Scholarships:

Shawnee Yvette Murrain
Maren McKee

Student Scholarships:

Nina Ann Herzog
Shelby Dixon

Merit Awards:

Gillian Marsham Hill
Janet Carleton

Society of Ohio Archivists 2015 Merit Award

Applications should include the following information:

Name of nominee;
Nominee’s employer or institution;
Nominee’s mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address;
Brief reason for nomination;
The nominator’s contact information so that the awards committee may contact you for additional information;
Applications are due by February 15, 2015.

Applications and inquiries can be sent via e-mail or mail to Devhra BennettJones. Email: [email protected] Address: Lloyd Library, 917 Plum Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.

The award will be presented at the Society of Ohio Archivists Annual meeting on Friday, May 15, 2015 at the OCLC Conference Center in Dublin, Ohio.

2014 SOA Merit Award

Congratulations to the Sandusky Library and to the Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board, winners of the 2014 SOA Merit Awards!

Merit Award presented to the Sandusky Library

SOA President Judith Wiener presents the Merit Award to the Sandusky Library, May 21, 2014, with Ron Davidson accepting on the library’s behalf. On right is Jillian Carney Council Liaison to the Awards Committee.

SOA President Judith Wiener presenting Merit Award to OHRAB member Janet Carleton, accepting on behalf of the Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board, May 21, 2014. Others in photo are past or present OHRAB members (Laurie Gemmill Arp, Carleton, Dawne Dewey, Ron Davidson, George Bain). At right is Jillian Carney, OHS staff member who facilitates the board’s work and Council liaison to the Awards Committee.

Call for SOA Merit Award Nominations