Congratulations to Gabor S. Boritt, Harold Holzer, and Robert H. Smith, who were among the nine distinguished Americans, one museum, and a philanthropic foundation were honored with National Humanities Medals for their contributions to the humanities by President George W. Bush during a ceremony held in the White House East Room on November 17, 2008.
These gentlemen are associated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation in many ways. Gabor Boritt (Gettysburg College) and Harold Holzer (Metropolitan Museum of Art) served as consulting scholars on the interpretive planning for President Lincoln’s Cottage, a National Trust Historic Site in Washington, DC. Robert H. Smith is a philanthropist who has taken special interest in historic places associated with American presidents, including President Lincoln’s Cottage and James Madison’s Montpelier, both National Trust Historic Sites.
The National Humanities Medal, first awarded in 1989 as the Charles Frankel Prize, honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities, broadened our citizens’ engagement with the humanities, or helped preserve and expand Americans’ access to important resources in the humanities. The Humanities Medal is the most prestigious award in the humanities. Over the last decade, including this year’s recipients, the National Humanities Medal has been awarded to only 107 individuals and 9 organizations (including the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2001). Medal recipients do not compete for this award but are specially selected by the President for their life-long achievements in their areas of expertise.
