Governor's Awards in the Humanities

Established in 1991, the Governor’s Awards in the Humanities recognize outstanding achievement in humanities research, teaching, and scholarship; institutional and individual participation in helping communities in South Carolina better understand our cultural heritage or ideas and issues related to the humanities; excellence defining South Carolina’s cultural life to the nation or world; and exemplary support for public humanities programs. Fifty-nine individuals and organizations have received awards from 1991-2011.

2011 Governor's Awards in the Humanities

The Humanities Council^SC is pleased to announce that two extraordinary South Carolina individuals and one public institution are the recipients of this year's annual Governor’s Awards in the Humanities, presented at a luncheon on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at the Medallion Center in Columbia. The three recipients are: Dr. Jack Bass, journalist, author and professor; Dr. Jerome “Jerry” Reel, prominent historian and administrator at Clemson University; and the I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg.

Learn more about the 2011 recipients!

Nomination guidelines for the 2012 Governor's Awards in the Humanities will be posted in the Spring of 2012. Please check back then for further instructions.

Past Recipients of the Governor's Awards in the Humanities:

Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture (2001)
Jack Bass (2011)
Carol Bleser (1998)
Matthew Bruccoli (1999)
Luther (Fred) Carter (2004)
Marvin Chernoff (2006)
Claflin University, School of Humanities and Social Sciences (2009)
Ann Close (2004)
Coker College (1996)
Pat Conroy (1996)
James Dickey (1997)
J. Douglas Donahue (2005)
Benjamin "Bernie" Dunlap (2010) - Read Dr. Dunlap's acceptance speech | Word document
Walter Edgar (2000)
Elaine T. Freeman (1998)
Virginia Tormey Friedman (2005)
William Price Fox (2004)
Furman University (2006)
Veronica Davis Gerald (1994)
Virginia Geraty (1998)
Gibbes Museum of Art (1994)
Greater Columbia Literacy Council (1999)
Ruby "Bela" Padgette Herlong (2009)
Rachel Hodges (2008)
Senator Ernest F. Hollings (2007)
Hub City Writers Project (2006)
A.V. Huff, Jr. (1997)
Josephine Humphreys (2001)
I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium, SC State University (2011)
Larry Jackson (1997)
John Jakes (1998)
Charles Joyner (1993)
Wayne Q. Justesen, Jr. (2008)
Harriet Keyserling (1994)
Robert S. McCoy (1992)
S.C. (Cal) McMeekin, Jr. (2006)
McKissick Museum (1992)
William C. Moran (2008)
Jerome "Jerry" Reel (2011)
Richland County Public Library (1998)
Joseph P. Riley, Jr. (2005)
Lynn Robertson (2010)
Theodore "Ted" Rosengarten (2010)
Lawrence Rowland (1993)
Dori Sanders (2000)
Drs. Sara Sanders and Stephen Nagle (2003)
Jerold J. Savory (1995)
David S. Shields (2009)
Robert Simpson (1991)
SC ETV (1991)
South Carolina State Museum (1997)
Congressman John Spratt, Jr. (2001)
William Starr (2000)
Joseph Taylor Stukes (2009)
WRJA - Sumter (1993)
Earl Wilcox (1999)
Jeffrey R. Willis (2007)
York County Culture and Heritage Commission (2003)
Eugene (Nick) Ziegler (2004)

Learn more about the 2010 recipients!

Read 2010 recipient Benjamin Dunlap's acceptance speech | Word Document

Learn more about the 2009 recipients!

Learn more about the 2008 recipients!

Learn more about the 2007 recipients!