| 
 2021-2023 
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No recipient | 
| 
 2020 
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Dr. Janice W. Fernheimer, Director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Jewish Studies and Professor in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies at the University of Kentucky 
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| 
 2018-2019 
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No recipient | 
| 
 2017 
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The Chancellors of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Joseph Kueppers and Susan Mulheron | 
| 2016 | 
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Ability Center of Greater Toledo (Executive Director Tim Harrington and Special Projects Director Dan Wilkins) | 
|   | 
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Phillip Obermiller, Michael Maloney and Thomas Wagner (founders of the Urban Appalachian Council) | 
| 2015 | 
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No recipient | 
| 2014 | 
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Jack Pitzer, National FFA Organization | 
|   | 
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John M. Preis, YMCA Retirement Fund | 
| 2013 | 
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Landsat Science Team | 
| 2012 | 
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 Prairie Public Broadcasting, Radio Division 
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|   | 
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 National History Day 
 | 
| 2011 | 
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Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. of Minneapolis/St. Paul | 
| 2010 | 
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No recipient | 
| 2009 | 
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Nancy Kraft, University of Iowa Libraries | 
|   | 
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Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation | 
|   | 
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Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning | 
|   | 
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Wisconsin Small Jewish Communities History Project | 
| 2008 | 
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Ramona (Moni) Hourt, Maria Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center | 
|   | 
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Dr. James C. Klotter, State Historian, Commonwealth of Kentucky | 
|   | 
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Grant Price, Archives of Iowa Broadcasting | 
| 2007 | 
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Ada Woodson Adams, President, Multicultural Genealogical Center | 
| 2006 | 
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Studs Terkel, Author and Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence, Chicago Historical Society | 
|   | 
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Fred DeLap, Edgar County (Illinois) Genealogical Society | 
| 2005 | 
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Ralph DuPae, Steamboat Photograph Collection, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Department of Special Collections | 
| 2004 | 
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No recipient | 
| 2003 | 
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National Satellite Land Remote Sensing Data Archive Advisory Committee | 
| 2002 | 
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Prof. Clarke Chambers, Social Welfare History Archives | 
|   | 
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Katherine Lederer, Ozarks African-American History Collection | 
| 2001 | 
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Rev. Lowell G. Almen, Evangelical Church of America | 
|   | 
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Robert L. Payton, Philanthropic Studies Collection | 
| 2000 | 
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  | 
Prof. Emeritus John J. Baughman, Indiana | 
|   | 
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Kermit B. Karns for his role in indexing N.D. Germans records | 
|   | 
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Neal W. Moore, Ozarks Labor History Society | 
| 1999 | 
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U.S. Congressman Sidney Yates, Illinois | 
|   | 
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Dr. Elton J. Bruins, Jt. Archives of Holland | 
| 1998 | 
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Sheldon F. Reese Foundation and Margaret Reese | 
|   | 
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Friends of the Center Alliance Ltd. (FOCAL) | 
| 1997 | 
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3M Corporation | 
| 1996 | 
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Stewart S. Howe Foundation, Illinois | 
|   | 
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Richard L. D. Morse, Consumer Movement Archives | 
| 1995 | 
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Abraham Lincoln Association | 
|   | 
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Brooks McCormick, Chief CEO (retired), Navistar International Transportation Company | 
| 1994 | 
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Louise Noun and Mary Louise Smith, Iowa Women's Archives founders | 
| 1993 | 
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Gerry Ray, Helped establish the only Kansas county archives | 
| 1992 | 
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The United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Workers of America | 
|   | 
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Minnesota State Senator Allan H. Spear and Representative Steve Trimble, Minnesota | 
|   | 
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Adolf E. and Rebecca B. Schroeder | 
| 1991 | 
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Curt Teich Foundation | 
|   | 
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Cleveland Foundation | 
| 1990 | 
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Shirley Herd and Virtea Downey, Indianapolis teachers | 
| 1989 | 
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Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago | 
|   | 
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Minnesota Future Resources Commission | 
|   | 
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Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and Santa Fe Southern Pacific Foundation | 
| 1988 | 
  | 
  | 
U.S. Senator Thomas Eagleton, Missouri | 
|   | 
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Iowa Federation of Labor |