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President's Award

The President's Award is made periodically at the discretion of the President to honor outstanding service or contribution to the mission of the Victorian Society in America.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

2007
Gwen Koch

2006
John J. Simonelli

2005
William Dane
C. Dudley Brown

2001
Sallie R. Wadsworth

2000
Mike Leigh
"Topsy-Turvy"

1999
Margot Gayle

1998
Mills Lane
"Architecture of the Old South"
book series in ten vols.

1994
William E. Fischelis

1993
Richard E. Slavin

1990
Samuel J. Dornsife

1989
C. Dudley Brown

1988
Christopher Forbes
Sibyl Groff

1987
Richard H. Howland
Helen Tucker

1986
Brendan Gill
Margot Gayle

1985
George Vaux
Ruth Emery

2007 - Gwen Koch

Awarded to Gwen Koch:
"For her long-time love and support of the Society, especially her warm and endearing dedication to its Summer Schools, having actively served on its Summer Schools Committee for many years."

President: Bruce Davies
Presented at: Mobile, AL

2006 - John J. Simonelli

accepting the award

Awarded to John J. Simonelli:
"For his extraordinary generosity of spirit, time and expertise during many years of distinguished service to the Society and for his continuous commitment to preserving and sharing the 19^th Century heritage of America."

President: Bruce Davies
Presented at: St. Louis, MO

2005 - William (Bill) Dane

accepting the award

Awarded to William Dane:
"Who from the earliest days of the founding of the VSA in Margot Gayle’s kitchen right down to the present day has been consistently involved with and actively supported many aspects of the Society, including serving on the Summer Schools Committee for many years as both member and co-chair, serving as president of the NY Metro Chapter, and serving as an officer of the Summer Schools Alumni Association."

President: Patricia Pixley
Presented at: San Juan, PR

2005 - C. Dudley Brown

hearing the announcement

Awarded to Dudley Brown:
"Who from our earliest days has worked selflessly to promote and further the aims of the Society, serving nationally as Director, Secretary and Historian on the Board of Directors as well as locally as President of the Washington, DC Chapter, who helped initiate the silent auction, licensing and endowment programs to ensure the Society’s survival, and who consistently has promoted preservation of and education about our Victorian heritage."

President: Patricia Pixley
Presented at: San Juan, PR

2001 - Sallie R. Wadsworth

Awarded to Sallie Wadsworth:

President: John J. Simonelli

2000 - Mike Leigh
Director "Topsy-Turvy"

Awarded to Mike Leigh, Director:
"For a motion picture portraying the creation of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado which evokes the cultural and social world of late Victorian London with surpassing wit, insight and sympathy, and which contains some of the most striking depictions of Victorian interiors ever captured on film."

President: John J. Simonelli

1999 - Margot Gayle

Awarded to Margot Gayle:
"Preservationist, Author, Founder of Societies, Friend of Cast Iron, Intractable Foe of Vandals and Rapacious Developers. With thanks and gratitude."

President: John J. Simonelli

1998 - Mills Lane
"Architecture of the Old South" | book series in ten vols.

Awarded to Mills Lane"
"Upon the completion of his diligent endeavor to provide a readily available compilation of photographs, prints, plans, and historical background in his ten-volume series."

President: Billie S. Britz

1994 - William E. Fischelis

Awarded to William E. Fischelis:
"For outstanding service."

President: Billie S. Britz
Presented at: San Francisco, CA

1993 - Richard E. Slavin

Awarded to Richard E. Slavin:
"For outstanding service."

President: Billie S. Britz
Presented at: Jekyll Island, GA

1990 - Samuel J. Dornsife
see picture below

Awarded to Samuel E. Dornsife:
"For outstanding service."

President: Billie S. Britz
Presented at: Natchez, MS

1989 - C. Dudley Brown

C. Dudley Brown (second from left) reviewing printed fabrics for the Dornsife Collection; also pictured Samuel J. Dornsife (far right).