PRESS CONTACT:
Grace Markley, Philosophy Communication
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Since 1987, museums, archives, schools, organizations and individual applicants have submitted projects each year for the opportunity to have their work highlighted by History Colorado, and to receive one of three monetary awards. This year’s awards recognize a variety of noteworthy accomplishments:

CAROLINE BANCROFT AWARD
Breckenridge History - Barney L. Ford Legacy Project
This $1,000 award is given to projects in communities with a population of 50,000 or less. 

The Barney L. Ford legacy project was a year-long celebration of the 200th anniversary of Ford’s birth, an escaped slave who went on to become a wealthy entrepreneur and civil rights leader in Colorado. The legacy project included a new exhibit at the Barney Ford Museum in Breckenridge; community events at local schools, restaurants and museums; a Barney Ford-inspired snow sculpture at the 2022 Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Championships; and a proclamation signed by Governor Jared Polis declaring February 1, the first day of Black History Month, as Barney Ford Day.

JOSEPHINE H. MILES AWARD
Denver Office of Storytelling - “Chicanas: Nurturers and Warriors” Film
This $1,000 award is given to projects in communities of any size.

“Chicanas: Nurtures and Warriors” is an inspirational film told exclusively from a Chicana perspective chronicling what it means to be a woman born in the U.S. with strong Mexican and Indigenous roots. The film profiles multiple women who have dedicated their lives to social justice and made transformative political, social and cultural contributions to Denver. The documentary premiered at the 2021 Denver Film Festival and screenings have been held at museums, cultural centers and universities across the state. 

JOSEPHINE H. MILES HONORARY AWARD
YMCA of the Rockies Women’s Monument Plaza Committee - Women's Monument
This $500 award is given to projects in communities of any size.

The collection of bronze sculptures is one of the few examples of public art dedicated to women in the county. 12 sculptures, created by local artist Jane DeDecker, highlight the trailblazing women, both past and present, of the Estes Park community. The committee selected the 12 women who represent the diverse local voices in Estes Park’s history and collective memorialization of so many influential women from the community. 

About the Miles and Bancroft Awards
Named for former Colorado Historical Society Volunteer President, Josephine Miles, and local Colorado historian, Caroline Bancroft, these annual awards highlight outstanding projects throughout the state that further understanding of Colorado history in exemplary and unique ways. Projects can come in many forms, including educational initiatives, publications, exhibits, and preservation projects. Any institution, organization, or individual involved in interesting and exciting Colorado history projects are encouraged to apply. The awards also hold a monetary component of up to $1,000 to help recipients continue their amazing work. 

For more information about the awards and past recipients, visit historycolorado.org/miles-bancroft.

About History Colorado
History Colorado is a division of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a 501(c)3 non-profit that has served more than 75,000 students and 500,000 people in Colorado each year. It is a 143-year-old institution that operates eleven museums and historic sites, a free public research center, the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and the History Colorado State Historical Fund (SHF), which is the nation’s largest preservation program of its kind. More than 70% of SHF grants are allocated in rural areas of the state.

History Colorado’s mission is to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past. We serve as the state’s memory, preserving and sharing the places, stories, and material culture of Colorado through educational programs, historic preservation grants, collecting, outreach to Colorado communities, the History Colorado Center and Stephen H. Hart Research Center in Denver, and ten other museums and historic attractions statewide. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information.