Anna Hamilton Memorial Award for Outstanding Voluntary Service
to the Nova Scotian Archival Community

What is the Anna Hamilton Award?

The Anna Hamilton Memorial Award was established by the Council of Nova Scotia Archives in 2004 to honour one volunteer each year who has served the Nova Scotia archival community with sincere dedication and in an exemplary fashion, just as Anna Hamilton did for many years.

What is the prize?

The award consists of a Certificate of Appreciation, a $50 gift certificate from a local bookstore (courtesy of the Hamilton family) and free registration to the CNSA Spring Conference or to a CNSA workshop of the winner's choice.

Who can be nominated for the award?

A person who has made a significant contribution to the archives in which s/he works, and/or to the Council of Nova Scotia Archives, and/or to the Nova Scotia archival community as a whole.

Nominated volunteers must have been active up to December 31st of the year prior to application. Eligible volunteers might include:

• A person who has distinguished himself/herself as someone who has given freely and enthusiastically of his or her time and/or resources to the archival community and/or to his/her own institution.
• Has served as a model for others to follow.
• Has demonstrated a cooperative attitude through a willingness to work with others.
• Has completed appropriate training or demonstrated competence, or both, for the task that s/he undertakes.
• Has improved the state of his/her archives

What sort of activites would qualify for an award?

The award is not limited to any one scope of endeavour. Examples of activities that the volunteer may have been involved in include but are not limited to:

• A person involved in the development and implementation of programs and/or services for his/her archives.
• A person who has significantly increased his/her Archives' positive image within the local community through a wide variety of methods and media.
• A person who has increased support from the local community.
• A person who has demonstrated the utmost interest in and support for the programs of the Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

How are nominations submitted?

• Nominations may be submitted by a representative of the governing body of the institution/organization for which the candidate has volunteered; or by the appropriate staff member responsible for volunteer services; or by anyone who has knowledge of the candidate's efforts.
• Nominations, with any necessary accompanying documentation, must be submitted together with the nomination form, by April 30, 2010.
• Each nomination package must include:
  • a nomination form (see link below) 
  • a nomination letter -- a letter that explains why the nominee fits the criteria. Include specific dates of service, specific achievements or results related to service, and detailed descriptions of service and impact on others within the context of the overall archival program. It is important to provide specific details of accomplishments and/or service that will help the Award Committee in their final selection.
  • a biographical sketch
  • a letter of support from the relevant archival institution or organization
• Each nomination package may also include:
  • Evidence of past recognition of contributions such as newspaper articles or other supportive materials.
  • Letters of endorsement from archival institutions/organizations other than the organization for which the individual has volunteered.

The Process

• The jury will consist of the following: Awards Committee Chairperson, Education Committee Chairperson, Preservation Committee Chairperson and two representatives from the last year's winner.
• The decision of the jury is final.
• Applications and supporting documentation become the property of the CNSA, with the exception of published books and audio-visual presentations, which will be returned to the nominees after judging.
• The award winner will be announced during the annual general meeting of the Council of Nova Scotia Archives.

Please complete the Nomination Form and forward to:

CNSA Awards Committee
6016 University Ave.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3H 1W4

Download Nomination Form [RTF]

Who Was Anna Hamilton?

Anna Hamilton was born in Brule Point, NS in 1918 and received her education at Pictou Academy, Provincial Normal College and Acadia University (BA 1942, MA 1954). She taught at Havergal College, Toronto, and later at Shelburne, Springhill and Wolfville High Schools. In 1957 she joined the staff of the Nova Scotia Teachers College. After her retirement in 1974, Anna returned to Brule Point and became a dedicated volunteer. Much of her service centred on the United Church and the Maritime Conference Archives Committee. She was also active as a volunteer and President of the North Shore Archives Committee. Largely as the result of her interest in local history the Archives published, in 1995, North Shore Physicians: From Here and Away. Her commitment to volunteerism was recognized in 1995 by the Municipality of Colchester when she was awarded the Pettigrew Leadership Award. Anna Hamilton died on 10 July 2002.