CDA Award for Excellence
CDA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Initiated by Past President General Helen Evans, the CDA Award for Excellence is given to one or more chapters on an annual basis. The Board of Managers of The Colonial Dames of America is proud of the many projects supported by the efforts of the Chapters throughout the country and abroad.
For submission instructions, each interested chapter should download the “CDA Award for Excellence” document located in the password-protected Member Library, under the Award Forms section.
2024
The 2024 Award for Excellence was awarded to Chapter VIII – Houston, TX for the purchase of two benches or a small podium for the Morris Family Center for Law and Liberty at Houston Christian University. The Center is a replica of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and tours are given to schools and other groups explaining the process of American Independence. This is a companion project to the CDA Award for Excellence winner for “Lessons in Liberty” in 2022.
2023
The 2023 Award for Excellence was awarded to Chapter III – Washington D.C. for their creation and implementation of the “Excellence in History” award, an honorary certificate and monetary prize given annually to middle school aged students from five schools in the local community. Students submit original projects on Colonial and Early American History, ranging from poetry recitations to reenactments and even colonial food recipes. The winning entry is presented at a reception at the historic Abner Cloud House attended by the students along with their teachers and families.
2022
The 2022 Award for Excellence was awarded to Chapter VIII – Houston, Texas for their project in conjunction with the chapter’s “Lessons in Liberty” initiative with the Morris Family Law and Liberty Center in Houston. The awarded “Colonial Dames of Distinction” project will research, identify, fund, and frame two significant paintings/prints of notable women in colonial history to be displayed and utilized to educate 34,000 students annually.
2021
The 2021 Award for Excellence was presented to Chapter XIV – Chicago, Illinois. Awarded funds will go toward plans to expand and refurbish the lobby and reception area of the National Museum of the American Sailor at the Great Lakes Navy base. When the project is completed, the space will accommodate larger tour groups. There will also be a new desk and storage area, and flooring, wiring, and other materials will be replaced. The museum building is of historic value itself, being the only surviving World War II-era example of architect Gordon Bunshaft’s work and a classic example of Mid-Century Modern (MCM) architecture. Originally named the “Hostess House,” Building 42 opened in 1942 as a place for sailors and their loved ones to meet and say their “hellos” and “goodbyes.”
2020
The 2020 Award for Excellence was awarded to Chapter XXIV – Atlanta to fund renovation work at the 1908 Women’s Comfort Station at Historic Oakland Cemetery. The award amount provided for a preservationist to assess, rehabilitate, and replace priceless, custom floor tiles. The cemetery was established in 1850 on forty-eight acres of lush natural greenery, including mature magnolia, dogwood, and oak trees – hence the name “Oakland.” It is estimated that over 70,000 people are interred, including author Margaret Mitchell, golfer Bobby Jones, and Confederate and Union soldiers. The Women’s Comfort Station holds irreplaceable historic value, containing locally crafted materials for which patents no longer exist. It also denotes Oakland’s past popularity and the need for a facility to serve a community who spent leisure time in the cemetery.
2019
The 2019 CDA Award for Excellence was awarded to Chapter XXXVIII—Santa Barbara to support a restoration project in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. Awarded funds will cover the cost of colored architectural renderings for seismic retrofit and restoration of the Cota-Knox House (1871) to its original appearance. The Cota-Knox House is an important and unique building in Santa Barbara and these vivid color drawings will kick off and encourage local and regional donors to support an ensuing larger capital campaign.
2018
The 2018 CDA Award for Excellence was awarded to Chapter XXXIX—Birmingham, Alabama to create a new addition the Junior Interpreter Program at the American Village Citizenship Trust in Montevallo, Alabama. Each year more than 45,000 students visit to take part in educational programs about America’s foundation. Chapter XXXIX’s project will purchase costumes for Junior Interpreters to portray Alexander and Eliza Hamilton’s children in a historical vignette.
2017
The 2017 CDA Award for Excellence was awarded to Chapter XV-Jackson, Mississippi for the funding of the Columbia Courthouse’s records management program, and the project of making Marion County’s early records available to the public. The chapter used this award to support the expense of funding approximately 70 hours of scanning, and enabling the possibility for matching funds.
2016
The 2016 CDA Award for Excellence was given to Chapter IX-Kentucky for the Doctor Ephraim McDowell Historic Home, Apothecary Shop and Herbal Gardens, to include the painting of the surgery in the McDowell House, a room that represents a turning point in American medical history. This treasured National Historic Landmark was built in the 1700’s in Danville, the first capital of Kentucky.
2015
President General Sharon Vaino presented the 2015 CDA Award for Excellence to Chapter XXIV-Atlanta, which won for its proposal to hire a professional to evaluate a priceless collection of small, hand-whittled toys called the “Moses Robinson Collection of Folk Art” at the Sandy Springs Heritage Museum. The resulting information will be used for conservation, preservation and restoration of the collection. Accepting the award was chapter president Helen Rogge.
2014
In 2014, The CDA Chapter XXXI-South Carolina received the CDA Award for Excellence for the Old Horry County Courthouse Handrails and Steps Restoration Project. A treasured landmark, listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation Registry, the Old Horry County Courthouse built in 1825 is still in use today and serves as the City Hall for the town of Conway. Chapter XXXI will aid in restoring the handrails and steps for this historic building.
2013
Two chapters shared the award.
Chapter VIII-Houston: Restoration of St. Thomas Anglican Church Cemetery, St. Kitts, West Indies.
Chapter X-Rome, Italy: E-Book and print on demand focusing on the 100 most notable Americans and continuing research to document 840 Americans buried between 1803-2010 in the Cimitero Acattolico, the Non-Catholic Cemetery, established 1712, in Rome, Italy.
2012
Two chapters shared the award.
In 2012, the President’s Award for Excellence was given to Chapter XXIV-Atlanta, Georgia for a Grant for Continuing Education, The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation – Staff Development
Chapter XXXIII-Georgia Piedmont was awarded for Replacement of Signage for the William Harris Homestead
2011
Chapter III-Washington, D.C.: The preservation and Historical Designation of the Abner Cloud Mill
2010
Chapter XIII – Kansas City, Missouri: Project to restore the Harris-Kearney House
2009
Chapter XVII – Palm Beach, Florida: Restoration of Sea Gull Cottage
Citations in 2009
Chapter IV – Paris, France: American Species Gardens at the Franco American Museum of Blerancourt
Chapter VIII – Houston, Texas: American Heritage exhibits at the Museum of Southern History
2008
Two chapters shared the 2008 award.
Chapter XXIV-Atlanta, Georgia: Restoration work at the Oakland Cemetery.
Chapter XXXI-South Carolina: Restoration of the brick steps at Hopsewee Plantation House (circa 1740) birthplace of Thomas Lynch, youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence, at age 26.
2007
Two chapters shared the 2007 award.
Chapter X-Rome, Italy: Published a booklet about the Americans buried in the famous Protestant Cemetery in Rome.
Chapter XI-London, England: Replacing an ancient, worn sign with a new legible one in the American Garden in Bath.
2006
Chapter XXI-Dallas, Texas: Project Cookies – for the Troops
Chapter IV-Paris, Chapter XXIII-Virginia & Chapter XXX-Venice, FL
2005
Three chapters shared the 2005 award.
Chapter IV-Paris, France: Assisting L’Association Hermione La Fayette, in constructing a replica of the frigate upon which the Marquis de La Fayette sailed into Boston Harbor in 1780 to aid General George Washington during the Revolutionary war.
Chapter XXIII-Virginia: Support of the Jamestowne Rediscovery project to support a graduate student at the archeology dig on Jamestowne Island, in preparation for the 400th celebration of the settlement of Jamestowne, Virginia.
Chapter XXX-Venice, Florida: Support of the Venice Area Historical Society’s efforts to educate the public about the entities who used the recently restored Venice Train Depot and laying the groundwork for a Circus Educational Program which will tell the story of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus as it arrived and departed each year from its winter home.
1998-2004
2004 – Chapter XIV-Chicago: Schmidt-Burnham Log House; a restoration project on the historic house in Winnetka, Illinois.
2003 – Chapter XIX-Florida Everglades: Parents as Teachers research and educational project; a division of Early Years Educational Foundation of Collier County, Florida.
2002 – Chapter II-Philadelphia: Lemon Hill historic house museum; phase two of the educational program “Living History Lessons at Lemon Hill” that received the award in 1999.
2001- Chapter XIII-Kansas City: Harris-Kearney House project; restoring the shutters on the oldest standing brick house in Kansas City, Missouri.
2000 – Chapter XVII-Palm Beach: Glades Tri-State Education Program; a program of the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition.
1999 – Chapter II-Philadelphia: Lemon Hill historic house museum; a local school study project called “Kids Tour of Lemon Hill by Kids”.
1998 – Chapter V-San Francisco: Camron-Stanford House Preservation Association; a slide and tape conversion to video lecture on their historic site.