CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC HUMANITIES

THE STANLEY N. KATZ PRIZE

2023 KATZ PRIZE WINNER

"Faith Ringgold: Coming to Jones Road"

3-D tour of the exhibit "Faith Ringgold: Coming to Jones Road"

Advertisement for the Ancestors Journey Oral History Project

Advertisement for the Coming to Jones Road Children's Makerspace

A photo of the Ancestor Journeys verbatim theatrical performance

Organizer

Bergen Community College / Gallery Bergen
Paramus, NJ

Bringing together partners from the Bergen Community College faculty, local public libraries, and governmental and nonprofit organizations, this "constellation of programs" used a combination of both creative and established public humanities practices to tell stories, preserve history, and encourage community dialogue around the topics of race, discrimination, art, and African American heritage in New Jersey.

The project centered on Gallery Bergen's exhibition Coming to Jones Road, featuring works by renowned artist Faith Ringgold. The exhibit elucidates Ringgold's experiences encountering racism and struggle in relocating her home and studio to Englewood, NJ.

The college extended the dialogue from this exhibit using humanities and complementary creative pursuits, including:

  • The organization of a Children’s Makerspace for in which daycare and K-12 students in partnership with the Black Child Development Initiative and the Bergen County Office for Children
  • The “Ancestor Journeys” project, which collected more than 200 oral history testimonies from students and county residents
  • The development of a theatrical piece that incorporated these testimonies with text from Ringgold’s storyquilts, and
  • The commission of “Coming to Jones Road Suite,” a jazz suite by the composer Rufus Reid which premiered at BCC’s Ciccone Theatre.

Want to know more about this "constellation of projects"?

2023 HONORABLE MENTION

Morven Museum & Garden

In 2018, the Morven Museum & Garden reinstalled its Permanent History Exhibition “Historic Morven: A Window Into America’s Past,” broadening the perspective and focus of the exhibit to be more inclusive of the people who lived and labored in the historic house. Previously, the exhibit had focused on the better-known patriarchs of the property.

After engaging an advisory council including members of the local African-American community, the exhibit and related educational programming were updated to include a deeper examination of Morven’s ties to slavery. As a result, the exhibit now reflects the voices of the many people who lived and worked at Morven, including women, children, enslaved men and women, immigrant servants, and employees.

The reinterpretation has been completed, but it continues to inspire further efforts to expand the perspectives reflected in the site’s history. Ongoing efforts include “Slavery at Morven,” an online exhibit launched in 2022, ongoing research into Morven’s ties to slavery, and programming associated with the expanded scope of the exhibit.

Organizer

Morven Museum & Garden

Project Website

https://www.morven.org/

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@morvenmuseum

2023 HONORABLE MENTION

Harrison Township Historical Society

On September 1, 2021, a devastating tornado swept through Harrison Township, leaving behind a trail of unprecedented destruction. Miraculously, no lives were lost, but much need for healing and rebuilding remained.The Harrison Township Historical Society recognized the need to document and preserve this nationally significant history in real time. 

The project’s purpose was three-fold: to create an eyewitness record of the storm from multiple perspectives, to involve those directly affected, and to stimulate understanding and discussion about the storm and its impact.Working together, local committee members and oral historian Melissa Ziobro secured the cooperation of 21 narrators whose stories were recorded and transcribed. 

The interviews provided the narration for an exhibition that opened a year following the storm, telling a story courage, compassion, and how the community proved itself stronger than the storm. The effort shows how humanities can aid the healing process and how a small, all-volunteer history organization can meaningfully contribute to the well-being of its community.

Organizer

Harrison Township Historical Society

Project Website

https://www.harrisonhistorical.com/

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Katz Prize image
ABOUT

THE STANLEY N. KATZ PRIZE

Founded in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Council, the Stanley N. Katz Prize for Excellence in Public Humanities will be awarded annually beginning in 2022. The award will recognize an organization which has demonstrated significant engagement with and impact through community-focused public humanities work in New Jersey.

About Stan

“NJCH's longtime leader, Stan Katz, helped shape the Council as an organization that works with scholars across disciplines to serve the New Jersey public, recognizing that public humanities help us bridge divides, promote civic engagement, and give a voice to all members of our society.

In this important moment for the public humanities, we hope naming our award honors his commitment to public humanities and ensures a better future for our communities."

- Dan Fatton, NJCH Board Chair, 2020-2022

Nomination Information

Katz Prize logo

To be eligible for nomination, an organization must:

  • Have completed the nominated project in the last five years.
  • Be a New Jersey-based nonprofit or government entity.

Anyone may nominate an organization, and nominators may nominate any organization that they believe best exemplifies the purpose of the Prize and fulfills its eligibility requirements; please note that self-nominations from organizations *are* permitted. All nominations will be kept confidential.

Supporters

Katz Prize Dontaions Tracker

Your generosity will help to further the work of the public humanities in New Jersey while honoring the many contributions Stan Katz has made to the field. Please consider participating in one of the Katz Prize Fund Giving Levels. With your support, we can honor Stan's significant work in the public humanities and the impact of the historical, cultural, and educational organizations in New Jersey.

Donations may be made online, or via check, stock transfers, EFT, property, or other contribution options. To inquire, contact us at donations@njhumanities.org or (609) 695-4838.

Katz Prize Fund Donors

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Founder's Circle ($10,000 & Up)

American Council of Learned Societies
Kiki Jamieson & Will Dove
Sid Lapidus, '59
Gail M. Ullman

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Patrons ($5,000 - $9,999)

Cornelia H. Dayton
International Cultural Property Society
Dan Fatton & Alex Justino
Douglas & Margee Greenberg
William Chester Jordan
Princeton University
Rayman Solomon & Carol Avins
Barry Sullivan & Winnifred Fallers Sullivan
Steven Wheatley & Lina-Marie Delloff
Jamil Zainaldin

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Benefactors ($1,000 - $4,999)

George & Marion Curtis
John Dove
Paul and Byrgen Finkelman
E. Leigh Gibson
James Goodman & Jennifer McFeely
Daniel & Sarah Barringer Gordon
Benjamin Heineman, Jr.
Barbara & Steven Henning
Linda K. Kerber
Bruce H. Mann
Ruth & Bernie Miller
Allen & Rhona Porter
Dr. Robert Ritchie
Michael & Mary Pat Robertson
Benjamin Soskis
Wendel White

Katz Prize Fund Committee Members

Carin Berkowitz, Ph.D.
Cornelia Dayton, Ph.D.
Sarah Barringer Gordon, J.D., Ph.D.
Doug Greenberg, Ph.D., Chair
James Grossman, Ph.D.
Kiki Jamieson, Ph.D.
Arnita Jones, Ph.D.
Michael Klein, J.D., Ph.D.
Michael Robertson, Ph.D.
Rayman Solomon, J.D., Ph.D.
Steven Wheatley, Ph.D.
Jamil Zainaldin, Ph.D.

Without the work and dedication of this group of humanists, the Stanley N. Katz Prize for Excellence in the Public Humanities would not be possible. Thank you for your efforts!

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Friends (Up to $999)

David & Sandra Abraham
Anonymous
James Banner
Thomas Bender
Carin Berkowitz
Sandra Bradley
Brendan Byrne
Deborah A. Carter
Leonard Cassuto
William Deverell
Michael Ebner
Richard & Caroline Ekman
Daniel Ernst
David Farber & Beth Bailey
Beth Filla & Brett Bonfield
Candace Frede
Ira & Karen Fuchs Charitable Gift Fund
Michael Glickman
Ann D. Gordon
Briann Greenfield
James Grossman
John Herbert Hammer
Neil Harris
Hendrik Hartog
Pam Hersh
Mark Hontz
Frederick Hoxie
Richard Immerman
Arnita A. Jones
Anamika Kapoor
Ira Katznelson
Deborah Leff
William Leslie
Donna LoPiano
Maxine Lurie
Donna Macalle-Holly
Esther Mackintosh
Burton & Nancy Malkiel
Maeva Marcus
Louis Masur
Jonathan Mercantini
Martha Minow
Maribel Morey
Linda Morgan
Newberry Library
Philip Nord
Barbara Oberg
Judith Pinch
Barry V. Qualls
Jan Robbins
Richard Roper
Jane Brailove Rutkoff
Gary Saretzky
Sara Siegler
Angela Speakman
Marue E. Walizer