Event Detail
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2015 Records of Achievement Award Ceremony and Gala
- Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 - Thursday, October 29, 2015
- Time: 10:00 pm
- Location: National Archives Building, Washington, DC
On Wednesday, October 28, 2015, the Foundation will honor Taylor Branch, an internationally-acclaimed author, public speaker, and noted historian with its prestigious Records of Achievement Award. Mr. Branch will receive the award during a program including an on-stage interview by former Attorney General Eric H. Holder. As the nation celebrates several key civil rights milestones – including the anniversaries of monumental pieces of legislation including the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act – the Foundation will honor Mr. Branch for his landmark series, America in the King Years, which chronicled the tumultuous 14-year period at the height of the Civil Rights movement. This award-winning trilogy, documenting the nation’s racial struggles between 1954 and 1968, required more than 24 years of extensive historical research, and earned Mr. Branch the coveted Pulitzer Prize.
The event will be Chaired by Congressman John Lewis, who has dedicated his life to protecting human rights and securing civil liberties. During the Civil Rights movement, he became a nationally recognized leader and, at age 23, was a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963.
The Records of Achievement Award
The Records of Achievement Award is an annual tribute recognizing an individual who has made a significant impact upon the public’s understanding of the United States and its history. The awardees’ accomplishments reflect the Foundation’s mission by highlighting the stories found in the millions of documents, photographs, maps, films and recordings in the National Archives to bring about a fuller understanding of our national experience. Past recipients include: Robert Edsel, Steven Spielberg, David McCullough, Tom Brokaw, Brian Lamb and C-SPAN, John Hope Franklin, James McPherson, Annette Gordon-Reed, Ken Burns and David M. Rubenstein.
The Gala Dinner
The Foundation’s exclusive Gala event brings more than 200 distinguished guests from Washington’s civic, corporate, and cultural communities, including members of Congress, the Administration, and the Courts, and this year is sure to draw from an even more diverse pool of American leaders from across the country. High-profile guests in recent years have included 2011 Honorary Chairs Caroline Kennedy and Ed Schlossberg and 2010 Honorary Chair Morgan Freeman, along with members of the Senate and House of Representatives, Justices of the United States Supreme Court, and White House officials.
Tickets
Tickets are available for purchase online at these levels:
Signers Circle Individual Membership – $5,000
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Tickets for two guests to attend the Gala & Records of Achievement Award Ceremony, including a cocktail reception, award presentation & panel, dinner in the magnificent Rotunda Galleries, and a dessert reception on the National Archives Portico overlooking Constitution Avenue
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“Off-the-record” Luncheons in the Archivist’s Reception Room – participate in twice a year discussion of current events with notable historians, media figures, and other thought-provoking speakers
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Annual July 4th Celebration – enjoy the family-friendly breakfast reception and reserved seating for Signers Circle members at the reading of the Declaration of Independence on the stately portico steps of the National Archives
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Private National Archives Tour – request private tours for you and your guests at your convenience throughout the year, including the Charters of Freedom, the 1297 Magna Carta, and other one-of-a-kind historical documents
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Invitations to private receptions and reserved seating opportunities throughout the year
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Personal Family History Research Support – consult individually with Foundation staff on starting your own family history research
Two Tickets to Gala – $2,500
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Two tickets to attend the Gala & Records of Achievement Award Ceremony, including a cocktail reception, award presentation & panel, dinner in the magnificent Rotunda Galleries, and a dessert reception on the National Archives Portico overlooking Constitution Avenue.
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Two Jefferson-level individual memberships:
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Advance notice for upcoming programs and activities
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VIP reserved seating in the William G. McGowan Theater at public programs
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Reproduction of a significant historical record selected by the Foundation
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Opt-in to the Young Founders Society at no additional cost
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Single Ticket to Gala – $1,000
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A ticket to attend the Gala & Records of Achievement Award Ceremony, including a cocktail reception, award presentation & panel, dinner in the magnificent Rotunda Galleries, and a dessert reception on the National Archives Portico overlooking Constitution Avenue.
-
A Jefferson-level individual membership:
-
Advance notice for upcoming programs and activities
-
VIP reserved seating in the William G. McGowan Theater at public programs
-
Reproduction of a significant historical record selected by the Foundation
-
Opt-in to the Young Founders Society at no additional cost
-
For information about corporate support and sponsorship, please contact Executive Director Patrick Madden at patrick.madden@archivesfoundation.org
The Gala and Records of Achievement Award Ceremony is made possible with the leadership support of AT&T. Major support provided by Governor Jim Blanchard and Janet Blanchard, and the Maris S. Cuneo Foundation. Additional event support from Marvin F. Weissberg.
