Volkel Memorial Awards

The Illinois State Genealogical Society was organized in October 1968 under the guidance of the late Lowell M. Volkel (1936-1992), an archivist at the Illinois State Archives. For two decades he helped ISGS to grow and become the Society it is today. In honor of his accomplishments in the field of genealogy and records preservation, the Illinois State Genealogical Society established the Volkel Medal of Honor and the Volkel Hall of Fame

The Volkel Medal of Honor may be awarded during even-numbered years to a living person who has made significant contributions in the field of Illinois genealogy. The Volkel Medal of Honor will be presented at the Illinois State Genealogical Society's Fall Conference. Nominations for the Medal of Honor must be made by a local genealogical society or the state society on the official nominating form and must be signed by an officer of the society. The nominations must received by the Honors and Awards Committee chairman by July 1, of each even-numbered year in order to be considered for that year. The nominee for this award should be or recently have been, actively engaged in furthering the efforts of Illinois genealogical researchers through his/her efforts to publish materials, teach research techniques and guidelines, and actively participate in the activities of local, regional, and/or state societies.

Criteria for selection for the Volkel Medal of Honor

• The nominee must have been actively engaged in the field of genealogy in Illinois for at least ten years.
   
• The nominee must be living at the time of the nomination.
   
• The nominee must have made (or continue to be making) a contribution to the field of genealogy in Illinois that is judged to be significant in a way that is either unique, pioneering, or exemplary. The nature of those contributions may include, but is not limited to, the following:
  
  - Authored books or articles that added significantly to the body of published work on American families; published works that made significant corrections to previously publllished works; and/or published works that serve as models of genealogical research and writing.
  
  - Made genealogical source records more readily available to the public by preserving, transcribing, translating, abstracting, indexing, and or publishing such records.
  
  - Shared with others knowledge of genealogical research methods and sources through teaching and lecturing and/or publication of educational materials.
  
  - Contributed time, labor, and leadership to a genealogical organization or genealogical periodical publication, thus enabling that organization or publication to make significant contributions to the field of genealogy.

The Volkel Hall of Fame is an award given to honor a deceased person who has made significant contributions in the field of Illinois genealogy. Nominations for the Medal of Honor must be made by a local genealogical society or the state society on the official nominating form and must be signed by an officer of the society. Nominations for the Hall of Fame Award must be received by the Honors and Awards Committee chairperson by July 1 of the preceding year. Announcement of the recipient for the Volkel Hall of Fame Award shall be made at the Fall Conference during odd-numbered years, with a special ceremony taking place in the Illinois State Archives Building.

Criteria for selection to the Volkel Hall of Fame:

• The nominee must have been actively engaged in the field of genealogy in Illinois for at least ten years.
   
• The nominee must be deceased at the time of the nomination.
   
• The nominee must have made a contribution to the field of genealogy in Illinois that is judged to be significant in a way that is unique, pioneering or exemplary. Contributions may include but are not limited to, the following:
  
  - Authored books or articles that added significantly to the body of literature on the genealogy of American families; that updated or made significant corrections to previous works; and that serve as models of genealogical research and writing.
  
  - Made genealogical source records readily available to the public by preserving, transcribing, translating, abstracting, indexing, or publishing such records.
  
  - Shared with others knowledge of genealogical research methods and sources through teaching, lecturing, and/or publishing educational materials.
  
  - Contributed time, labor, and leadership to a genealogical organization or genealogical periodical publication resulting in significant contributions to the field of genealogy.