East Tennessee History Center wins nine awards at statewide conference
The East Tennessee History Center (ETHC) was the recipient of nine awards at the recent Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) Annual Conference. The TAM Awards ceremony was held at the Knoxville Museum of Art in Knoxville, Tennessee, during the evening of March 13, 2025. TAM Awards were presented to museums across the state for exceptional projects, programs, and events held during 2024.
The following ETHC projects, developed in partnership between the East Tennessee Historical Society and Knox County Public Library, were presented with TAM Awards of Excellence:
- TAM Award of Excellence–Temporary Exhibition: They Sang What They Lived: The Story of Carl and Pearl Butler
- TAM Award of Excellence–Publication: Tennessee Turned: Earthenware and Stoneware Made in East Tennessee, 1800-1900
- TAM Award of Excellence–Special Recognition: Discover Your Story: ETHC Exterior Improvement Project
- TAM Award of Excellence–Digital Media: eastTNhistory.org Website Redesign
- TAM Award of Excellence–Public Programming: WETN Radio
- TAM Award of Excellence–Special Event: Over There: Tennessee and Her Allies in World War II
In addition, ETHC received three special TAM Awards:
- TAM Award of Excellence–Volunteerism: In recognition of Cara Lusk who, in 2024, volunteered more than 600 hours scanning and photographing materials from the museum’s collection
- TAM Award of Excellence–Community Support: This award is given to projects that strongly impact the community; it recognizes MIA: Museums Increasing Accessibility, a web-based platform that assists low- and non-sighted museum guests. Developed by Girl Scout Mia Warren and ETHC team members, MIA was doubly recognized, as it was also nominated for the 2025 TAM Presidents Award, the state’s highest honor for museum-based projects.
- The Spirit of TAM Award: This award recognizes special creativity in Tennessee museums; it was bestowed on Discover Your Story: ETHC Exterior Improvement Project, making the project doubly recognized for its achievements in creative conceptualization, design, and impact.
