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The Virgil Lewis Award In 1991 the WVHS announced the establishment of the Virgil A. Lewis Award to honor outstanding contributions to the preservation and interpretation of West Virginia history. The award's namesake, Virgil A. Lewis, was born in 1846. An avid historian, Lewis published the Southern Historical Magazine, based in Charleston, West Virginia, in the 1890's. He was also the author of a popular textbook of the day, History of West Virginia. In 1893 Lewis became West Virginia's tenth State Superintendent of Free Schools, and in 1905 he became this state's first Director of Archives and History, serving in that capacity until his death in 1912. With this award the dedication and diligence with which our state's historians have worked to preserve West Virginia proud heritage. Individuals and organizations from throughout the state may nominate someone for the Virgil A. Lewis Award. Nominations are accepted annually. Award winners are presented with special Hamon art glass and their names are engraved on a plaque bearing the seal of the West Virginia Historical Society.
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