IAM and Badge of Pride Win 2026 AASLH Award of Excellence!
Badge of Pride and Irving Archives & Museum Win 2026 AASLH Award of Excellence
June 12, 2026
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) proudly announces that the Irving Archives & Museum and Badge of Pride are the recipients of an Award of Excellence for
Badge of Pride: From Silence…to Celebration! The AASLH Leadership in History Awards are the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.
Badge of Pride: From Silence…to Celebration! was a landmark partnership between two young organizations—Irving Archives & Museum and Badge of Pride—that came together to create the largest artifact-based LGBTQ+ history exhibition ever presented in Texas. Developed collaboratively with community members and national partners, the exhibition featured more than 600 artifacts, 12 free public programs, bilingual interpretation, and a digital guide that expanded access beyond the museum’s walls.
This year, AASLH confers 42 national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history.
The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena. For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, contact AASLH at 615-320-3203 or go to www.aaslh.org.
The Irving Archives and Museum continues to serve as a dynamic cultural destination for North Texas residents and visitors alike. The museum features its permanent exhibition, The Irving Story, which explores the city’s rich and evolving history. It is also home to the only Smithsonian Spark!Lab in Texas, an interactive invention space for young visitors. Currently on display, The Perfect Shot: Walter Iooss Jr., and the Art of Sports Photography, features iconic moments in sports history, on view through August 9, 2026. For more information about the Irving Archives and Museum, upcoming exhibitions, and programs, visit Irving Archives and Museum.
Founded in 2022, Badge of Pride is a Dallas-based, queer-led nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public understanding through history, art, and cultural storytelling. What began as a personal archival project has grown into a major cultural initiative focused on expanding historical literacy, strengthening belonging, and preserving LGBTQ+ histories across Texas and beyond. To learn more about Badge of Pride and upcoming events, visit Badge of Pride.
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), a national nonprofit association, provides leadership and resources to help the history community thrive and make the past more meaningful for all people. AASLH serves the tens of thousands of history organizations, professionals, and volunteers around the country who help people of all ages develop critical thinking skills and understand how learning history helps society make progress toward justice. Through research, advocacy, and our field-leading professional development program, AASLH advances public history practice and connects history practitioners to critical issues in the field and to one another. For more information about AASLH visit
www.aaslh.org.
