WILLIAMSBURG — Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Executive Director Christy S. Coleman has been honored with the David McCullough Prize for Excellence in American Public History from the Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia.
The Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia will formally recognize Coleman on April 26 during a ceremony in Philadelphia at the Museum of the American Revolution. She is the third recipient to receive this recognition.
“I’m deeply honored to receive this recognition, especially in light of the fact that the incomparable David McCullough was involved in its formation and criteria in partnership with historic Carpenters’ Company,” said Coleman.
The prize was established by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, and the prestigious honor celebrates individuals and organizations whose work engages the public and significantly impacts their understanding of American history.
Coleman was selected among a dozen nominations by a committee of leading historians, scholars and museum professionals for her work in bringing awareness to the vital role history plays in engaging Americans in our democracy and civic institutions.
“Coleman encapsulates the spirit of David McCullough through her work as chief executive officer of some of the nation’s most prominent museums,” The Carpenters’ Company noted in announcing the award.
“Christy Coleman is at the forefront of public historians and educators who are crafting a more nuanced and inclusive narrative of our complex American story,” said Michael Norris, executive director of the Carpenters’ Company. “As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, the Carpenters’ Company is proud to recognize her achievements with the David McCullough Prize.”
Coleman is executive director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an educational agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia accredited by the American Alliance of Museums that administers Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. She has held leadership roles at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the American Civil War Museum.
Coleman has earned numerous awards for her decades of impact, including three honorary doctorates. In 2018, Time magazine named Coleman one of the “31 People Changing the South,” and Worth magazine named her one of “29 Women Changing the World” in 2019 and has appeared on several national news and history programs.
