Red Jacket Award nominations now open

Nominate community leaders and organizations for three different awards 

The Buffalo History Museum is seeking nominations for its annual Red Jacket, Daniel B. Niederlander and Owen B. Augsburger awards. The three accolades recognize local leaders and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the community. The deadline for submissions is April 3. The nomination form and criteria for each award can be found at https://buffalohistory.org/red-jacket-awards.

An award committee of current and past members of The Buffalo History Museum’s board of managers, community members, and previous award recipients review all nominations. The award winners will be honored at the museum’s annual Red Jacket Awards ceremony in October.

A press release explained the original Red Jacket medal is one of the most treasured artifacts in Western New York and was repatriated to the Seneca Nation from the museum in May of 2021. The Red Jacket medal was presented by President George Washington to Seneca Chief Red Jacket (Sagoyewatha) in 1792. It features symbolic imagery of the peaceful coexistence between the U.S. and Native Americans. The tradition of the Red Jacket Award is inspired by the imperative to continue acknowledging individuals who, through continued and devoted service, strive to preserve local heritage.

Established in 1957, The Red Jacket Award is presented by The Buffalo History Museum in recognition of “quiet, unbroken devotion to our civic progress and needs by one who, through such devotion, has thereby enlarged our awareness of our heritage in order that it may be built upon for the enrichment of our future.”

The Owen B. Augspurger Award was established in 1974 in honor of Augspurger (1913-69), a former History Museum president, and a Red Jacket awardee (1969). The award is presented to an individual for outstanding service to the cause of local history.

The Daniel B. Niederlander Award was established in 1975, in honor of Niederlander (1895-1964), a former History Museum president, businessman, and dedicated civic leader. The award is presented to a local education, cultural, or heritage organization for outstanding programming.