Overview
The Council of State Archivists (CoSA) Awards Program honors individuals, institutions, and initiatives that have significantly enriched and strengthened state and territorial archives across the United States. Since its inception in 2010, the program has celebrated innovation, leadership, and commitment in government archives. By recognizing outstanding contributions, CoSA aims to inspire and support excellence in archival practice.
Why These Awards Matter
To acknowledge excellence in archival work that impacts state and territorial government records, preservation, and access.
To promote leadership and advocacy, encouraging archivists and archival institutions to elevate their efforts.
To foster community and professional development, providing visibility to emerging leaders and innovative projects.
To strengthen the broader archival field, by sharing best practices and celebrating successes that others can emulate.
Sample Press Release
Award winners can use this Sample Press Release to help publicize their award.
The Council of State Archivists Awards Program is generously sponsored by
Important Dates for 2026
The online nomination form will be open soon and allows nominators to submit entries for multiple awards. Self-nominations are both accepted and encouraged.
- Nomination Deadline: TBD
- Recipients Announced: TBD
- Awards Ceremony: CoSA Annual Meeting (Columbia, NC), dates TBD
Awards & Categories
- Nomination Submission
Anyone can nominate an individual, organization, or program via the online form. Multiple nominations per person or institution are allowed, but nominators should ensure that each entry meets the specific criteria for each award. - Review Process
The CoSA Awards Committee - appointed by the CoSA President and chaired by the Immediate Past President - carefully reviews all nominations. The committee evaluates applications based on relevance, impact, innovation, and alignment with CoSA’s values. - Selection & Notification
- Some awards (e.g., Lifetime Achievement) are committee-selected and are not open to general nomination.
- Others follow standard nomination processes with clear criteria.
- Winners are typically announced in June and publicly recognized at the Annual Meeting in late summer/early fall.
Award recipients are celebrated in a formal ceremony at the CoSA Annual Meeting.
Winners receive public recognition via CoSA’s website, social media, and newsletters.
CoSA provides a sample press release to help awardees share their achievements with their institutions and wider communities.
Nominate someone — whether a colleague, mentor, program, or institution. Self-nominations are welcome.
Encourage participation — share the nomination form and award categories with your network.
Promote past winners — highlight their stories and achievements to inspire others.
Support CoSA’s mission — recognize how awards align with CoSA’s broader goals of strengthening archives through advocacy, leadership, and professional development.