[Archived] Archaeological Commission Now Accepting Nominations for Brenman Award

Archaeology Award Honors Legacy of Late Alexandria Preservationist

The Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC) is now accepting nominations for the Bernard “Ben” Brenman Archaeology in Alexandria Award. The AAC established this award in 2007 to celebrate the contributions of the late Ben Brenman, who devoted himself to finding, preserving and sharing Alexandria’s rich and diverse heritage. Brenman was a founding member of the AAC, a City of Alexandria commission which was the first of its kind established in the U.S., and served as its chair for 21 years.

The Brenman Award is open to businesses, organizations, families, professional preservationists, volunteers, students and other individuals who have demonstrated work or efforts in archaeological investigation, research, site protection, education, public interpretation, open space design, collections, or conservation. Nomination forms are available at www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or by calling the Alexandria Archaeology Museum at 703.746.4399. The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, June 1.

Previous winners of the Brenman Award include Alexandria residents E. Sanders Partee, Joe Reeder and Elizabeth Henry Douglas, community activist Ellen Pickering, developer Eakin/Youngentob Associates, cultural resource management firms John Milner Associates and Louis Berger, grassroots organization Friends of Freedmen’s Cemetery, former Alexandria Archaeological Commission members Vivienne Mitchell and Chan Mohney, historians Wesley Pippenger and T. Michael Miller, youth activist Sarah Borgatti, educator Judy McConville, Historic Alexandria Foundation, a preservation advocacy group, the Fort Ward History Work Group, archaeologist Martha Williams, and Land/Design, a landscape design firm.

Appointed by City Council, the 14-member AAC develops goals and priorities for preserving Alexandria’s archaeological heritage. The commission works closely with citizens, government agencies, developers and teachers to promote archaeology in the City.

For more information, visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or call 703.746.4399.