Lawrence J. Yerdon to Receive Prestigious Award for Career in History
AASLH’s Highest Award to Be Presented in Cincinnati
NASHVILLE, TN—The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) proudly announces that Lawrence J. Yerdon will receive the Award of Distinction on September 12 at the association’s annual meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Leadership in History Awards Program was initiated in 1945 to build standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history. The Award of Distinction is given infrequently in recognition of long and distinguished service and contributions on the part of a person working in state and local history who is recognized nationally as a leader in the profession. An individual must have demonstrated the highest standards of performance and professional ethics.
The majority of Yerdon’s career was spent as President and CEO at two significant historic sites, Hancock Shaker Village and Strawbery Banke Museum. In those roles, Yerdon transformed the organizations into models of innovation, sustainability, and community engagement. His work has set benchmarks for how historic sites can remain relevant and financially viable in the 21st century. Yerdon’s leadership in addressing climate change at Strawbery Banke Museum, particularly through flood mitigation and historic building stabilization efforts, has positioned the museum as a national leader in environmental stewardship.
“All of us across the history community look up to colleagues who have advanced the field,” said John Dichtl, AASLH President and CEO. “This year’s Award of Distinction recipient—Larry Yerdon—continues to have that kind of impact and also has been extremely generous in sharing his wisdom, creativity, and clarity. It is a pleasure to see him receive AASLH’s highest honor for his impressive career.”
“Yerdon’s extraordinary career, spanning over five decades, has left an indelible mark on the field of public history, historic preservation, and museum leadership,” said Kenneth C. Turino, Museum Search and Reference, and Scott Wands, Connecticut Humanities, who submitted his nomination. “His contributions have not only advanced the mission of the institutions he has led but have also elevated the profession as a whole.”
Yerdon graduated from Eastern Nazarene College with a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1970. He later received a master’s in history and Certificate in Historical Agency Management from Northeastern University and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His first job in the history field was as an interpreter at Adams National Historic Site in Quincy, Massachusetts. He later became the Director and Curator of the Quincy Historical Society.
Yerdon also gave back to the field by serving on the AASLH Council, the board of the New England Museums Association, the Advisory Committee for Museum Studies at Harvard Extension School, New Hampshire Tourism Advisory Board, and other organizations. He presented at conferences and wrote articles and a chapter in the AASLH book Reimagining the Historic House Museum.
Cynthia Fenneman, Yerdon’s last board chair at Strawbery Banke, accurately capture his accomplishments when speaking at his retirement celebration in 2023. She said, “With his passionate team, Larry has grown Strawbery Banke in smart, innovative, and sustaining ways. . . . We celebrate Larry’s ambitions to honor the importance of history, historic homes, the people who lived in them, their daily lives, and how they built the fabric of our community today.”
The 2025 awards will be presented at a special luncheon at Hyatt Regency Cincinnati on Friday, September 12, from 12:30-2 p.m., as part of the AASLH Annual Meeting in Cincinnati. A full listing of recipients can be found on the AASLH website. For more information, contact Bethany Hawkins at [email protected].
About the American Association for State and Local History:
Since 1940, AASLH has provided leadership and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history to make the past more meaningful. AASLH is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH works to advance knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of local history in America. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, and maintains numerous affinity groups and committees serving a broad range of constituents across the historical community. The association also sponsors regional and national training workshops, online courses and webinars, and an annual conference. For more information, visit www.aaslh.org.
