Historical Walking Tours

Back by popular demand, we are again delighted to offer walking tours of both the historic architecture of Clematis Street in West Palm Beach and of wonderful Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. These tours are seasonal and take place from November through March.

Rick Gonzalez, AIA, president of REG Architects will share his passion for the historic architecture of West Palm Beach. The tours are sponsored through the generosity of National City. From the National City Courtyard and start Federal Courtyard on the corner of Datura Street and Narcissus Avenue. For reservations, please call the Society office at (561) 832.4164.

The 2008 schedule for these tours is as follows.
Friday, January 4, 11, 18 & 25
Friday, February 1
All tours begin at 4 p.m.

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Judge James R. Knott Historical Contribution Award

Established in 1989, this annual award recognizes the achievements of an individual or organization that has contributed to the preservation, promotion or enrichment of Palm Beach County history. This contribution should enrich Palm Beach County residents for generations to come.

The award honors and is named for the late Honorable Judge James R. Knott, who served as President of the Society from 1957 to 1969. Judge Knott is fondly remembered as a dedicated historian, and author of the Brown Wrapper newspaper series and three books on the history of our area.

The deadline for 2007 Judge James R. Knott Historical Contribution Award is February 2008.

Guidelines for Nominations:

Who may nominate?

Anyone interested in the history of Palm Beach County may identify an individual or organization that they believe would be appropriate candidates for the award. Nominators may not identify an organization of which they are an officer, member or employee. Nominations must be submitted on forms provided by the Society, anonymous nominations shall not be accepted.

Who is eligible for nominations?

The goal of the Judge James R. Knott Historical Contribution Award is to recognize individuals or organizations for their contributions to the history of our county, those who that have worked to preserve, promote or enrich our history for future generations. Individuals must live in Palm Beach County and organizations must serve Palm Beach County.

How many nominees will be honored with the award?

Generally, the award goes annually to a single individual or organization. However, if circumstances warrant, more than one individual or organization may be honored.

Confidentiality - Nominations for the Judge James R. Knott Historical Contribution Award will be made through a public nomination process. Those making nominations should not inform nominees that their names have been submitted for consideration. All nominations remain the confidential property of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.

Past Honorees

If you would like to nominate someone, please download an application and submit it directly to the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.

Fannie James Pioneer Achievement Award

Established in 2003, the award recognizes the achievements of individuals or organizations that have significantly contributed to preserving and sharing the history of Palm Beach County’s pioneering days. Named for the late Fannie James, a black pioneer who served as the first postmistress of the Jewell Post Office (now Lake Worth), which was open from 1889 until 1903. The winner will be selected from the nominations received, judged for the historical impact, relevance and significance of the contribution, and announced in late April of each year at the Society’s Annual Meeting.

The inaugural Fannie James Award was presented in 2003 to Laurita Collie Sharpp, granddaughter of one of West Palm Beach’s earliest black settlers, John Collie, and the daughter of one of West Palm Beach’s first black dentists, renowned community leader Dr. Warren Hale Collie. In 2002, Sharpp donated her treasured collection of photographs, diaries and letters, chronicling over a century of her family’s history, to the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. They include her grandmother’s diaries, old photographs depicting West Palm Beach life from the 1890s through the 1940s, and a letter from legendary abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Her donation, the “Collie Collection,” has preserved an integral part of Palm Beach County’s history: a rarely-seen glimpse into the lives of black pioneers who helped shape the landscape of Palm Beach County beginning in the late 19th century.

In 2004 the award was presented to Robert Hazard for his work with the Storm of '28 coalition. The 2005 award was presented to Roy Rood, a native resident of Jupiter and founder of Rood Landscaping for his dedication to sharing the pioneering history of northern Palm Beach County.

The 2006 award was presented to the Adolf Hofman family from Delray Beach, for grandson Charles Hofman's book Letters from Linton.

To nominate an individual or organization for the Fannie James Award, or to request a nomination form, please contact Kae Jonsons, (561) 832-4164.

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Lectures

The Historical Society holds lectures during the months of October until April that are open to the Society membership and general public on subjects related to Palm Beach County and Florida history. Noted national and local authors, historians and specialists have spoken in past seasons.

Please contact the Society for a full schedule

Lecture Programs

All lectures are held at:
The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, 141 South County Road, Palm Beach, FL

All lectures are free and open to the public. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to the Society at (561) 832-4164 ext 305.

Lectures are generously underwritten in part by:
Northern Trust Bank
Pioneer Linens