Christy S. Coleman BESTOWED TOP HONOR

Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Executive Director

Christy S. Coleman has been honored with the David McCullough Prize for Excellence in American Public History from The Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia. Coleman, formally recognized during an April 26 ceremony in Philadelphia at the Museum of the American Revolution, is the third recipient to receive this esteemed recognition. The prestigious honor, established by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough, celebrates individuals and organizations whose work engages the public and significantly impacts their understanding of American history.

“Christy Coleman is at the forefront of public historians and educators who are crafting a more nuanced and inclusive narrative of our complex American story,” said Michael Norris, executive director of The Carpenters’ Company, noting its importance with the approach of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

Beyond her work at JYF, Coleman has held leadership roles at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the American Civil War Museum. The Carpenters’ Company stressed her efforts as an innovator and leader in her field and a tireless advocate for the power of museums, narrative correction, diversity and inclusiveness. She has earned numerous awards for her decades of impact, including three honorary doctorates. In 2018, Time magazine named Coleman one of the “31 People Changing the South,” and Worth magazine named her one of “29 Women Changing the World” in 2019. An accomplished screenwriter and public speaker, her work has extended into the world of broadcast, appearing on national history programs and documentaries, such as “Grant” and “Abraham Lincoln,” and serving as a historical consultant for the award-winning film “Harriet” and Showtime’s “Good Lord Bird.”

Founded in 1724, The Carpenters’ Company helped construct major structures in Philadelphia, including Carpenters’ Hall, Christ Church steeple and the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall). Finished in 1774, Carpenters’ Hall was once home to Benjamin Franklin’s Library Company of Philadelphia, the American Philosophical Society, and the site of the First Continental Congress, one of the most critical steps in achieving colonial independence.