Keyes-Orr Award

The Charles Keyes-Ellison Orr Award

Starting in 1977, this award has been presented to an individual whenever deemed appropriate in recognition of outstanding service to the IAS and in the research, reporting, and preservation of Iowa’s precontact and historic heritage.

Two individuals have played particularly prominent roles in the development of Iowa archaeology. For over 20 years, Dr. Charles R. Keyes, a professor of German languages, and Ellison Orr, a retired businessman, labored jointly in an effort to interpret and to preserve Iowa’s past. During this time, Dr. Keyes was responsible for coordinating the statewide program of surveys and excavations, while Ellison Orr served in a dual capacity as field supervisor and excavation reporter. Their researches resulted in the accumulation of a substantial body of archaeological data, which permitted delineation of virtually all the major cultural-historical sequence in the state. But perhaps more importantly, they were responsible for generating new enthusiasm and interest in Iowa archaeology, which culminated, under their leadership, in the creation of the IAS, an organization dedicated to archaeological preservation and interpretation.

In recognition of their contributions, the IAS has established an award symbolic of the cooperation that existed between these individuals. This award represents the degree of cooperation that should exist between career and lay archaeologists if archaeology is to succeed as a discipline supportive of a broad range of interests and talents.

The major criteria for the award is that the recipient exemplify those qualities characteristic of the relationship between Keyes and Orr. Specifically, those qualities are: (1) involvement in the IAS in support of research and service undertaken in furthering its goals; (2) the learning and employment of accepted and standard procedures for the acquisition of knowledge; (3) the use of this knowledge to further public educational programs concerning Iowa’s precontact and historic heritage. Implicit in these criteria are the principles of cooperation and communication — principles that constitute the foundation of continued and successful archaeological programs involving both lay and career archaeologists.

How to Nominate a Candidate

Anyone in the IAS can nominate an individual(s). Notice of the award and a call for nominees will be posted once a year in the IAS Newsletter and IAS email list serve. The Committee Chair (current Vice President) prepares an annual slate of nominees from all names submitted and forwards this slate to the Keyes-Orr Award Committee (the four outgoing members on the Board of Directors) for a vote. The award is presented at the annual spring meeting.

Keyes-Orr Award Past Recipients