The original Red Jacket medal is one of the most treasured artifacts in Western New York and was repatriated to the Seneca Nation from the Museum in May of 2021. The Red Jacket medal was presented by President George Washington to Seneca Leader Red Jacket (Sagoyewatha) in 1792, the medal bears symbolic imagery of the peaceful coexistence between the United States and Native Americans.

ANNUAL RED JACKET AWARD NOMINATIONS

NOW OPEN FOR 2025

Deadline: Friday, March 28th, 2025 at 11:59pm

DEADLINE EXTENDED!

The Red Jacket Award

Honors individuals for unbroken devotion to the civic progress of Western New York

Red Jacket Award Nomination Criteria and Past Award Winners

Red Jacket Nomination Form

The Owen B. Augspurger Award

Honors individuals for outstanding service to the cause of regional history

Owen B. Augspurger Award Nomination Criteria and Past Award Winners

Owen B. Augspurger Award Nomination Form

The Daniel B. Niederlander Award

Honors an organization for outstanding history programming

Daniel B. Niederlander Nomination Criteria and Past Award Winners

Daniel B. Niederlander Award Nomination Form

Established in 1957, The Red Jacket Award is presented by The Buffalo History Museum in recognition of “quiet, continued, unbroken devotion to our civic progress and needs by one who, through such devotion, has thereby enlarged our awareness of our heritage in order that it may be built upon for the enrichment of our future.”

The Owen B. Augspurger Award was established in 1974 in honor of Owen B. Augspurger (1913-1969), a former History Museum president, and a Red Jacket awardee (1969). The award is presented to an individual for outstanding service to the cause of local history.

The Daniel B. Niederlander Award was established in 1975, in honor of Niederlander (1895-1964), a former History Museum president, businessman, and dedicated civic leader. The award is presented to a local education, cultural or heritage organization for outstanding programming.