Richard Nelson Current Award
The Lincoln Forum's annual achievement award was established in 1996, and renamed in 1998 for founding advisor Richard Nelson Current, the dean of Lincoln scholars. The award is a statuette titled "Freedom River" created by acclaimed sculpture John McClarey of Decatur, Illinois. The award has been given to the following individuals, acknowledging their contributions to the spirit of Lincoln in both word and deed.
- 2012 Eric Foner
- 2011 Ed Bearss
- 2010 Mark E. Neely
- 2009 Sandra Day O'Connor
- 2008 Ken Burns
- 2007 Jeff Shaara
- 2006 Doris Kearns Goodwin & Charles DeForest Platt
- 2005 John McClarey and Frank J. Williams
- 2004 John Y. Simon
- 2003 Sam Waterston
- 2002 James M. McPherson
- 2001 Garry Wills
- 2000 David Herbert Donald & Richard Nelson Current
- 1999 Former U.S. Senator Paul Simon of Illinois
- 1998 John Hope Franklin
- 1997 Brian Lamb
- 1996 Gabor S. Borrit
- Eric Foner (center) receives the Richard Nelson Current Award from Lincoln Forum Chairman Frank J. Williams (right) and Vice Chairman Harold Holzer (left).
- Photo by Henry F. Ballone
- Ed Bearss (center) receives the Richard Nelson Current Award from Lincoln Forum Chairman Frank J. Williams (right) and Vice Chairman Harold Holzer (left).
- Photo by Henry F. Ballone
- Harold Holzer and Frank J. Williams present the 2010 Richard Nelson Current Award of Achievement to Mark E. Neely.
- Photo by Henry F. Ballone
- Ken Burns receives the 2008 Richard Nelson Current Award from Frank J. Williams and Harold Holzer.
- Photo by Henry F. Ballone
- The 2007 award winner, the most popular and acclaimed historical novelist of our time, Jeff Shaara receives his award from Forum Chairman, Frank J. Williams and Vice-Chairman, Harold Holzer.
- Photo: Henry Ballone
- The 2006 recipient, Doris Kearns Goodwin accepts her award from Frank J. Williams and Harold Holzer
- Photo: Henry Ballone
- Sculpture artist John McClarey and Frank J. Williams were the recipients of the 2005 Lincoln Forum Richard Nelson Current Award of Achievement
- Photo: Henry Ballone
- Frank J. Williams and Harold Holzer present the 2004 Richard Nelson Current award to John Y. Simon, a respected authority on Ulysses S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.
- Photo: Henry Ballone
- Harold Holzer, award winner Sam Waterston & Frank J. Williams at the 2003 award dinner
- Photo: Henry Ballone
- Frank J. Williams, James M. McPherson & Harold Holzer at the 2002 award dinner
- Photo: Henry Ballone
