National Humanities Medal

The National Humanities Medal honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation?s understanding of the humanities, broadened citizens? engagement with the humanities, or helped preserve and expand Americans? access to important resources in the humanities.

Notable winners

• Marva Collins (2004)
• Gertrude Himmelfarb (2004)
• Hilton Kramer (2004)
• Madeleine L'Engle (2004)
• Harvey Mansfield (2004)
• John Searle (2004)
• Shelby Steele (2004)
• Joseph Epstein (2003)
• John Updike (2003)
• Hal Holbrook (2003)
• Jean Fritz (2003)
• Elizabeth Fox-Genovese (2003)
• Midge Decter (2003)
• Joan Ganz Cooney (2003)
• Robert Ballard (2003)
• Thomas Sowell (2002)
• Eileen Jackson Southern (2001)
• Toni Morrison (2000)
• David C. Driskell (2000)
• Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve (2000)
• Jim Lehrer (1999)
• Steven Spielberg (1999)
• Taylor Branch (1999)
• August Wilson (1999)
• Stephen E. Ambrose (1998)
• Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (1998)
• Garry Wills (1998)
• Richard Franke (1997)
• Luis Leal (1997)
• Martin Marty (1997)
• Maxine Hong Kingston (1997)
• Studs Terkel (1997)