Museum of Idaho receives the Sister Alfreda award

The Museum of Idaho has been awarded the Sister Alfreda Award for its educational work and serving its community.

The Sister Alfreda Award is part of the Idaho State Historical Society and the Idaho Humanities Council, which gives it to one museum or historical society a year. The Museum of Idaho, as part of the award, will receive a $10,000 award to help in its educational efforts.

The ISHS and IHC will present the award to MOI Executive Director Jeff Carr and museum staff and volunteers in a public ceremony at 2 p.m. April 26. Carr said those wanting to attend will have to pay admission, as it’ll be hosted inside the museum.

Idaho State Historical Society board member and local Cheryl O’Brien nominated the museum for the award. Carr said he was surprised by the award and that it’s an honor that the ISHS and the IHC chose them over other institutions.

“It’s special. This award has been given to many wonderful museums that do the important, but sometimes thankless, work of preserving our history and ensuring that we learn from it,” Carr said.

The award was named after Sister Alfreda Elsensohn, who founded the St. Gertude Historical Museum in the 1930s in Cottonwood, Idaho, where she taught at the St. Gertrude’s Academy. The museum aimed to preserve and collect historical artifacts from Idaho County.

“The Idaho State Historical Society is pleased to recognize the Museum of Idaho for the hard work and dedication in connecting Idahoans to their state,” ISHS Executive Director Janet Gallimore said. “Through partnerships and collaborations, the Museum of Idaho ensures a multifaceted approach to delivering historical narratives, fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of Idaho’s cultural and scientific legacy.”

Carr said while most residents of Idaho Falls know the museum for its traveling exhibit, they host dozens of education programs throughout the year and work on preserving and interpreting the history of the eastern Idaho region.

“Sometimes, we in this area think, ‘There’s interesting going on here. We don’t have an interesting history,’” Carr said. “That’s just not true. Museums and historical societies bring that to light and remind people that there is an incredible and interesting history here that we can learn from.”

In addition to the Sister Alfreda Award, the Museum of Idaho is also a finalist for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The institute will announce the winners in May.