The Fadely History Award, established in 1986 by the James P. Fadely family, honors John Fadely (1792-1848), who brought the family from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to Indiana in the autumn of 1837. The Fadely History Award is "presented in recognition of outstanding effort to advance the knowledge of history in Indianapolis and Marion County."
Recipients of the Fadely History Award:
1986 – Matthew E. Welsh, 41st Governor of Indiana (1961-1965)
1987 – J. Reid Williamson, Jr., president, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana (1974-2005)
1988 – Kanwal Prakash (K.P.) Singh, Indianapolis artist specializing in architectural drawings
1989 – Joseph T. Taylor - professor of sociology and founding dean of the School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
1990 – William H. Hudnut III, 45th Mayor of Indianapolis (1976-1992)
1991 – Emma Lou Thornbrough and Gayle Thornbrough
1992 – Howard Caldwell, journalist and news anchor, WRTV-6 (1959-1995). Producer of "Howard's Indiana" series and author of numerous books on Indianapolis and Indiana history.
1993 – Ophelia Umar Wellington, educator and founder of Freetown Village.
1994 – Race Relations History Project/Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce
1995 – Encyclopedia of Indianapolis - edited by David J. Bodenhamer, Robert G. Barrows, and David G. Vanderstel
1996 – Alan T. Nolan, attorney, civil rights activist, and Civil War Historian. Author of Lee Considered: General Robert E. Lee and Civil War History (1996) and The Iron Brigade: A Military History (1994)
1997 – Fred Heckman, Indianapolis radio broadcaster on WIBC (1957-2000). Producer of "My Town Indy" radio essay series.
1998 – Jerry Sargent, editor, Perry Township Weekly and editor emeritus, The Southside Times
1999 – Jim Irsay, owner, Indianapolis Colts
2000 – The Indianapolis Star for its turn of the millennium series on Indianapolis history
2001 – Irvington Historical Society
2002 – Indiana German Heritage Society
2003 – Randall Childers/Sacred Heart Church Restoration
2004-05 – Ralph D. Gray, emeritus professor of history, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Author of numerous books on Indiana history and editor of the Meredith Nicholson Reader published by the Marion County Historical Society (2007). Recipient of the Indiana Historical Society Lifetime Achievement Award (2010).
2006 – James J. Divita, professor, Marian University. Author of numerous books on Indianapolis parish histories, including Indianapolis Cathedral: A Construction History of Our Three Mother Churches (1986) and Splendor of the South Side: A History of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Parish in Indianapolis (2000).
2010 – Pamela J. Bennett, director, Indiana Historical Bureau (1976 to present)