The Order of The First Families of Mississippi established the Award of Meritorious Leadership in Mississippi History and Genealogy in 1994 to honor a person each year who has made outstanding contributions in these areas through research, publications, and historic preservation.

Past recipients serve as the selection committee with Honorary Governor General Thomas H. Bowen, Jr., serving as the Chairman.

A nominee must be living and able to attend the Order’s Spring General Assembly the year of his/her award. The Spring General Assembly is held in Natchez, Mississippi.

Specific accomplishments of the nominee such as publications, historic preservation projects, organizational memberships, and any volunteer efforts that have contributed to the preservation of Mississippi history must be substantiated and such data submitted to the committee chairman.