Join us on Thursday, May 7th, as we present the 2026 David McCullough Prize for Excellence in American Public History to former Director of the National Park Service Robert G. Stanton and the Local Educator Award to Mr. Antoine Stroman of William W. Bodine High School. A celebratory reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Franklin Court, with dinner and the prize ceremony to follow at 7:00 p.m. at Carpenters' Hall. 

The McCullough Prize is awarded to key leaders and thinkers in the public history world. The goal of the McCullough Prize is to celebrate people whose work increases the public’s understanding of American history and to expand awareness of the important role that Carpenters’ Hall played in the founding of our nation. The esteemed historian David McCullough, who has called Carpenters’ Hall “the acorn of American democracy,” graciously lent his name to the prize and personally announced its establishment in 2018 at Carpenters’ Hall. 

The McCullough Prize for Teaching is awarded to an educator or educators from the Philadelphia region who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in history, social studies, or political science.

A portion of the evening's proceeds will benefit the First Bank Fund at the Independence Historical Trust as the Trust prepares to take over management of the First Bank building adjacent to Carpenters' Hall.

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, The Landenberger Family Foundation

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Main Award Sponsor

• Logo recognition on event invitation, event registration page and website, and Carpenters’ Company quarterly newsletter
• Four tickets to the McCullough Prize reception and dinner 
• Speaking opportunity to introduce the presenter of Mr. Stanton’s prize
• Half-page ad/message in the event program
• Quote in the event press release

Teacher Award Sponsor

• Logo recognition on event invitation, event registration page and website, and Carpenters’ Company quarterly newsletter
• Two tickets to the McCullough Prize reception and dinner 
• Speaking opportunity to introduce Mr. Stroman at the dinner and present the prize to him
• Half-page ad/message in the event program

McCullough Sponsor

• Logo recognition on invitation, event registration page and website
• Four tickets to the reception and dinner 
• Logo recognition in program book; copy of David McCullough’s book 1776

Host Committee Ticket

• One ticket to the reception and dinner
• Name recognition in program book
• Copy of David McCullough’s book 1776

Reception Sponsor 

• Logo recognition on event invitation, event registration page and website, event program, and Carpenters’ Company quarterly newsletter
• Eight tickets to the McCullough Prize reception 
• Two tickets to the dinner 
• Verbal acknowledgment at the reception and the dinner

Dinner Ticket

• One ticket to both the reception and to the dinner

Reception Ticket

• Access to the reception at Franklin Court