PAF Dougas Heller Award
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Description of the PAF Douglas Heller Award
Established this year, 2012, by the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum, the Douglas Heller Award recognizes unusual actions or achievements by individuals or organizations that have furthered the cause of, and support for, archaeology in the city of Philadelphia and its surrounding area. The award is designed to recognize actions taken on behalf of Philadelphia’s archaeological heritage and the recipient need not need be an archaeologist or a member of PAF.
This award is created in honor of Douglas J Heller, a man who wore multiple hats, traveled in many circles, and who was a friend both to archaeology in the city and to many of us here in this room. Doug was a wonderful and rare combination of talents: He was a joyful and intensely curious intellectual and a dedicated public citizen. Our organization, and the sphere of activity surrounding Philadelphia Archaeology, came to know Doug over the past decade and greatly benefited from his interest in the city’s archaeological heritage, and in particular by his efforts to make archaeological discoveries and information more widely available so that they could be celebrated and learned from by the public.
Doug Heller was a web developer who merged internet design with the goal of promoting the archaeological heritage of Philadelphia — and he did this for the needs of multiple audiences. Doug was a board member of the Independence Hall Association, and an interested party in the President’s House project. In both of these capacities, Doug championed the archaeology exploration of the President’s House Site through his website company, USHistory.org–a vast clearinghouse for American history information that receives over 3 million visits per month. His President’s House pages within the website comprehensively chronicled the development of the President’s House project from the earliest days, and brought the site’s archaeological discoveries to people throughout this city, this nation, and around the world. As the main go-to source, the President’s House website at USHistory.org continues to document the heritage concerns and interests of this important place in American history.
Nancy Parsons Heller receives the inaugural Douglas Heller Award from Philadelphia Archaeological Forum President Douglas Mooney. The Award was named in honor of her late husband who is also the award’s first recipient.
Presentation of the Inaugural Douglas Heller Award, received by Nancy Parsons Heller Nancy, both we at PAF, and people everywhere who share an interest in the history of this great city, have benefited greatly from Doug’s passion, actions, and commitments, and are we are most grateful to him. Today, with pleasure but also great sadness, we present the inaugural Philadelphia Archaeological Forum’s Douglas Heller Award to your husband.
Comments made by Nancy Parsons Heller upon receipt of the Douglas Heller Award.
It was such an honor when Patti called me to say the PAF wanted to establish this award in Doug’s name. He would have loved the discussions we just heard, and I’m sure would be coming up with ideas on how else to get the information out to the general public, and getting them excited about it. He would love your new website.
Doug studied history at Rochester, where he went because Eugene Genovese was teaching there. After learning all he needed to know, he left school with a few credits to become crossword puzzle editor, following another of his passions
Doug was a firm believer in education, transparency in government, public advocacy, and information. The information age coincided with the end of his crossword career, and thanks to Mark Biddle and the Independence Hall Association, ushistory.org was born, and Doug found the way to bring all his passions together. Web sites were his thing.
The Presidents House was not the first but was the most important project that Doug involved himself in. He loved working with Ed Lawler, sparring with the park service, being part of the ad hoc historian meetings, getting involved with Michael Coard and Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, meeting and working with Jed and Patti and PAF and he really enjoyed the big dig at 6th and Market.
He would have been so proud of this honor, and would have hoped, and I hope that there will be someone else soon to present this award to. Thank you.
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