Leesburg, VA (October 27, 2025) – The 2025 Loudoun History Awards will be held at Thomas Balch Library on Sunday, November 2 beginning at 2 p.m. This year’s honorees include James Anderson, Diane Helentjaris, and Travis Shaw.
James Anderson will be recognized for more than a decade of volunteer service advancing preservation and interpretation at Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park, including work as a battlefield guide, leadership of Friends of Ball’s Bluff, support for stewardship and media projects, and long-term public education efforts related to battlefield preservation.
Diane Helentjaris will be recognized for more than ten years of research, writing, and public history work documenting the people, places, institutions, and cultural life of Loudoun County through published articles, public exhibits, lectures, and award-winning historical books that preserve local history for future generations.
Travis Shaw will be recognized for outstanding contributions to public history and education through his leadership, his service to local heritage organizations, and educational programs for all ages that have reached tens of thousands of students and deepened public engagement with Loudoun’s past.
The Loudoun History Awards are sponsored by Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission and hosted by the Thomas Balch Library. The awards honor individuals who have made significant contributions to preserving Loudoun’s past through collection of county documents and memorabilia, preservation of historic landmarks, visual arts, writing and long-term involvement in local history organizations. Presented since 1993 the awards have recognized some of Loudoun County’s best-known historians, writers, preservationists, and conservationists.
The public is invited to attend the awards ceremony, sponsored by the Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission. Seating is limited. To register or for more information, email
balchlib@leesburgva.gov or contact Library Director Laura Christiansen at 703-737-7195.
Thomas Balch Library is a history and genealogy library owned and operated by the Town of Leesburg. A designated Underground Railroad research site, the library’s collections focus on Loudoun County, regional and Virginia history, genealogy, military history with special emphasis on the American Civil War, and ethnic history. For more information, visit https://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/thomas-balch-library.
