🏆 AKOGHS Honored with the 2025 Esther Billman Award for Excellence
The Alaska Oil & Gas Historical Society (AKOGHS) is proud to share that our project, Voices of the North: Chronicles of Alaska’s Oil & Gas Pioneers, has received the 2025 Esther Billman Award for Excellence from the Alaska Historical Society.
AKOGHS Honored with the 2025 Esther Billman Award for Excellence
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to preserving and sharing Alaska’s history. Voices of the North documents the people behind Alaska’s energy frontier through in-depth video oral histories—capturing personal perspectives on innovation, resilience, and community.
“This project shines a light on the innovation, resilience, and community that built Alaska’s oil and gas industry.” — AKOGHS Board
About the Project
Over the past two years, AKOGHS has produced 40+ video interviews with geologists, engineers, local suppliers, business owners, union hands, and women who worked in Alaska’s oil fields. Each interview preserves the human stories behind the technological advances and economic milestones that shaped Alaska’s modern energy era.
Special thanks to Tudor Road Studios and Optima Public Relations for their production and storytelling support in bringing these histories to life.
Watch the Interviews & Get Involved
Watch the oral histories and help us expand the collection by suggesting future interviewees.
Watch: https://akoghs.org/oral-history-archive/
Suggest an interview: https://akoghs.org/contact-us/
About the Esther Billman Award
Named for the longtime curator of the Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka, the Esther Billman Certificate of Excellence is awarded by the Alaska Historical Society to recognize projects that significantly contribute to the preservation and understanding of Alaska’s history. The award is not given every year—underscoring the significance of this honor and the impact of Voices of the North on Alaska’s historical record.
Learn more: https://alaskahistoricalsociety.org/about-ahs/awards/esther-billman-certificate-of-excellence/
Preserving Alaska’s Energy Heritage — One Story at a Time