MELROSE — The Melrose Historical Commission is calling for nominations for this year’s Mary Stetson Clarke Historical Recognition Award. This award recognizes an individual or organization who has demonstrated a commitment to the celebration and preservation of Melrose history.
In order to nominate someone, please email the Commission at melrosemahistoricalcommission@gmail.com with your reasons why this person or organization should be considered. Nominations are due by July 31, 2025.
A winner will be announced at the Melrose Victorian Fair on September 7.
The inaugural award last year was given to Scott Macaulay for a lifetime of support to preserving Melrose’s history.
About the award
Born and raised in Melrose, Mary Stetson Clarke (1911-1994) demonstrated a passion for civic engagement and preservation. She was a strong researcher and documentarian of local history, helping advance historical preservation while also advocating for women’s rights.
In addition to Clarke’s passion for the past, she was also active in community affairs, serving as member of the Conservation Commission, a trustee of the Melrose Public Library, and a board member of the Melrose Historical Society.
In 1973, she helped lead an effort petitioning then-Mayor James E. Milano to establish the Melrose Historical Commission, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.