GCHS journal wins award for best graphics
The Garland County Historical Society’s yearly journal, The Record 2021 was awarded the Walter L. Brown Award for Best Use of Graphics in a County or Historical Journal by the Arkansas Historical Association, according to a news release from GCHS.
Liz Robbins, the executive director of the Garland County Historical Society and the editor of The Record, said the yearly journal is “a collection of articles each year that look at different aspects of Garland County history.”
Robbins has been the sole editor of The Record since 2011 and Donnavae Hughes has been the primary graphic designer for the journal since 2011, as well.
“I’m delighted,” Robbins said. “Everyone involved in the journal works so hard to put out a quality product. Our graphics editor Donnavae Hughes is responsible for the look of the journal.”
“I’m very proud of the team that helped put the materials together that I work from because that’s essential,” Hughes said. “I could not do a good layout and do a quality book like we put out without a tremendous team.”
This is the second year in a row The Record has won the award for the Best Use of Graphics, the editor said. The journal has won several awards over the years, including awards for Best Journal in the State as well as runner-up multiple times.
The cover is one of Hughes’ most important projects when it comes to the graphics in The Record. The 2021 cover featured “then” and “now” photos of Hot Springs National Park’s formal entrance. This was in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the national park.
The “then” photo was taken from the Hot Springs National Park collection, and the “now” photo was taken by GCHS volunteer Mike Blythe, the release said.
“I wanted that to really stand out and help the park anyway we can,” Hughes said.
“The first article was written by Tom Hill, who’s the curator at Hot Springs National Park,” Robbins said. “And he wrote an article for us explaining all about the 100th anniversary.”
“One thing we like to do that makes a graphic artist so important to it is to have lots and lots of pictures,” Robbins said. “I think people enjoy seeing the history as well as reading about it.”
“Without the work that the editor works in and especially somebody selecting and working on the pictures, I can’t do the job,” Hughes said.
The 62nd edition of The Record can be purchased for $25 from the GCHS or through the website, http://www.garlandcountyhistoricalsocety.com for an extra $5 for shipping.