The Russell Award

Lyent joined the Archaeological Society of Connecticut just after it was founded and became one of its most dedicated members.  In addition to serving as the Society’s President in the 1940s, he organized digs at Grannis Island and other sites in southern Connecticut which served as a training ground for generations of local archaeologists.  He was an indefatigable lecturer at local schools and in his home where he inspired so many to pursue archaeology even if it was just as an avocation or hobby.  He was responsible for the shift in local archaeology from mere collecting of artifacts to their scientific study, and his constant experimenting with aboriginal crafts and processes added considerably to our knowledge of Indian lifeways. 

His respect for Connecticut’s aboriginal population led him to be accepted by them as few others have and earned him his Indian name Saumpi-Cauguat (Straight Arrow).  His collections of Indian artifacts and crafts were generously loaned and given to state and tribal institutions to enhance their displays and exhibits.  In 1962, he generously endowed the Mr. and Mrs. Berne A. Russell Award in memory of his parents.  This award is still bestowed by the ASC on those who have contributed materially to the Society and Connecticut Archaeology.

According to the records of the Society, the recipients of the Russell Award since its inception are as shown below. 

Note:  The last 3 Russell Award recipients who are active in the Society traditionally select the next recipient)

1962 Mr. Claude C. Coffin
1963 Dr. Irving B. Rouse
1964 Mrs. Eva Lutz Butler
1965 Mr. Frank Glynn
1966 Mr. George M. Johnson
1967 Mr. John H. Smith
1968 Mr. Donald N. Clark
1969 Mrs. Edmund Sinnott Jr.
1970 Dr. Gustavus Pope
1971 Mr. Edmund Sinnott, Jr.
1972 Mr. Andrew J. Kowalsky
1973 Mr. David Cooke
1974 Mr. Edmund K. Swigart
1975 Mr. Maurice Wilson
1976 Mr. David H. Thompson
1977 Mr. John Pawlowski
1978 Dr. Frederick Warner
1979 Dr. Roger W. Moeller
1980 Mrs. Cecelia Kirkorian
1981 Mrs. Denise Tratolatis
1982 Mr. William J. Krause
1983 Mr. Ernest Wiegand
1984 Mrs. Jane French
1985 Mrs. Renee Kra
1986 Dr. Kenneth Feder
1987 Dr. Douglas Jordan
1988 Dr. John Pfeiffer
1989 Dr. Robert Funk (?)
1990 ?
1991 Dr. Lucianne Lavin
1992 Mr. Joseph Parkos
1993 Ms. Andrea Rand
1994 Ms. Marina Mozzi
1995 Ms. Laurie Bradt
1996 Arthur Basto Archaeological Society (no individual named)
1997 Mr. Donald Malcarn
1998 Dr. Lucianne Lavin
1999 Mrs. Shirley Paustian
2000 Mr. Lee West
2001 Dr. Irving Rouse
2002 Dr. Lucinda McWeeny
2003 Mr. Daniel Cruson
2004 Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni
2005 Ms. Dawn Brown
2006 Dr. Harold Juli
2007 Mr. Rob Wallace
2008 none
2009 Mr. Jay McMahon
2010 Mr. Cosimo Sgarlata
2011 Dr. Laurie Weinstein
2012 Mrs. Cynthia Redman
2013 Ms. Mandy Ranslow
2014 Mrs. Robyn Swan Filippone
2015 Michael Bouchard
2016 Kathleen von Jena and Stuart Reeve
2017 Dr. Sarah Sportman
2018 none
2019 Dr. Brian Jones
2020 Scott Brady
2021 Lee West