This year’s Minnesota Book Awards gala featured even more good news for Minnesotans who love history: a brand-new award to be offered next year.

The Hognander Family Foundation is sponsoring the Hognander Minnesota History Award, which recognizes the author of the most outstanding scholarly work related to Minnesota history published during the preceding two years. It will be presented every other year beginning in 2012.

The Book Awards website quotes Joe Hognander’s rationale, which we’re delighted to present to you here: “We established this award because of our relationship with the Minnesota Historical Society. Its commitment to excellence is noteworthy in promoting scholarly research and writing within many of our state’s organizations. We hope this award will inspire more such activity by recognizing and rewarding the finest work in this field.”