[3] She was a lead supporter of the Freedom Train and sought to make archives more accessible to the general public.

[2] She was responsible for acquiring the documents for the Freedom Train exhibit, from the Library of Congress, museums, the National Archives, and private collections.

Throughout her career, Hamer Kegan remained involved in professional organizations in the history, archives, and library communities.

[2] Hamer Kegan died in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 9, 1979, and was buried with her first husband in Marion, South Carolina.

The award was created to be given to an individual, group or institution that has raised public awareness of history and archives through an exhibit or display.