Given annually by the IHC, the Public Humanities Award recognizes individuals and organizations for their contributions to public understanding of the role the humanities play in transforming lives and strengthening communities.

Past Public Humanities Award recipients include:

• 2011 - John A. [Jack] Wing
• 2010 - Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
• 2008 - Carlos Tortolero
• 2007 - Barbara Gaines
• 2006 - Mary A. Dempsey
• 2005 - The Honorable Abner and Zoe Mikva
• 1994:
  - Martin E. Marty
  - Stanley J. Ikenberry
  - Richard J. Franke
  - Chicago Tribune
• 1993 - Francis J. Pettis
• 1992 - Nancy Anderson Stevenson
• 1990 - Bridget Lamont
• 1989 - Cyrus Colter
• 1988 - Brena and Lee Freeman
• 1987 - The Hon. Dawn Clark Netsch and Walter Netsch
• 1986 - Mary Ward Wolkonsky
• 1985 - J. Michael Lennon
• 1984:
  - John Hope Franklin
  - Stuart Struever
  - The Hon. Jim Edgar
  - The Hon. Paul Simon
  - The Hon. Sidney Yates
  - Louise Año Nuevo Kerr