On October 21, 2024, the National Archives Foundation will honor award-winning author David Grann, legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese and Academy Award Nominated Actress Lily Gladstone with the prestigious Records of Achievement Award for their collaboration and work to bring the true story of the serial murders of the Osage Nation to light.
Grann’s award-winning book “Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” was researched and extensively utilized National Archives historical documents. Scorsese’s direction and Lily Gladstone’s performance in the film, garnered Academy Award nominations for their work.
All three are being recognized for their commitment to preserving and chronicling our American history through the use of the vast resources protected and held at the National Archives’, and for their dedication to amplifying the history and the stories of Indigenous Americans. Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear will also make remarks at the evening’s program.
The evening event will be held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. with Grann, Scorsese and Gladstone interviewed by award-winning documentarian, journalist, and author Soledad O’Brien.
“For almost 50 years, I searched for a story based in Native American experience that I could develop into a film” said Scorsese. “When I read David Grann’s extraordinary book, I knew I’d found what I was looking for: a deep investigation into an epic tragedy that had remained largely unknown outside of the Osage community. We delved into Osage culture and history, and we all worked hard to not just bring the tale of the Osage murders to the screen, but to do so in a way that did justice to their story, their sense of the past, and their shared memory of this tragedy. And it led us to several important documents held at the National Archives. We were all dedicated to getting it right. And among the most dedicated was Lily Gladstone. She went out to live in Pawhuska, and she never stopped learning about the Osage, absorbing every aspect of the culture, bringing new ideas—her passion and devotion were extremely moving to me. It’s a tremendous honor to be receiving the National Archives’ Records of Achievement Award with Lily and David for our work on ‘Killers of the Flower Moon.’”

“We are thrilled to honor David Grann, Martin Scorsese, and Lily Gladstone at our Gala this October,” said National Archives Foundation Board Chair and President the Honorable Rodney E. Slater. “Grann’s impressive scholarship in writing ‘Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI’exemplifies the transformative power of archival research while Scorsese’s film is a masterclass in presenting Grann’s story with historical detail, precision, and form, brought to life by the incomparable Lily Gladstone.”
“The story told in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is a powerful one–and it is just one of the many stories that Americans can access through the National Archives,” said Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan. “We are proud that David Grann’s research in the National Archives at Fort Worth provided the historical documents to shine a light on this moment in time, and that Martin Scorcese and Lily Gladstone brought his research to the screen to share his work with millions of Americans. Making records like these accessible to the public allows us all to learn about our shared history.”
About the Records of Achievement Award:
The Records of Achievement Award is the National Archives Foundation’s highest honor bestowed upon individuals whose contributions have fostered a broader national awareness of the history and heritage of the United States as exemplified in the National Archives’ records. Through their work and engagement with the holdings of the National Archives, recipients educate, enrich, and inspire a deeper appreciation of our country, its ideals and its aspirations.
Previous recipients of the Foundation’s award include: Secretary Lonnie Bunch, Michael Beschloss, Jon Meacham, First Lady Laura Bush, the late Cokie Roberts, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Ken Burns, David M. Rubenstein, the late John Hope Franklin, David McCullough, Tom Brokaw, Annette Gordon-Reed, Brian Lamb and C-SPAN, James McPherson, Robert Edsel, Taylor Branch, and the stars and creators of the Broadway musical “Hamilton” – Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, and Ron Chernow.
About the National Archives Foundation
The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit foundation that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage, and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The Foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. Learn more at www.archivesfoundation.org.