Smokies Life receives national recognition for ‘Letters from the Smokies’
In his role, Michael Aday has access to nearly 1.4 million historic documents. Donated photo
Smokies Life received national recognition at the 2025 Public Lands Alliance Partnership Awards for “Letters from the Smokies,” which was named Publication of the Year.
Public Lands Alliance honored the winners at a Feb. 5 awards ceremony, held during the 2025 Public Lands Alliance Annual Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Letters from the Smokies,” published by Smokies Life in 2023, is a compilation of written accounts from the archives of Great Smoky Mountains National Park that spans more than 230 years. Written by park librarian–archivist Michael Aday with his wife Denise Aday, each chapter of the book centers on a specific document from the park’s archives, pulling from additional records and photos to provide further context.
“I was delighted and humbled when I was told my book won the Publication of the Year award,” Michael Aday said. “To me, it reaffirms the power of storytelling in connecting us to our public lands.”
In his role, Aday has access to nearly 1.4 million historic documents: thousands of pages of government correspondence covering decades of park service management decisions; reams of letters documenting the herculean task of establishing the park; and hundreds of documents chronicling the lives of many of those who lived here before the park existed.
The PLA Partnership Awards program is designed to celebrate the best in public lands partnerships, recognizing individuals, organizations, publications, products, programs and services that embody leading-edge achievements in the preservation of public lands and the enrichment of visitors. Through its awards, the program recognizes excellence in public lands partnerships, innovative solutions to challenges and outstanding programs that enhance visitor experience. The Publication of the Year Award recognizes a book or other publication created in partnership by a nonprofit organization and a land management agency that embodies innovation in educating and interpreting public lands to its readers and impacts a substantial audience.
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“Letters from the Smokies” was edited by Frances Figart and designed by Karen Key, both of Smokies Life. It was also awarded the 2024 Project Excellence Award from the East Tennessee Historical Society. The book, a 6-by-9-inch softcover work of nonfiction in full color, is available for $16.99 in the park’s visitor center bookstores and the Smokies Life online store at smokieslife.org.
For additional details on the 2025 Public Lands Alliance Partnership Awards, visit publiclandsalliance.org.
