The Charles R. Barnum History Awards celebrate original historical research of Humboldt County conducted by undergraduates at Humboldt State University. The awards were established in 1952 by a grant from Charles Barnum, a realtor and insurance broker in Eureka who was a member of the Humboldt State College Advisory Board from 1946 to his death in 1953. The purpose of the trust he established is "to aid, assist and encourage worthy students of Humboldt State College in furthering their interest in original historical research of Humboldt County." The first awards from the Barnum Trust were made in 1956.