Julia holding her 1966 Emmy® Award for The French Chef

Awards & Honors

In her lifetime, Julia received many awards and honors from a myriad of entities.

  • 1964 — George Foster Peabody Award

    Awarded for distinguished achievement in television for The French Chef.

  • 1966 — Primetime Emmy® Award

    Awarded for distinguished Achievement in Educational Television, Instructor and Hostess, The French Chef, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

  • 1967 — L’Ordre National du Mérite Agricole

    Established in 1883, The National Order of Agricultural Merit is awarded by the French government in recognition of those individuals who have made significant contributions to the development and progress of agriculture in France.

  • 1972 — Chevalier Award

    Confrérie de Cérès, Paris

  • 1972 — Primetime Emmy® Nomination

    Special Classification of Outstanding Program and Individual Achievement, Instructor and Hostess, The French Chef, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

  • 1976 — Honorary Doctorate

    Brown University

  • 1976 — Honorary Degree

    Doctor of Humane Letters, Boston University

  • 1976 — L’Ordre National du Mérite

    Established in 1963, the National Order of Merit is Awarded by the President of the French Republic for distinguished civil and military achievements.

  • 1977 — First recipient of the “Grande Dame,” award by Les Dames d’Escoffier

    Recognizing Julia’s extraordinary contributions to culinary excellence.

  • 1979 — Book Award

    Julia Child & More Company, James Beard Foundation

  • 1980 — National Book Award

    Julia Child & More Company, National Book Foundation

  • 1984 — Inducted into the Who’s Who of Food and Beverage

    James Beard Foundation

  • 1985 — Doctor of Humane Letters

    Smith College

  • 1987 — Cookbook Hall of Fame Inductee

    Mastering the Art of French Cooking, James Beard Foundation

  • 1990 — Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

    République Française. Established in 1957, the Order of Arts and Letters is awarded by the Minster of Culture in recognition of significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the propagation of these fields.

  • 1991 — Prix Charbonnier

    Federation of Alliances Françaises, USA. The Prix Charbonnier recognizes individuals of stature who have promoted French language and culture.

  • 1991 — Lifetime Achievement Award

    Society of Bacchus America

  • 1992 — Honorary Doctorate

    Rutgers University

  • 1993 — First woman inducted into The Culinary Institute of America’s Hall of Fame
  • 1993 — Honorary Doctorate

    Harvard University

  • 1994 — Broadcast Award Nominee

    Cooking with Master Chefs, James Beard Foundation

  • 1994 — Emmy® Nomination

    Outstanding Informational Series, Cooking with Master Chefs, Hostess, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

  • 1994 — Honorary Diploma

    Nordic Food Award, Danish Gastronomic Academy

  • 1995 — Doctor of Culinary Arts

    Johnson and Wales University

  • 1995 — Best Culinary Video

    Julia Child & Jacques Pépin: Cooking in Concert, James Beard Foundation

  • 1996 — Daytime Emmy® Award

    Outstanding Service Show Host, In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

  • 1996 — Doctorate of Fine Arts

    Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park

  • 1996 — Honorary Doctorate

    Newberry College

  • 1996 — Book Award

    In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs, James Beard Foundation

  • 1997 — Best National Television Cooking Show

    In Julia’s Kitchen with Master Chefs, James Beard Foundation

  • 1997 — Broadcast Award

    Baking with Julia, James Beard Foundation

  • 1997 — Daytime Emmy® Nomination

    Outstanding Service Show Host, Baking with Julia, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

  • 1997 — Best National Television Cooking Show

    Baking with Julia, James Beard Foundation

  • 1997 — Broadcast Award Nominee

    Julia Child & Jacques Pépin: More Cooking in Concert, James Beard Foundation

  • 1998 — Distinguished Service Award

    Wine Spectator

  • 1998 — Daytime Emmy® Nomination

    Outstanding Service Show Host, Baking with Julia II, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

  • 1999 — Remarkable Women Award

    Smith College

  • 1999 — Sara Lee Frontrunner Award

    First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton presented Julia with the award during a White House ceremony. The Frontrunner award is given to women whose accomplishments have shaped our past and given inspiration for the future.

  • 2000 — Daytime Emmy® Nomination

    Outstanding Service Show Host, Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

  • 2000 — Book Award

    Julia and Jacques Cooking At Home, James Beard Foundation

  • 2000 — Book Award Winner

    General category, Julia and Jacques Cooking At Home, International Association of Culinary Professionals

  • 2000 — Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur

    Established in 1802, the Order of the Legion of Honor has been awarded by the French government for services to French culinary arts.

  • 2000 — Best of the Best

    Julia Child’s Kitchen Wisdom, Food & Wine Magazine

  • 2001 — Daytime Emmy® Award

    Outstanding Service Show Host, Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

  • 2001 — Best National Television Cooking Show

    Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home, James Beard Foundation

  • 2001 — Broadcast Award Winner

    Julia Child’s Kitchen Wisdom, James Beard Foundation

  • 2003 — Presidential Medal of Freedom

    Awarded by the President of the United States and the highest civilian award in the United States.

  • 2004 — Honorary Degree

    California State University

  • 2007 — Book Award

    Literary Food Writing, My Life in France (authors Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme), International Association of Culinary Professionals