About NHPRC
As the grantmaking office of the National Archives, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) awards funds through a competitive process. These awards support the work of archivists and archival repositories across the nation to enhance public discovery, access, and use of non-federal historical records.
Over the past fifty years, the NHPRC has awarded more than $250 million to projects in every state in the nation.
Chaired by the Archivist of the United States, the Commission is a 15-member advisory board comprised of two members appointed by the President; one member each from the Senate, House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, Department of State, and Department of Defense; and appointees drawn from professional associations of archivists, historians, documentary editors, and government records administrators.
Administrative staff at the National Archives in Washington, DC, implement NHPRC policies and make recommendations on grant proposals. Staff also provide advice and assistance to potential applicants and grantees. You can contact us at Commission Staff.
Since its creation, the Commission has funded projects to:
- publish historical records,
- make archival collections more accessible to the public,
- work with states on improving access to state and local records,
- provide professional development for archivists and historical documentary editors,
- support research and development (particularly for electronic records),
- engage communities in preserving and publishing historical records
Through a cooperative agreement with the University of Virginia Press, the NHPRC developed, supports, and maintains Founders Online to provide free online access to the historical documents of the Founders of the United States of America. The public can read and search through thousands of transcriptions of records to and from George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.
Administrative staff at the National Archives in Washington, DC, implement NHPRC policies and make recommendations on grant proposals. Staff also provide advice and assistance to potential applicants and grantees. You can contact us at Commission Staff.
Learn more about NHPRC's Statutory Grant Making Authority.