National Historical Publications & Records Commission

Access to Historical Records

The NHPRC supports projects that ensure online public discovery and use of historical records collections. All types of historical records are eligible, including documents, photographs, born-digital records, and analog audio and moving images. Grants have gone to local government archives, colleges and universities, and other nonprofit institutions. Approximately half of the NHPRC's funds since 1979 have helped preserve and make accessible literally millions of cubic feet of documents and records.


Programs

Applicants to the Access to Historical Records program may apply for Major Collaborative Archival Initiatives or Archival Projects support.

Our Major Collaborative Archival Initiatives program is for projects to:

  • digitize and publish online historical records as a "virtual" collection around a common theme, organization, or important historical figure(s); or
  • create and test new tools and methods for the archival field to enhance public access, especially for born-digital records.

Awards will be between $150,000 and $350,000.

See a list of all Major Initiatives funded in the past two years.


Our Archival Projects program is for preserving and processing historical records to:

  • Convert existing description for online access
  • Create new online Finding Aids to collections
  • Digitize historical records collections and make them freely available online

Awards are for one or two years and for up to $150,000.

See a list of all Archival Projects funded in the past two years.


 

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