Press Release
Press Release · Monday, December 4, 2000

CONTACT:
Ann C. Newhall, Executive Director
National Historical Publications and Records Commission
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room 111
Washington, DC 20408-0001

Washington, DC. . .The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) met on November 14, 2000, and recommended grants totaling up to $3,801,809 for 47 projects to preserve, publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources relating to the history of the United States. Archivist of the United States and NHPRC Chairman John W. Carlin expressed satisfaction with the recent legislation, recently passed by the Congress and signed by the President, re-authorizing annual appropriations for the NHPRC's grant program through FY 2005 at a maximum funding level of $10 million.

The Commission based its actions on an estimated funding level of $6 million. This is the level of funding provided in the recently vetoed Treasury/Postal Appropriations Bill for FY 2001 and provided in the previous two fiscal years. All funding recommendations made at this meeting are contingent on the availability of appropriated funds for FY 2001.

Competition for funding was fierce: requests under consideration at this meeting alone exceeded $8 million. While reaffirming its support for the Founding-Era documentary editions, the Commission took note of a substantial increase in the number and quality of grant proposals in the State Board and Electronic Records Programs. Of particular interest was the marked increase in the amount of state funds committed to match NHPRC regrant recommendations: a total of $913,000. Six of the proposals in the electronic records category were in response to the Commission's November 1999 call for proposals to broaden the base and raise the level of archival expertise in the area of electronic records throughout the nation.

At this first meeting of the Federal fiscal year, the NHPRC considers projects addressing its three equal strategic goals: to support the eight Founding-Era documentary editing projects; to partner with the states in jointly funded programs to strengthen the nation's archival infrastructure and to expand the range of records that are protected and accessible; and to provide leadership in funding research-and-development on appraising, preserving, disseminating, and providing access to important documentary sources in electronic form.

The Commission remained strongly committed to all three of its strategic goals. After much discussion, the members were able to maintain last year's level of funding for the Founding-Era documentary editing projects, without further diminishing the amounts awarded in the other two areas. However, the two successful NHPRC Fellowship Programs, in Archival Administration and in Documentary Editing, will be suspended for the period 2001-2002, because of the NHPRC's budget dilemma.

The Commission recommended 8 grants for Founding-Era documentary editing projects totaling $1,295,714; a total of $985,383 for regrant projects in 7 states; 13 administrative support grants to State Historical Records Advisory Boards totaling $143,494; and 9 grants totaling $1,200,000 for electronic records projects. A grant of $71,123 to the American Association for State and Local History, in partnership with the Council of State Historical Records Coordinators, will help implement key elements of the National Forum on Archival Continuing Education's action agenda. The Commission also recommended 8 subvention grants for historical documentary editions totaling $75,493 and a grant of $30,602 to support the 2001 Institute for the Editing of Historical Documents.

The complete list of funded projects appears below.

The Commission unanimously approved a number of resolutions:

• Endorsing staff initiatives to begin collecting information and input from the Commission's constituent groups as a prerequisite to the next formal review of the strategic plan.

• Outlining the process for applicants in all areas to apply for endorsement (as opposed to funding) of projects, to be included in the NHPRC Grant Guidelines.

• While taking note of the inability of current funding to meet the needs of NHPRC constituents, encouraging staff efforts to explore ways in which the NHPRC can encourage urgently needed efforts to focus on the records of under-documented groups in American society, including Native Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and other groups whom the historical establishment largely has ignored. These efforts can include the identification and preservation of significant materials, particularly those in danger of destruction or deterioration; increased recruitment, training, and communication among those responsible for the custody, use, and interpretation of these documentary materials; and an enlargement of the list of potential subjects of documentary editions to embrace individuals and organizations from under-documented groups. This resolution also encouraged the staff to partner with the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian and with the American Association for State and Local History to organize a meeting of Native American archivists and records keepers.

• Recognizing the contributions of and bidding farewell to Executive Committee chair Ms. Anne R. Kenney, who represents the Society of American Archivists, and Executive Committee member Dr. William Chafe, Dean of Arts and Humanities at Duke University, who represents the Organization of American Historians. This meeting marked the end of the terms of both Commission members.

Chairman Carlin announced that he was appointing Dr. Charles Cullen, the representative of the Association for Documentary Editing, and Ms. Fynnette Eaton, the incoming representative of the Society of American Archivists, to the Executive Committee. Commission members noted the usefulness of the Executive Committee, which was created by Chairman Carlin in November 1997.

Chairman Carlin welcomed new Commission member Dr. Roy Turnbaugh, the State Archivist of Oregon, to his first Commission meeting as the representative of the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators. In addition to Mr. Carlin and Dr. Turnbaugh, the following Commission members were present at the November 14 meeting: Dr. Nicholas C. Burckel, Presidential Appointee; Dr. William H. Chafe, representing the Organization of American Historians; Dr. Charles T. Cullen, representing the Association for Documentary Editing; Dr. Brent D. Glass, representing the American Association for State and Local History; Dr. Alfred Goldberg, representing the Department of Defense; Ms. Margaret P. Grafeld, representing the Department of State; Ms. Anne R. Kenney, representing the Society of American Archivists; Mr. Marvin F. "Bud" Moss, Presidential Appointee; and Associate Justice David H. Souter, representing the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Geoffrey H. Brown, Senior Legislative Assistant to Senator James Jeffords (R-VT), who represents the U.S. Senate, sat in for the Senator, who was unable to attend. Others unable to attend were: Rep. Roy Blunt (R- MO), who represents the U.S. House of Representatives; Dr. Mary Maples Dunn, who represents the American Historical Association; and Mr. Winston Tabb, who represents the Librarian of Congress.

The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for May 2-3, 2001. Information about the NHPRC and application materials for all Commission grants is available on the NHPRC's website: http://www.archives.gov/nhprc_and_other_grants/, or may be requested by telephone, fax, e-mail, or regular mail:

Telephone: (202) 501-5610
FAX: (202) 501-5601
e-mail: nhprc@nara.gov

Mailing Address:
National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 111
Washington, DC 20408-0001

Founding-Era Documentary Editing Projects

• Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA: A conditional grant of up to $140,832 to support the preparation of a comprehensive book edition of The Adams Papers.

• Yale University, New Haven, CT: A conditional grant of up to $154,000 to assist its work on a comprehensive book edition of The Papers of Benjamin Franklin.

• Princeton University, Princeton, NJ: A conditional grant of up to $154,731 to support its work on a comprehensive book edition of The Papers of Thomas Jefferson.

• University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA: A conditional grant of up to $139,200 to continue work on a comprehensive book edition of The Papers of James Madison.

• University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA: A conditional grant of up to $143,661 to edit a comprehensive book edition of The Papers of George Washington.

• The George Washington University, Washington, DC: A conditional grant of up to $187,140 to continue editing The Documentary History of the First Federal Congress, 1789-1791.

• Board of Regents, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI: A conditional grant of up to $160,000 to continue editing a selective book edition of The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution.

• Supreme Court Historical Society, Washington, DC: A conditional grant of up to $216,150 to edit a selective book edition of The Documentary History of the Supreme Court, 1789-1800.

Founding-Era Subventions

• University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA: A subvention grant of $10,000 for The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 11.

• State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, WI: A subvention grant of $9,500 for The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution, Vol. 7.

State Board Planning, Implementation, and Regrant Projects; Collaborative Projects

• Florida State Historical Records Advisory Board, Tallahassee, FL: A conditional two-year grant of $100,000 ($100,000 matching) for its Regrant Project to address the goals in the board's recently revised strategic plan.

• Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board, Topeka, KS: A conditional grant of $36,741 ($30,000 matching) for up to two years for its Regrant Project to begin to implement the three priorities in its recently completed strategic plan.

• Maine State Historical Records Advisory Board, Augusta, ME: A conditional grant of $114,262 ($100,000 matching)for up to three years for its SHRAB Regrant Project to continue to improve preservation of and access to Maine's historical records by establishing a matching grant program for the state's small- and medium-sized repositories.

• Missouri State Historical Records Advisory Board. Jefferson City, MO: A conditional grant of $300,000 ($300,000 matching) for up to three years for its SHRAB Regrant Project to preserve and make accessible Missouri's historic records and to promote archival education and cooperative strategies among records keepers.

• Pennsylvania State Historical Records Advisory Board, Harrisburg, PA: A conditional grant of $188,200 ($170,000 matching) for up to three years for its SHRAB Regrant Project to support the Pennsylvania board's new ten-year strategic plan and to preserve and provide access to the Commonwealth's documentary heritage.

• South Carolina State Historical Records Advisory Board, Columbia, SC: A conditional grant of $171,000 ($150,000 matching) for up to three years for its Regrant Project to implement major elements of its recently revised strategic plan.

• Utah State Historical Records Advisory Board, Salt Lake City, UT: A conditional grant of $75,180 ($63,000 matching) for up to three years for its Regrant Project to promote the establishment and enhancement of regional records repositories in Utah.

• American Association for State and Local History, Nashville, TN: A conditional one-year grant of $71,123, in partnership with the Council of State Historical Records Coordinators (COSHRC) to help administer COSHRC activities and to begin implementing the action agenda of the National Forum on Archival Continuing Education. The grant includes funds, to be administered by AASLH, to help support the planning of a conference for Native American archivists and records keepers, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian.

State Board Administrative Support Projects

• Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT: A grant of $9,300 in partial support of the Connecticut board's administrative expenses for ten months.

• Florida State Historical Records Advisory Board, Tallahassee, FL: A grant of $10,000 in partial support of the board's administrative expenses for one year.

• Georgia State Historical Records Advisory Board, Atlanta, GA: A grant of $10,000 in partial support of the board's administrative expenses for two years.

• Iowa State Historical Records Advisory Board, Des Moines, IA: A conditional grant of up to $15,000 in partial support of the board's administrative expenses for two years.

• Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board, Topeka, KS: A grant of $11,500 in partial support of the board's administrative expenses for two years.

• Minnesota State Historical Records Advisory Board, St. Paul, MN: A grant of $7,661 in partial support of the board's administrative expenses for one year.

• Mississippi State Historical Records Advisory Board, Jackson, MS: A grant of $6,371 in partial support of the board's administrative expenses for one year.

• Nevada State Historical Records Advisory Board, Carson City, NV: A grant of $19,535 in partial support of the board's administrative expenses for two years.

• New Hampshire State Historical Records Advisory Board, Concord, NH: A grant of $15,000 in partial support of the board's administrative expenses for two years.

• New Mexico State Historical Records Advisory Board, Santa Fe, NM: A grant of $14,800 in partial support of the board's administrative expenses for two years.

• Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA: A grant of $9,421 in partial support of the board's administrative expenses for 21 months.

• West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Charleston, WV: A grant of $9,906 in partial support of the West Virginia board's administrative expenses for one year.

• Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, Cheyenne, WY: A conditional grant of up to $5,000 in partial support of the Wyoming board's administrative expenses for eight months.

Electronic Records Projects

• Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ: A conditional two-year grant of $125,000 for its ECURE 2001/2002: Preservation and Access for Electronic Records of Higher Education Project to fund the planning and implementation of two conferences and two executive development seminars related to electronic records at colleges and universities.

• The Regents of the University of California: A conditional two-year grant of up to $90,000, on behalf of the University of California at Los Angeles for its Information Technology and Policy Curricula Project to identify educational needs in the area of electronic records management.

• The Trustees of Indiana University, Bloomington, IN: A conditional two-year grant of $94,642 for its Developing Instructional Programs in Electronic Records Management Project to develop and teach classes on electronic records management.

• The Global Industry Interagency Group, Woburn, MA: A conditional 15-month grant of up to $200,000 for its Good Electronic Recordkeeping Practices Project to pull together from the best available knowledge and practices Good Electronic Records Practices for the long-term preservation of and access to electronic records.

• Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN: A conditional two-year grant of $150,546 for its Educating Archivists and Their Constituencies Project to develop workshops on the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and metadata as they apply to archival concerns about electronic records.

• State University of New York, University at Albany, Albany, NY: A 15-month grant of $355,392 in support of its Long-Term Preservation of Authentic Electronic Records Project, which supports the non-NARA elements of the U.S. research team taking part in the InterPARES Project.

• The Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, OH: A conditional three-year grant of up to $100,000 for its Developing Best Practice for a Semi-Custodial Electronic Records Repository Project.

• South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, SC: A conditional two-year grant of up to $37,460 for its Electronic Records Training and Awareness Program to develop and conduct six workshops on electronic records issues.

  The University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC: A conditional one-year grant of up to $46,960 for its Model Editions Partnership: Archiving Documentary Editions Project to determine the feasibility of establishing a service center to archive the electronic files used by Commission-supported projects to produce printed volumes.

Non-Founding-Era Subventions

• University of Illinois Press, Champaign, IL: A subvention grant of $8,452 for The Southern Debate Over Slavery: Petitions to Southern Legislatures, 1778-1864, Vol. 1.

• University of Illinois Press, Champaign, IL: A subvention grant of $7,541 for The Selected Letters of Lucretia Coffin Mott, including the Calendar.

• Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD: A subvention grant of $10,000 for The Papers of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Vol. 18.

• Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD: A subvention grant of $10,000 for The Papers of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Vol. 19.

• Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD: A subvention grant of $10,000 for The Papers of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Vol. 20.

• Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD: A subvention grant of $10,000 for The Papers of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Vol. 21.

Educational Proposals

• Wisconsin History Foundation, Inc., Madison, WI: A grant of $30,602 to support the 30th Institute for the Editing of Historical Documents.

For additional PRESS information, please contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (301) 837-1700 or by e-mail.

01-23