PUBLISHING HISTORICAL RECORDS COLLABORATIVE DIGITAL EDITIONS

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission is seeking proposals for a grant to publish online editions of historical records. Eligible records include all types of historical documents, photos, and audio, with a focus on history that pertains to African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American cultures. The Committee particularly encourages projects that amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. In light of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Commission is also interested in projects that delve into the principles that formed our nation and how they continue to shape our society.

The project aims to provide access to these important historic records, along with editorial context. As an applicant, you should be familiar with best practices as recommended by the Association for Documentary Editing (ADE) or the Modern Language Association (MLA) Committee on Scholarly Editions. Please note that the grant does not support the preparation of critical editions of published works unless they are a small part of a larger project. Film or video documentaries are also not covered under this program.

For those submitting a proposal for a new project (i.e., one that has never received NHPRC funding), there must be concrete plans to publish and preserve a digital edition. Print editions can be part of the overall plan, but they must also be published digitally. The Commission encourages projects to provide free online access.

The grants will be given to teams that include at least two scholar-editors and additional personnel such as archivists, digital scholars, data curators, and technical staff. The Committee particularly encourages applications from teams with BIPOC faculty and staff, from historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges. Community members and students are also encouraged to contribute to the projects.

To renew a grant, applicants must show proof of achieving previous NHPRC awards' objectives and justify costs in a new budget. Please note that an applicant can only renew a grant for up to ten years starting from the fiscal year of 2022.

Each grant is for one year and can be up to $125,000. The Commission expects to award a total of 28 grants, equaling approximately $3.5 million. Grants will start no earlier than January 1, 2025.

The eligible entities are U.S. nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, state or local government agencies, and recognized Native American tribes. All applicants must ensure their projects meet the NHPRC's rules and requirements.

The total project costs will be split between the NHPRC and the applicant, requiring cost sharing. The applicant's contribution can include direct and indirect expenses, in-kind contributions, non-Federal third-party contributions, and any income earned by the project.

All entities must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application and should include a valid Unique Entity ID in their application. SAM and Grants.gov registrations and passwords should be up-to-date. It can take up to a month to register or reactivate the registration, and no deadline extensions will be granted for a lack of registration.