Opportunity Information: Apply for DIGITIZING 08
Apply for DIGITIZING 08
- The National Archives and Records Administration in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Digitizing Historical Records" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 89.003 National Historical Publications and Records Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 7, 2007 and posted on Dec 7, 2007.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 2, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education City or township governments County governments State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Digitizing Historical Records grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: DIGITIZING 08) is a discretionary grant program run by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) within the National Archives and Records Administration. Its purpose is to strengthen preservation and public use of the United States documentary heritage by supporting projects that digitize historically important records and make them freely accessible online. The program is aimed at helping people better understand American democracy, history, and culture by expanding no-cost internet access to key primary sources held by archives and other historical repositories.
A central requirement is that projects focus on digitizing entire collections or complete series from existing repository holdings, rather than selecting scattered individual items. The records proposed for digitization should already be publicly available at the holding institution and already described in some usable way, because the program favors projects that can reuse existing descriptive information to create or populate metadata. In other words, NHPRC is looking for cost-effective digitization that builds on work archives have already done (finding aids, catalog records, collection descriptions), instead of projects that require creating extensive new item-level description from scratch.
Applicants are expected to address rights issues responsibly. Where possible, the applicant should already have permission from relevant copyright holders to digitize and publish the materials online. The goal is broad, open availability on the internet, so proposals need to demonstrate that the digitized content can actually be shared freely rather than restricted by unresolved rights barriers.
Applications are evaluated using several practical and impact-focused criteria. Reviewers look first at national significance: the records should matter beyond a local audience and contribute meaningfully to understanding the nation. They also look for an efficient, well-planned workflow that repurposes existing descriptive materials, keeping the project scalable and cost-effective. Cost and technical approach matter as well, including whether the proposed standards are reasonable for digitization and whether the applicant has a credible plan for sustaining and preserving the digital files over time. Finally, proposals are expected to include thoughtful evaluation plans, meaning the project should measure how the digitized materials are used and assess how well the digitization and online presentation methods actually work for researchers and the public.
In terms of funding details, the award ceiling is $150,000 and there is no stated award floor. Cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants should expect to contribute non-federal funds and/or allowable in-kind support according to the program rules. The assistance listing is CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 89.003, National Historical Publications and Records Grants, and the activity category is Humanities (noted as Cultural Affairs in CFDA). Eligible applicants include state and local governments (state governments, county governments, city or township governments), federally recognized Native American tribal governments, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions), and both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education.
Key dates for this specific announcement were a posted and creation date of December 7, 2007, with an application closing date of June 2, 2008, and an archive date of August 2, 2008. For access issues with the full announcement, the listed contact was David Davis, Grants Workflow Information Coordinator, at 202-357-5022.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Digitizing Historical Records (Funding Opportunity Number: DIGITIZING 08)
What is the Digitizing Historical Records grant opportunity (DIGITIZING 08)?
The Digitizing Historical Records grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: DIGITIZING 08) is a discretionary grant program run by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) within the National Archives and Records Administration. It supports projects that digitize historically important records and make them freely accessible online.
What is the purpose of this program?
The purpose is to strengthen preservation and public use of the United States documentary heritage by funding digitization projects that expand no-cost internet access to key primary sources held by archives and other historical repositories. The program is intended to help people better understand American democracy, history, and culture.
What kinds of projects does NHPRC want to fund under this opportunity?
NHPRC is looking for cost-effective digitization projects that focus on digitizing historically important records and publishing them online for free public access, especially projects that can reuse existing descriptive information (such as finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions) to create or populate metadata.
Do projects need to digitize complete collections or can they pick individual items?
A central requirement is that projects focus on digitizing entire collections or complete series from existing repository holdings, rather than selecting scattered individual items.
Do the records need to already be publicly available at the holding institution?
Yes. The records proposed for digitization should already be publicly available at the holding institution.
Do the records need to already be described before applying?
Yes. The program favors projects where materials are already described in some usable way so that the project can reuse existing descriptive information to create or populate metadata, rather than requiring extensive new item-level description from scratch.
Why does NHPRC emphasize reusing existing descriptive information?
Because the opportunity is focused on efficient, scalable, cost-effective digitization. NHPRC favors proposals that build on work repositories have already done (for example, existing finding aids and catalog records) instead of projects that would require creating extensive new item-level descriptions from the ground up.
What are the expectations related to copyright and rights permissions?
Applicants are expected to address rights issues responsibly. Where possible, the applicant should already have permission from relevant copyright holders to digitize and publish the materials online. Proposals should show that the content can be shared freely online rather than being blocked by unresolved rights barriers.
Is the goal to restrict access to digitized materials or to make them open?
The goal is broad, open availability on the internet. The program supports projects that make digitized records freely accessible online.
How are applications evaluated?
Applications are evaluated using practical and impact-focused criteria, including national significance of the records, the efficiency and scalability of the workflow (including reuse of existing descriptive information), cost and technical approach (including standards), plans for sustaining and preserving digital files over time, and evaluation plans to measure use and assess how well digitization and online presentation methods work.
What does "national significance" mean in the context of this program?
Reviewers look for records that matter beyond a local audience and that contribute meaningfully to understanding the nation.
What kind of workflow does NHPRC expect to see in a competitive proposal?
NHPRC expects an efficient, well-planned workflow that repurposes existing descriptive materials and demonstrates that the project is scalable and cost-effective.
What technical factors are considered during review?
Reviewers consider cost and the technical approach, including whether proposed digitization standards are reasonable and whether the applicant has a credible plan to sustain and preserve the digital files over time.
Does the program require an evaluation plan?
Yes. Proposals are expected to include thoughtful evaluation plans, including measuring how the digitized materials are used and assessing how well the digitization and online presentation methods work for researchers and the public.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling for this opportunity is $150,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No stated award floor is listed for this opportunity.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants should expect to contribute non-federal funds and/or allowable in-kind support according to the program rules.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) number is 89.003, National Historical Publications and Records Grants.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Humanities (noted as Cultural Affairs in CFDA).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state and local governments (including state governments, county governments, and city or township governments), federally recognized Native American tribal governments, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions), and institutions of higher education (both public/state-controlled and private).
Which key dates were listed for this specific announcement?
The posted and creation date was December 7, 2007. The application closing date was June 2, 2008. The archive date was August 2, 2008.
Who was listed as the contact for access issues with the full announcement?
For access issues with the full announcement, the listed contact was David Davis, Grants Workflow Information Coordinator, at 202-357-5022.
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| Summer Stipends Apply for 20081001 FT Funding Number: 20081001 FT Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $6,000 |
| Humanities Collections and Resources Apply for 20080731 PW Funding Number: 20080731 PW Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Americas Media Makers Production Grants Apply for 20080827 TR Funding Number: 20080827 TR Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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