Opportunity Information: Apply for DIGITIZING 201006
Apply for DIGITIZING 201006
- 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 8, 2009 and posted on Dec 8, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 3, 2010. (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: City or township governments State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
Digitizing Historical Records is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), which is part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The program is focused on strengthening public access to Americas documentary heritage by funding projects that digitize historically important records and make the digital materials freely available online. The emphasis is not just on scanning, but on creating practical, reusable models for archives and repositories to digitize significant collections in a cost-effective way, while also ensuring the resulting digital files are preserved and remain accessible over time.
The projects NHPRC wants to fund must be based on existing holdings at historical repositories and must digitize entire collections or an entire series, rather than selecting only highlights. A key requirement is that the records already be available for public use at the holding institution and already be described in a way that allows the project to repurpose existing descriptive information as metadata. In other words, applicants are expected to build an efficient workflow that leans heavily on what the repository already knows and has documented about the collection, instead of creating brand-new descriptive metadata from scratch.
Applications are expected to make a clear case in four main areas. First, they must explain the national significance of the records to be digitized and why those materials matter to understanding American democracy, history, or culture. Second, they must present a digitization workflow that reuses existing description and finding aids, showing that the project design is practical and scalable. Third, the proposal needs to show that the budget and technical approach are reasonable, that appropriate standards will be used, and that there is a sustainable preservation plan for the digital files created. Fourth, applicants must include an evaluation plan that looks at how people actually use the digitized materials and how effective the digitization and online presentation methods are, so the project produces lessons and outcomes that can inform future work.
There are also important restrictions on what grant funds can be used for. NHPRC will not support projects that use grant funds to create descriptive metadata, produce edited transcriptions of digitized materials, or build paywalled access systems. The expectation is open access: the digitized images must be made freely available online, without fees required to view them.
Awards are typically made for projects lasting one to three years, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $150,000 and no stated minimum award amount. NHPRC anticipated making up to five awards under this specific competition, with a combined total of up to $400,000 available across all awards. Grant recipients must acknowledge NHPRC support in any products that result from the funded work, which generally includes online collections, publications, project reports, and related deliverables.
Cost sharing is required, and it is a central part of the funding model. Applicants must contribute financially to the total project cost, and NHPRC will cover up to 50 percent of those total costs. The cost share can take multiple forms, including direct costs, indirect costs, in-kind contributions (such as staff time, equipment use, or services), allowable third-party non-federal contributions, and income earned directly by the project. This matching requirement means applicants need to demonstrate both commitment and capacity to carry out the project with shared financial responsibility.
Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities: state governments, county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that nonprofit category). The opportunity is categorized under Humanities, tied to CFDA 89.003 (National Historical Publications and Records Grants). The funding opportunity number is DIGITIZING 201006, and in this cycle the posting date was December 8, 2009, with an application deadline of June 3, 2010.
For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement, the listed contact for assistance was David Davis, Grants Workflow Coordinator at NHPRC/NARA, reachable by phone at 202-357-5022.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Digitizing Historical Records (NHPRC/NARA)
What is the Digitizing Historical Records grant?
Digitizing Historical Records is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). It funds projects that digitize historically important records and make the resulting digital materials freely available online to strengthen public access to America's documentary heritage.
What is the main goal of this program?
The program aims to expand public access to historically significant records by supporting digitization projects that also demonstrate practical, reusable, cost-effective models for archives and repositories. The emphasis includes both creating digital content and ensuring the digital files are preserved and remain accessible over time.
Is this program only about scanning materials?
No. The program emphasizes more than scanning. Projects are expected to develop a practical and scalable digitization workflow, reuse existing descriptive information, follow appropriate standards, and include a plan for preservation and long-term access to the digital files.
What kinds of records are intended to be digitized?
The program focuses on historically important records that contribute to understanding American democracy, history, or culture. Projects must be based on existing holdings at historical repositories.
Do the records need to be in an existing repository collection?
Yes. Funded projects must be based on existing holdings at historical repositories (the holding institution already has the records).
Does the grant require digitizing an entire collection?
Yes. Projects must digitize entire collections or an entire series, rather than selecting only highlights.
Do the records have to already be available to the public?
Yes. A key requirement is that the records already be available for public use at the holding institution.
Do the records need to already be described before the project starts?
Yes. The records must already be described in a way that allows the project to repurpose existing descriptive information as metadata. Applicants are expected to reuse existing description and finding aids rather than create brand-new descriptive metadata from scratch.
What are the main things an application needs to demonstrate?
Applications are expected to make a clear case in four areas: (1) the national significance of the records and why they matter to understanding American democracy, history, or culture; (2) a practical and scalable digitization workflow that reuses existing description and finding aids; (3) a reasonable budget and technical approach that uses appropriate standards and includes a sustainable preservation plan; and (4) an evaluation plan that examines user engagement and the effectiveness of digitization and online presentation methods.
What is meant by "national significance" in the application?
Applicants are expected to explain why the records matter to the nation, specifically how they contribute to understanding American democracy, history, or culture.
What is required for the digitization workflow?
The proposal should describe a digitization workflow that reuses existing descriptive information and finding aids, demonstrating that the design is practical and scalable. The intent is to build an efficient workflow that leans heavily on what the repository already knows and has documented about the collection.
What should be included in the preservation approach?
The proposal should show that the technical approach is reasonable, appropriate standards will be used, and there is a sustainable plan to preserve the digital files created and keep them accessible over time.
Is an evaluation plan required?
Yes. Applicants must include an evaluation plan that looks at how people use the digitized materials and assesses how effective the digitization and online presentation methods are, so the project produces lessons and outcomes that can inform future work.
Does NHPRC require free online access to the digitized files?
Yes. Open access is expected. The digitized images must be made freely available online, without fees required to view them.
Can grant funds be used to build a paywalled system?
No. NHPRC will not support projects that use grant funds to build paywalled access systems.
Can grant funds be used to create descriptive metadata?
No. NHPRC will not support projects that use grant funds to create descriptive metadata.
Can grant funds be used to produce edited transcriptions?
No. NHPRC will not support projects that use grant funds to produce edited transcriptions of digitized materials.
What is the typical project period?
Awards are typically made for projects lasting one to three years.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum (ceiling) award amount is $150,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount is stated for this opportunity.
How many awards were expected under this competition?
NHPRC anticipated making up to five awards under this specific competition.
How much total funding was available across all awards?
The combined total anticipated funding across all awards was up to $400,000.
Is cost sharing (matching) required?
Yes. Cost sharing is required and is central to the funding model.
How much of the total project cost will NHPRC cover?
NHPRC will cover up to 50 percent of the total project costs. Applicants must contribute to the remaining share.
What types of contributions can count toward the cost share?
The cost share can include direct costs, indirect costs, in-kind contributions (such as staff time, equipment use, or services), allowable third-party non-federal contributions, and income earned directly by the project.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that nonprofit category).
What is the CFDA number for this grant program?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 89.003 (National Historical Publications and Records Grants).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is DIGITIZING 201006.
When was this opportunity posted and when was the deadline?
In this cycle, the posting date was December 8, 2009, and the application deadline was June 3, 2010.
Do grant recipients need to acknowledge NHPRC?
Yes. Grant recipients must acknowledge NHPRC support in any products resulting from the funded work, which generally includes online collections, publications, project reports, and related deliverables.
Who can be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?
For assistance accessing the full announcement, the listed contact was David Davis, Grants Workflow Coordinator at NHPRC/NARA, reachable at 202-357-5022.
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| Electronic Records Projects Apply for ELECTRONIC 201006 Funding Number: ELECTRONIC 201006 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Professional Development Grants for Archives and Historical Publishing Apply for PRODEV 201006 Funding Number: PRODEV 201006 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Publishing Historical Records Apply for PUBLISHING 201006 Funding Number: PUBLISHING 201006 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Strategies and Tools for Archives and Historical Publishing Projects Apply for STRATEGIES 201006 Funding Number: STRATEGIES 201006 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Publication Subventions Apply for SUBVENTIONS 201003 Funding Number: SUBVENTIONS 201003 Agency: National Archives and Records Administration Category: Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Funding Amount: $10,000 |
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