NARA Digitizing Historical Records CFDA 89.003

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission seeks proposals that use cost-effective methods to digitize nationally significant historical record collections and make the digital versions freely available online. Projects must make use of existing holdings of historical repositories and consist of entire collections or series. The materials should already be available to the public at the archives and described so that projects can re-use existing information to serve as metadata for the digitized collection. Applications are due by June 5, 2009.


Draft Deadline (optional): April 1, 2009
Final Deadline: June 5, 2009
NHPRC support begins no earlier than January 1, 2010.

To make these projects as widely useful as possible for archives, historical repositories, and researchers, the applications must demonstrate: 1. The national significance of the collections or records series to be digitized; 2. An effective work flow that repurposes existing descriptive material, rather than creating new metadata about the records; 3. Reasonable costs and standards for the project as well as sustainable preservation plans for the resulting digital records; 4. Well-designed plans that evaluate the use of the digitized materials and the effectiveness of the methods employed in digitizing and displaying the materials. Projects may not use grant funds to create descriptive metadata or edited transcriptions of the digitized materials. Award Information: A grant normally is for 1 to 3 years and up to $150,000. The Commission expects to make up to 5 grants in this category, for a total of up to $400,000.

Cost Sharing: Cost sharing is required. It is the financial contribution the applicant pledges to the cost of a project. Cost sharing can include both direct and indirect expenses, in-kind contributions, non-Federal third-party contributions, and any income earned directly by the project. The NHPRC will provide up to 50 percent of the total project costs. Before beginning the process, applicants should review full grant announcement (linked below) and the rules and regulations governing NHPRC grants under the Administering an NHPRC Grant section.

Document Type: Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number: DIGITIZING-10
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Posted Date: Dec 12, 2008
Creation Date: Dec 12, 2008
Original Closing Date for Applications: Jun 05, 2009
Current Closing Date for Applications: Jun 05, 2009
Archive Date: Jul 05, 2009
Funding Instrument Type: Grant
Category of Funding Activity: Humanities (see "Cultural Affairs" in CFDA)
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards:
Estimated Total Program Funding:
Award Ceiling: $150,000
Award Floor: $0
CFDA Number(s): 89.003 -- National Historical Publications and Records Grants
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: Yes

Full Announcement for Digitizing Historical Records