National Digital Newspaper Program
The next competition is expected to have a January 15, 2014 deadline. Check back for updated guidelines at least two months prior to the January deadline.
Grant: National Digital Newspaper Program
Agency: National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
Division: Division of Preservation and Access
Deadline: The deadline was January 17, 2013.
Description: NEH is soliciting proposals from institutions to participate in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP). NDNP is creating a national, digital resource of historically significant newspapers published between 1836 and 1922, from all the states and U.S. territories. This searchable database will be permanently maintained at the Library of Congress and be freely accessible on the website, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. An accompanying national newspaper directory of bibliographic and holdings information on the website directs users to newspaper titles available in all types of formats. During the course of its partnership with NEH, the Library of Congress will also digitize and contribute to the NDNP database a significant number of newspaper pages drawn from its own collections.
NEH intends to support projects in all states and U.S. territories, provided that sufficient funds allocated for this purpose are available. One organization within each state or territory will receive an award to collaborate with relevant state partners in this effort. Previously funded projects will be eligible for continued support, but the program will give priority to new projects. Applications that involve collaboration between previously funded and new projects are welcome.
Over a period of two years, successful applicants will select newspapers – published in their state or territory between 1836 and 1922 – and convert approximately 100,000 pages into digital files (primarily from microfilm), according to the technical guidelines outlined by the Library of Congress. Applicants may select titles published in English, French, German, Italian or Spanish. More languages will be added in future years.
Fit for public broadcasting: Public broadcasting stations that have experience in undertaking digital projects are a great fit for this funding opportunity. NEH allows partnerships for this program, so stations with expertise in digitization can partner with other organizations, or they can apply individually. NEH plans to make a cooperative agreement with one organization in each state and U.S. territory. That organization will then work with other organizations in that state to collect relevant newspapers. Stations that already do work that is coordinated state-wide may be strong applicants.
Eligibility: U.S. nonprofit organizations are eligible, as are state and local governmental agencies and tribal governments. Individuals are not eligible to apply.
Anticipated funding: NEH expects to award cooperative agreements of up to $350,000 each for a two-year period. NEH intends to support projects in all states and U.S. territories, provided that sufficient funds are available.
Although cost sharing is not required, NEH is rarely able to support the full costs of projects approved for funding. In most cases, NEH awards cover no more than 80 percent of project costs.
How to apply: Optional draft proposals should be submitted by email attachment at least six weeks before the deadline.
Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov, and applicants must be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). Online submission requires registration, a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as four weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the deadline.
Resources:
Program notice
Program website
NEH Division of Preservation and Access website
NDNP website
Sample application: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Sample application: University of Oregon
Sample application: University of Tennessee
