Oregon stands as a beacon in the Pacific Northwest, showcasing its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture.
In a significant move to preserve and increase access to Oregon's historical records and cultural heritage, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has funded several digital history and archival projects across the state.
The University of Oregon leads the most recent project, the "Expanding Coverage of Oregon Newspapers in Chronicling America," which aims to digitize 100,000 pages of historical newspapers published between 1855 and 1963. This project will enhance Oregon's participation in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) and make these valuable resources available digitally for research, education, and public use through the Chronicling America platform.
Other notable projects include the Oregon Historical Society's creation of an online public history reserve, organising, digitising, and making accessible unique primary materials from four Oregon institutions. The University of Oregon is also supporting access to the work of three collections of prominent children's literature writers and artists.
The Oregon Secretary of State's Archives Division received funding for a series of 20 website and records management workshops in five regions of the state, as well as a demonstration digitization project and efforts to collaborate with allied historical agencies.
The Oregon State System of Higher Education, Eugene, OR, received funding for a comprehensive records inventory, the establishment of working records management and archival programs on each of its eight campuses. Lewis & Clark College received support for the Vietnamese Portland Archive, providing access to additional records, training, and curricular tools.
Willamette University received funding to process and describe unprocessed materials from the records of U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR, 1967-1997). Portland State University is building the Great Tribal Leaders of Modern Times collection of videotaped oral histories, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is modernising its Archives and making archival resources available online.
The Oregon Historical Society, the Oregon Secretary of State's Archives Division, the Oregon State Archives, and various educational institutions have also received funding for a range of projects, including the development of computer-based cataloging systems, the processing of Tribal records, and the improvement of records management and archival programs for Oregon state government records.
In total, the NEH has awarded $2,563,949 in funding for these projects, ensuring that Oregon's rich historical and cultural heritage will continue to be preserved and made accessible for future generations.
Through these projects, the University of Oregon is contributing to online education in the field of digital history, allowing learners to access and research historical newspapers. The Oregon Historical Society, in turn, is focusing on self-development and learning by creating an online public history reserve and organizing unique primary materials for public use.
