The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) recently announced a grant program to encourage public access to historical records titled, “Literacy and Engagement with Historical Records.” The new grant aims to generate online tools to better engage digitized records and provide training for digital literary skills needed to access those records. Possible projects might more >

Former Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein passed away on June 18, 2015. Dr. Weinstein was sworn into office in February 2005 and retired in December 2008 due to ill health. Highlights of his tenure include the establishment of the National Declassification Initiative and the addition of the Richard M. Nixon library in the more >

James H. Billington, the 13th Librarian of Congress, will retire on January 1, 2016. The former history professor and Rhodes Scholar was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 to oversee the largest library in the world. Billington is credited with expanding the Library’s public outreach, including a lead role in the creation of Thomas.gov more >

Over the past two years, NCH worked with the offices of Congressmen John Larson (D-CT), Tom Cole (R-OK), Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) to create and promote a caucus related to history. The purpose of the caucus is to provide a forum for members of Congress to share their interest in history and more >

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced “Common Heritage,” the first grant of its kind, to make “light historical records and artifacts currently hidden in family attics and basements” available to the public. In announcing the initiative, NEH Chairman William “Bro” Adams said, “We know that America’s cultural heritage isn’t found only in libraries more >

The Library of Congress and the American Archive of Public Broadcasting (AAPB) recently launched a new website (https://americanarchive.org) to provide access to a large collection of American public radio and television content dating back to the 1950s. The AAPB is a collaboration between the Library of Congress, WGBH Boston and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. more >

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Park Service (NPS), and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) recently announced recipients for their major grants programs. The NEH awarded 232 grants totaling $22.8 million in funding. Grantees included projects that will develop new digital tools, preserve and create access to historic collections, more >

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued a report criticizing the Library of Congress (LOC) information technology (IT) services. The GAO found numerous critical weaknesses and made 31 recommendations including the expedited hiring of a permanent Chief Information Officer. The investigation was performed at the request of the House Appropriations Committee. The GAO found more >

In December 2014, President Obama signed into law the Presidential and Federal Records Act Amendments of 2014 (PL 113-187). This is a major victory for the National Coalition for History and the community of historians who have been advocating for the passage of Presidential Records Act (PRA) reform legislation since the issuance of President George more >

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) recently introduced S. 2712, the “Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act of 2014.” The bill would allow part-time faculty – who are often paid low wages with few benefits – to be eligible to participate in the federal student loan forgiveness program for public servants. NCH has sent a letter to Senator more >