The Filson Historical Society receives grant from the NEH
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Filson Historical Society received a Preservation Assistance Grant for Smaller Institutions from the National Endowment for the Humanities. This grant, totaling in $8,580, will allow the Filson to perform a preservation needs and disaster preparedness assessment, in addition to providing disaster training for fellow archivists in the area.
The Filson’s collection includes original materials related to the Lewis and Clarke expedition, including sources pertaining to the life of the enslaved man whom William Clarke brought on their journey. This award will also provide four data loggers to monitor environmental conditions in a new storage space, as well as the historical society’s exhibition area.
Danielle Spalenka, Associate Curator of Digital Projects at the Filson and Project Manager for the grant, said, “The funds to perform a preservation needs assessment will help us prioritize preservation needs of the collection. The assessment could not be timelier and is even more valuable now, as we will gain insight on how to care for our collections in these uncertain times.”
“These challenging times underscore how important the humanities are to making American culture and world history relatable across generations,” said NEH Chairman Jon Parrish Peede. “NEH is proud to award hundreds of grants to keep our nation’s scholars, students, teachers, and citizens moving forward in pursuit of new knowledge and understanding.”
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this press release do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
###
Since its founding in 1884, The Filson Historical Society has preserved the region’s collective memory, not only of Kentucky but also of the Ohio Valley and the Upper South. The Filson continues to collect and tell the significant stories of the region. An independent historical society, The Filson serves the public through its extensive research collections and numerous educational opportunities. The Filson is headquartered in the Ferguson Mansion in Old Louisville and offers research facilities, event, and rental space.
