Interpreting the Contributions of African-Americans in Antebellum New York at Eight Historic House Sites in New York City

Recipient: Huber, Sandra Elaine (New York, NY 10021 USA) in affiliation with Historic House Trust of New York City

Goal: Consultation with scholars and museum professionals to develop an interpretive plan for eight historic sites that tells collectively the story of African American life in antebellum New York.

Description: The Trust seeks a consultation grant of $15,000 from the NEH to conduct two symposia of scholars, museum professionals and a lead researcher toward developing enhanced public education programs about the contributions of African-Americans in antebellum New York, as evidenced in eight Historic House Trust sites. Within HHT?s collection of house museums, there is a wealth of information still to be identified, synthesized and presented about the lives and contributions of enslaved and free African-Americans ? prior to the Revolution, through emancipation in 1827, and until the Civil War ? in the then-rural homes and farms of New York?s boroughs. The grant will subsidize the costs of meetings to analyze pertinent historical evidence from the eight sites, identify themes common to the sites and appropriate for enhanced development, direct additional specific research and propose effective interpretive strategies to make these humanities themes accessible to the public.

Grant: 184913 / BK-50051-07,   Category: Education,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2007

A New Interpretation for the Old State House

Recipient: Tisdale, Rainey (Boston, MA 02109 USA) in affiliation with Bostonian Society

Goal: Consultation that would lead to new interpretive directions for the Old State House, with special attention to the era of the Revolutionary War and the founding of the country.

Description: The Bostonian Society (TBS), Boston's historical society, seeks a grant of $15,000 to support a major change in the interpretation of the Old State House (OSH), Boston. Built in 1713, the OSH is the oldest public building in Boston and was the site of some of the most important events leading to the American Revolution and to the establishment of the United States. For over 125 years, the OSH has functioned as an all-purpose museum of Boston history rather than as an historic site focusing on the building's own unique role in the founding era of the United States. A Consultation Grant from NEH will enable the museum's leadership to seek the advice and original thinking of humanities scholars and other specialists on how best to tell the story of the OSH's central role in American history, while effectively steering some 80,000 - 100,000 visitors through the site annually.

Grant: 184920 / BK-50058-07,   Category: American History,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2007

Interpreting Munroe Tavern as the "Museum of the British" in Lexington, Massachusetts

Recipient: Bennett, Susan (Lexington, MA 02420 USA) in affiliation with Lexington Historical Society (Lexington, MA 02173 USA)

Goal: Consultation for a reinterpretation of Munroe Tavern that would tell the story of the British military and soldiers during the American Revolution.

Description: Munroe Tavern, temporary field headquarters of the British Army during its retreat from Concord to Boston on April 19, 1775, is one of three historic sites with important connections to the Battle of Lexington that are interpreted by the Lexington Historical Society. Munroe Tavern has not been re-interpreted for many years. Some of the furnishings of the house are not period appropriate, and the exhibits are outdated and stale. This project would enlist humanities scholars in a consultation about a major re-interpretation of this important historic site. The Historical Society's tentative plans are to make Munroe Tavern the "Museum of the British" in Lexington that would tell the story of the British military and individual British soilders in the context of the early days of the American Revolution. Re-interpreting Munroe Tavern would enrich the visitor experience to Lexington, Massachusetts and encourage critical thinking about the various stakeholders in the American Revolution.

Grant: 184921 / BK-50059-07,   Category: American History,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2007

Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life

Recipient: Scofield, David (Avella, PA 15312 USA) in affiliation with Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, PA 15222 USA)

Goal: Consultation with scholars and site visits to develop an interpretive plan for a significant archaeological site and a living history village in western Pennsylvania.

Description: The Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania requests a consultation grant to advance the interpretive program development at Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Museum of Rural Life. The requested funds would provide for a 2-day planning session with consultants who have expertise critical to successful program development. The requested funds would also provide travel for Meadowcroft staff to visit six sites with exemplary programming related to the proposed interpretation development.

Grant: 184923 / BK-50061-07,   Category: American History,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2007

Continuity and Change: African American Life and Culture on a Barrier Island of Georgia, 1760-1980

Recipient: Pressly, Paul Moffatt (Savannah, GA 31401 USA) in affiliation with Ossabaw Island Foundation (Savannah, GA 31401-3726 USA)

Goal: Consultation with scholars and interpretive experts to examine the history of African American life on Ossabaw Island and in the Georgia Lowcountry.

Description: The Ossabaw Island Foundation seeks a consultation grant of $14,935 to create a research agenda to explore themes about the experience of Africian Americans on Ossabaw from 1760 till the 1980s. From 1760s onwards, Ossabaw holds an important story about the African American of the Georgia Lowcountry and their unique culture. The experience of African Americans on Ossabaw will be a vehicle for understanding the black experience in the Georgia Lowcountry as well as its connections to the unfolding of American history- the American Revolution, the rise and fall of the Southern plantation economy, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the evolution during the 20th century of a traditional community into the mainstream of American life. Funding will allow the holding of two roundtables for academic and interpretive specialists to work together with the Ossabaw Island Foundation staff. These will build on the work conducted at our first roundtable held April 5, 2006.

Grant: 184916 / BK-50054-07,   Category: American Studies,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2007

Melville in Context

Recipient: Owens, Carole (Stockbridge, MA 01262 USA) in affiliation with Berkshire County Historical Society (Pittsfield, MA 01201 USA)

Goal: Consultation with scholars to develop a new interpretation of Arrowhead, the home of Herman Melville, placing the author's life and work in the context of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, history.

Description: Berkshire Historical Society (BHS) is seeking a grant to initiate a new interpretive program at Arrowhead, the home of Herman Melville. For three decades BHS has had two missions: to preserve and interpret Arrowhead, and to preserve and share the Berkshire County historic collection. By interpreting ?Melville in Context?, Melville and the Mid-Nineteenth Century Berkshire world in which he lived, BHS can: 1. Blend the dual missions of BHS 2. Broaden the humanities themes and offer a deeper understanding of the writer, the man, and the Mid-Nineteenth Century New England world in which he lived 3. Enrich the interpretation, thereby, widening the appeal for people of diverse ages, interests, and backgrounds. 4. Vary the interpretation to encourage visitors to return To assure that the new interpretive program will be grounded in sound scholarship, the consultation process will be implemented in three phases.

Grant: 184911 / BK-50049-07,   Category: Museum Studies or Historic Preservation,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2007

The Home the Model T Built: Enhancing Interpretation and Programming at the Henry Ford Estate, Dearborn, Michigan

Recipient: Heininger, Mary Lynn (Dearborn, MI 48128-1491 USA) in affiliation with University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA)

Goal: Consultation to plan historic site tours and public programs about the role of the inexpensive, mass-produced Model T Ford in transforming American life and the relationship of Henry and Clara Ford to significant reform movements of their time.

Description: The Henry Ford Estate in Dearborn, MI, was the home of Henry and Clara Ford from 1916 until their deaths at mid-century, operates as a museum, restaurant, and event venue. Current interpretation is largely confined to tours, which are rich in biographical and collection information, but have little overall historical or social context. This project will convene humanities scholars; an expert in historic house interpretation; a programming/cultural tourism expert; and a media expert to 1) develop key humanities themes rising out of the impact of the automotive revolution whose icon is the Model T; 2) draw specific connections of these themes to key tour elements; 3) develop ideas for new public programming and enhanced interpretation, including digital media. The project anticipates the 2008 centennial of the Model T Ford, to be celebrated in greater Detroit by several cultural sites, and will be coordinated and marketed through the MotorCities National Automotive Heritage Area.

Grant: 184925 / BK-50063-07,   Category: History,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2007

Sapelo Island Cultural Village

Recipient: De Honiesto, Beverly (Sapelo Island, GA 31327 USA) in affiliation with Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society, Inc.

Goal: Consultation to frame the future development of the Hog Hammock community of Sapelo Island, Georgia, as a living-history cultural village and education center focused on history, culture, and language.

Grant: 179846 / BK-50010-06,   Category: Afro-American Studies,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2006

John Greenleaf Whittier: His Life and Works

Recipient: Howell, Janet H (Amesbury, MA 019132726 USA) in affiliation with Whittier Home Association (Amesbury, MA 01913 USA)

Goal: Consultation with scholars to develop themes that would be used to interpret Whittier's home, with special attention to how his work reflected his involvement in contemporary issues.

Grant: 179869 / BK-50013-06,   Category: American History,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2006

An Orientation to Weeksville: Defining a Sense of Place

Recipient: Scott, Jennifer (Brooklyn, NY 11213 USA) in affiliation with Society for the Preservation of Weeksville/Bedford-Stuyvesant History

Goal: Consultation with scholars and an audience evaluator to develop a permanent exhibition that introduces visitors to the history of an antebellum free black community.

Description: Weeksville Heritage Center requests $15,000 from NEH through Interpreting America's Historic Places: Consultation Grants. The grant will support Weeksville’s efforts to create a permanent orientation exhibition which will be housed in the new education building opening in 2009. The exhibition will introduce the visitor to the Weeksville Heritage Center, present research and information about historic Weeksville and the Hunterfly Road houses, and launch visitors on to their experience of the houses and grounds. To achieve the best visitor experience, Weeksville seeks the support of NEH to conduct preliminary audience research and convene a group of humanities experts to determine the best interpretive approach for the Weeksville site.

Grant: 179873 / BK-50014-06,   Category: Afro-American Studies,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2006

Development of Audio Tour

Recipient: Burdick, Todd (Pittsfield, MA 01201 USA) in affiliation with Hancock Shaker Village, Inc. (Pittsfield, MA 01202 USA)

Goal: Consultation with scholars, audience research, and site visits to develop preliminary outlines for thematic audio tours of the site.

Grant: 180875 / BK-50037-06,   Category: American History,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2006

Interpreting the History of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement: The Expansion of America's Participatory Democracy

Recipient: McLemore, Leslie B (Jackson, MS 39217 USA) in affiliation with Jackson State University

Goal: Consultation to plan seven community driving tour guides and a statewide guidebook focusing on historic sites related to the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi.

Description: This project will provide interpretive resources focusing on the history of the Civil Rights Movement (CRM) in Mississippi from 1960 through 1968. The project will be a first step in ensuring that this history and its significance will be interpreted and made accessible to the state's residents and visitors. Anticipated outcomes from the latter planning and implementation stages of the project include a statewide guidebook to civil rights landmarks and interpretive driving tour guide booklets for seven Mississippi communities. Funding for the consultation phase will be used to a) benchmark comparable resources from other southern states, and b) conduct preliminary meetings with scholars, surviving CRM participants, and local community leaders who are committed to aiding in the development of interpretive resources.

Grant: 179768 / BK-50004-06,   Category: American History,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2006

He Farmed and Walked With Us: Landmarks that Shaped the Life of Harry S. Truman

Recipient: Taylor, Jon E (Warrensburg, MO 64093 USA) in affiliation with Central Missouri State University (Warrensburg, MO 64093-5158 USA)

Goal: Consultation to develop an interpretive plan for a website exploring how Harry S. Truman's experiences in Missouri shaped his life and political career.

Grant: 180858 / BK-50029-06,   Category: American History,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2006

Historical Interpretation of the Bronx Zoo: Birthplace of the American Wildlife Conservation Movement

Recipient: Fraser, John (Bronx, NY 10460 USA) in affiliation with Wildlife Conservation Society

Goal: Consultation to plan the interpretation of the Bronz Zoo as an historic site, focusing on its role in the development of America's wildlife conservation movement at the turn of the 20th century.

Description: NEH funding is requested to support consultation by specialist historians and experts in historical interpretation of America’s Significant Places to interpret the historical significance of the Bronx Zoo as it relates to the birth of the American conservation movement. Consultation will include a 4-day investigation of the Wildlife Conservation Society archives to identify the historical forces in place that enabled the creation of the Bronx Zoo, one of the first institutions that brought together financial might, political will, and social consciousness to launch a social movement of conservation that now pervades government policy.

Grant: 179876 / BK-50017-06,   Category: American History,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2006

KHS Library and the American Woman's League: The Liberation of Rural Women

Recipient: Delulio, Cindy (Calvert, TX 77837 USA) in affiliation with Calvert Woman's Club

Goal: Consultation to plan an interpretive strategy for a self-guided tour and a website about the Katy Hamman-Stricker Library in Calvert, Texas, as a case study for the story of the transition of rural women to urban life in the early 20th century.

Grant: 180443 / BK-50026-06,   Category: Women's Studies,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2006

Wheelock Academy: A Home At The End Of The Trail

Recipient: Asbill-Grant, Barbara (Millerton, OK 74750 USA) in affiliation with Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (Durant, OK 74701 USA)

Goal: Consultation with scholars to develop an interpretive plan for Wheelock Academy, originally founded as a mission boarding school for Native American girls.

Description: Wheelock Academy: A Home At The End Of The Trail is a project coordinated by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma that will utilize the assistance of two highly qualified humaniteis consultants to plan and develop an effective, sound, humanities-based interpretive strategy for Wheelock Academy, a former boarding school for Native American girls that was founded shortly after the forced migration on the Trail of Tears. Wheelock is listed as a National Historic Landmark and is one of the 11 Most Endangered Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Grant: 179775 / BK-50007-06,   Category: Museum Studies or Historic Preservation,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2006

Adapting the Billings Farm & Museum as a Heritage Gateway

Recipient: Sharp, Corwin (Woodstock, VT 05091 USA) in affiliation with Billings Farm & Museum

Goal: Consultation to develop an updated interpretive plan for this living history site's exhibitions, website, and public programs, exploring Vermont's agricultural heritage.

Grant: 180008 / BK-50021-06,   Category: American History,   Division: Public Programs,   Year Awarded: 2006