"Georgia in Focus: Current Events and Developments"
In Georgia, various projects have been funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to focus on archives, records, and historical publications. These initiatives aim to preserve and make accessible a wealth of historical information for the public.
One significant project is the Georgia National Digital Newspaper Program, Cycle 5, led by Project Director Nicole Lawrence at the University of Georgia. This project focuses on digitizing and preserving local newspapers, making them available digitally [1]. Another relevant project is the Oak Hill Cemetery Archives: Building a Sustainable Future, led by Paul Williams. This initiative involves creating a plan to adapt an existing structure for the storage and long-term preservation of the cemetery's archival materials in Georgia, with a focus on sustainable preservation of historical archives [1].
Together, these Georgia projects received a total of over $1.2 million in NEH funding as part of various statewide grants emphasizing digital newspaper preservation and archival sustainability [1].
| Project Title | Lead Institution/Director | Focus | Funding Type/Amount | |-------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|------------------------------| | Georgia National Digital Newspaper Program, Cycle 5 | University of Georgia / Nicole Lawrence | Digitization and access of historic newspapers | Digital newspaper program grant / $314,537 approx. | | Oak Hill Cemetery Archives: Building a Sustainable Future | Oak Hill Cemetery Historic Preservation Foundation / Paul Williams | Archive preservation and sustainable storage | Cultural heritage collections grant / ~$49,309 |
The "Finding Their Names" project, supported by the University of Georgia, aims to digitize and enhance documents related to enslavement in Georgia [2]. The Georgia Department of Archives and History has received funding to plan and coordinate a state-based program for local public records and to monitor individual programs at the local level [3].
The Society of Georgia Archivists has received funds to produce slide/tape orientation and training presentations on records preservation [3]. Shorter College has been granted funds to selectively microfilm historical documents in nine northwest Georgia counties [4].
In addition, the National Association of State Archives and Records Administrators (NASARA), based in Atlanta, has received funding for a national conference to develop recommendations for the operation of a state-related functions in the NHPRC's records program, and for policy work of the Steering Committee of State Historical Records Advisory Boards in planning for archival needs assessment and reporting in the states [5].
These projects contribute to preserving Georgia’s historical records and making them more broadly accessible to the public [1]. As of August 2025, no additional ongoing NEH projects explicitly tied to archives, records, or historical publications in Georgia were found in the publicly available grants listing [1][4].
References: [1] NEH Grants Listing [2] Finding Their Names Project [3] Georgia Department of Archives and History [4] Shorter College [5] NASARA
- At the University of Georgia, a project titled "Finding Their Names" focuses on the digitization and enhancement of documents related to enslavement in Georgia, contributing to the investment in personal-finance perspectives of Georgia's past.
- In the realm of business and wealth-management, the Society of Georgia Archivists has been given funds to produce slide/tape orientation and training presentations on records preservation, teaching the public about the importance of historical archives and investing in their future.
