[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2005-12-16

[Heritage Info]

In this issue:
1.  OHS announces Sterling Fellowship awards
2.  Website launched for Oregon Historic Trails Fund
3.  IMLS seeks national award nominations
4.  Heritage site interpretation grants offered


OHS ANNOUNCES STERLING FELLOWSHIP AWARDS

The Oregon Historical Society has awarded Donald J. Sterling, Jr., Research Fellowships for 2006 to David R. M. Beck, associate professor of Native American Studies at the University of Montana, Missoula, and to Damian Miller, a doctoral student at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The fellowships provide a stipend as well as the opportunity to arrange for four weeks to use the historical resources of the society's research library. The fellowships are intended to encourage original, scholarly, interpretive research in Pacific Northwest history.

Beck will conduct research for a historical study of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians of the southwest Oregon coast. Miller will be doing research for his doctoral dissertation, titled "Working Bodies: Gender, Domestic Life and Industrial Strategy in the Extractive Labor Camps of California and the Pacific Northwest, 1860-1930."

Each year the Oregon Historical Society accepts applications for a senior and a student Donald J. Sterling, Jr., Research Fellowship. The fellowships honor Sterling, a longtime editor with the Oregon Journal.


WEBSITE LAUNCHED FOR OREGON HISTORIC TRAILS FUND

The Oregon Community Foundation has launched a new web site for the Oregon Historic Trails Fund at www.oregonhistorictrailsfund.org 
<http://www.oregonhistorictrailsfund.org/> . The site features a clickable map of Oregon's 16 historic trails with information about each trail.  It also tells how to apply for grants from the fund, what projects have been funded previously, and how to donate to the fund. There are also direct links to related web sites such as interpretive centers and partnering agencies.
 
For more information about the Oregon Historic Trails Fund, contact Megan Schumacher at the Oregon Community Foundation, 503-227-6846.


IMLS SEEKS NATIONAL AWARD NOMINATIONS

Is there a museum or a library in your community that deserves national recognition?  The Institute of Museum and Library Services is currently accepting nominations for the 2006 National Awards for Museum and Library Service.

The National Awards for Museum and Library Service were created to underscore the vital role of museums and libraries as leaders in our democratic society.  The award recognizes museums and libraries that demonstrate a core commitment to public service through innovative programs and active partnerships that address the changing needs of the communities they serve.  This national recognition honors institutions that have created real value in their communities and have become indispensable partners in community investment.  To read about the 2005 winners, please see: http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/113005.htm.

The National Awards for Museum and Library Service is the nation's highest honor for the extraordinary public service provided by these institutions. An award ceremony will be held in Washington, DC for the winning institutions, followed by celebrations in each recipient's own community.  In addition, each institution receives $10,000.

Any individual may submit a nomination for libraries and museums of all sizes and types.  To be considered, nominees must submit all required information by Feb. 15. For a nomination form and to learn more about the awards, please access http://www.imls.gov/grants/museum/mus_nams.asp for museums and
http://www.imls.gov/grants/library/lib_nals.htm for libraries.


HERITAGE SITE INTERPRETATION GRANTS OFFERED

The National Endowment for the Humanities is offered grants to assist with implementation of historic place interpretation projects. The grants support public humanities programs that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture. Projects may interpret a single historic site, a series of sites, an entire neighborhood, a town or community, or a larger geographical region. The place as a whole must be significant to American history, and the project must convey its historical importance to visitors. 

Applicants are encouraged to develop projects that include partners inside and outside of the traditional history community, such as heritage tourism or economic development agencies, community and other non-profit organizations, and agencies of local, state, or tribal governments. While innovative partnerships are encouraged, at least one partner should have experience in developing and implementing humanities programs. 

Every Interpreting America's Historic Places project should be guided by a team of advisors who have helped refine the project's concepts and themes, build on relevant scholarship, and develop interpretive approaches. Their expertise normally complements that of the staff of the applicant institution. Scholars must be included, and as appropriate, so too should museum educators or curators, librarians, or others with experience and knowledge of the humanities or the project's technical requirements. Most competitive proposals have a range of consultants whose expertise is suited to the project and who can incorporate diverse humanities perspectives. 

The deadline for applications is Feb. 6  For more information visit http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/historicimplementation.html or contact the staff of NEH's Division of Public Programs at 202-606-8269 and publicpgms at neh.gov. Hearing-impaired applicants can contact NEH via TDD at 1-866-372-2930. 
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Oregon Heritage News is a service of the Oregon Heritage Commission, which can be contacted at heritage.info at state.or.us