LSTA Grant Awards

2021 Grant Awards, Washington Digital Heritage

The Washington Digital Heritage (WDH) grant program for the 2021-2022 federal fiscal year was developed to support public, tribal, special, and academic libraries in carrying out a variety of digital initiatives focused on archival and special collections. Proposals receiving priority consideration for award included those demonstrating: broad accessibility of project outputs to the general public; a desire to develop sustainable local digital programs; and adoption and/or dissemination of regional standards and approaches to digitization.

The WDH Grant Review Committee awarded grants to 9 institutions in June, 2021. Progress on the grant projects will run through July 1, 2022 (grant deadline). Several of the awarded projects will be part of the Washington Rural Heritage program (http://www.washingtonruralheritage.org) maintained by the Washington State Library (WSL). Other project outputs will be hosted and maintained locally by awarded institutions.

This grant was awarded by the Office of the Secretary of State, Washington State Library Division, funded by the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Total Awarded: $104,135

Organization: Asotin County Library
Award: $6,520

Abstract: The Asotin County Library will digitize materials documenting the Asotin County Fair and Rodeo from 1958 to 1966, building on their 2020 project in which they digitized materials from 1939 to 1957. In partnership with the Asotin County Fair Board, the Library will digitize and catalog two scrapbooks of clippings, photographs, and documents. The Library will promote the collection through a treasure hunt with prizes provided by the Friends of the Asotin County Library.

Organization: Central Washington University
Award: $6,589

Abstract: Central Washington University (CWU) will digitize the H. Glenn Hogue Photographic Negatives Collection, over 900 photographic negatives from the 1930s to the 1960s documenting the history of Washington State Normal School and Central Washington College of Education (now CWU), Ellensburg, and the wider region. They will promote the collection through established campus channels including the CWU Libraries and Archives social media accounts, website, campus-wide e-newsletter, and programming conducted by the CWU Archives.

Organization: Gonzaga University
Award: $4,745

Abstract: Gonzaga University will digitize selected materials from the James O’Sullivan Collection documenting O’Sullivan’s efforts to promote the construction of Grand Coulee Dam from the 1920s to 1940s, and a photograph album compiled by Alice B. Starkey documenting the construction of Grand Coulee Dam. Gonzaga plans to create a digital exhibit when the grant is complete and will promote the project through their social media accounts, a press release and by reaching out to faculty and scholars who have shown past interest in the collection.

Organization: Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
Award: $14,985

Abstract: The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe will clean up metadata for items in their House of Seven Generations online archives and museum, remove duplicates, add items that have been digitized but not included, and create landing pages for collections missing them. The project will be promoted through a display at the March 2022 Tribal Citizens meeting, distribution of hand-outs, and an online presentation to showcase project outcomes. Post grant plans include adding an access point to the House of Seven Generations website in a new library exhibit expected to open in Fall/Winter 2022.

Organization: Seattle Public Library
Award: $15,000

Abstract: The Seattle Public Library will collect metadata and digitize 800 photographs from the Northwest Photograph Collection documenting the region, including Native Peoples and settlers from early in the white settlement of Washington and the Pacific Northwest. The project will be promoted through the Seattle Public Library website and social media accounts.

Organization: Suquamish Tribe
Award: $14,857

Abstract: The Suquamish Tribal Cultural Center will update metadata to add subject headings and increase searchability for nearly 3000 photographs and documents and will scan an additional 2,875 slides, photographs and negatives documenting the history of the Suquamish Tribe.

Organization: Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Award: $15,000

Abstract: Whitman College and Northwest Archives will expand their contribution to The Listeners Project: Queremos Escucharte, a collaborative, bilingual community interviewing and story collecting project documenting the Latinx and Spanish-speaking population in Walla Walla. Whitman College will partner with the Colectivo de Arte Social (Socially Engaged Art Collective) of the Walla Walla Immigrants Rights Coalition and the Walla Walla Public Library (WWPL) to conduct approximately 20 one-on-one recorded interviews and to host a series of four Listening Days that will generate additional recordings and community engagement.

Organization: Whitman County Library
Award: $11,440

Abstract: The Whitman County Library will host scanning events in Colfax and at other locations to encourage members of the public to share family collections documenting their history in Whitman County and their stories as pioneers, farmers, merchants, and more. The project will be publicized through social media, flyers, and local newspaper and radio announcements. At the end of the project, Whitman County Library will create an exhibit showcasing some of the contributions.

Organization: Washington State University (WSU)
Award: $14,999

Abstract: WSU will collaborate with the Nez Perce Tribe’s Department of Cultural Resources to select materials for digitization and provide tribal knowledge, including recorded cultural narratives, for photographs and documents from the Lucullus V. McWhorter Collection which includes a wealth of unique information on the Plateau Tribes of central and eastern Washington. WSU will share the project through regional conferences and programs at the WSU campus and the Nez Perce Tribe will share the project through a program at the Nez Perce National Historic Park.

Past Awards

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