Rhode island historical newspaper digitization project [providence public library (PPL), in partnership with the RI historical society (RIHS), requests $321,241.61 from the national endowment for…

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded $321,241.00 to the Providence Public Library under the Promotion of the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access program (CFDA 45.149) effective January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027. This Project Grant provides continued funding through the National Digital Newspaper Program to digitize an additional 100,000 pages of historic Rhode Island newspapers for public access through the Library of Congress's Chronicling America database. The digitization effort, conducted in partnership with the Rhode Island Historical Society, emphasizes newspaper content related to the American Revolution and Industrial Revolution, with thematic connections to contemporary issues including climate change, production and overconsumption, and the upcoming U.S. Semiquincentennial Anniversary in 2026.

Beyond digitization, the award supports expanded outreach and special projects that promote innovative use of newly digitized materials. These activities include a Data Visualization Fellowship and programming aligned with the "A More Perfect Union" initiative scheduled for 2026. As a mature program with 36 years of continuous funding history, NEH's National Digital Newspaper Program prioritizes projects offering free public access to digitized historical materials and applies rigorous peer review standards to ensure methodological soundness and institutional capacity for successful project execution.

Rhode island historical newspaper digitization project [providence public library (PPL), in partnership with the RI historical society (RIHS), requests $321,241.61 from the national endowment for the humanities in support of continued funding through the national digital newspaper program. NEH's continued support will facilitate an additional 100,000 pages of historic rhode island newspapers being digitized, with focus on amplifying themes around the american revolution and industrial revolution that tie to salient current themes, events, and areas of interest including climate change, production and overconsumption, and the upcoming US semiquincentennial anniversary. Funding would also support expanded outreach and special projects promoting inventive use of these newly available resources, including a data visualization fellowship and activities aligned with ?a more perfect union? Programming that is upcoming in 2026.]