Project Grant PQ31104926

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded $749,889 to Wake Forest University on November 1, 2026, under the Promotion of the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access program (CFDA 45.149) to support the Bethabara Conservation and Collections Project. This collaborative initiative between Wake Forest University's Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Research Group and Bethabara Historic Park will fund the conservation, cataloging, and proper preservation of decades of archaeological materials currently held across multiple collections, some of which have been stored in substandard conditions. The project extends through October 31, 2029, and addresses critical infrastructure and collections care needs at the North Carolina-based historic site.

The grant will enable the systematic organization and preservation of archaeological holdings through professional conservation treatments and detailed cataloging activities. By consolidating fragmented collections and implementing appropriate storage and preservation protocols, the project will improve long-term stewardship of culturally significant materials and enhance institutional access to these humanities resources. This award reflects NEH's strategic priority of strengthening preservation infrastructure and professional practices within academic and cultural institutions.