State in the Northeastern United States, Known as the Granite State due to its extensive rock formations, notably the Old Man of the Mountain.
In recent times, several historical institutions across New Hampshire have received significant grants to support various preservation and digitization projects. Here's a roundup of some of the recent funding announcements:
Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, has been awarded $23,845 for the Journal of Benjamin Brown French (1985-87). This funding will help in placing this important historical document online, making it accessible to students and the public.
Keene State College, in collaboration with the Historical Society of Cheshire County and Keene High School, has received $44,601 for a Citizen Archivist Initiative. This project aims to put 300-500 18th- and 19th-century documents online, teaching students and the public to read, interpret, and transcribe them.
The New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord, has received two grants. One for $41,843 for the William Plumer Papers, 1778-1854 (1978-79), and another for $68,875 for the Papers of Josiah Bartlett (1974-76). These funds will help in preserving and making these valuable historical records available to the public.
Dartmouth College, Hanover, has received grants for two different projects. The first, worth $1,700, is for the Eleazar Wheelock Papers (1970). Meanwhile, the college has been awarded $117,573 for its New Hampshire Local Records Project. This project aims to train municipal clerks, public librarians, historical society members, and court clerks throughout the state.
The New Hampshire Division of Records Management and Archives has received $47,250 for a project to arrange and describe early New Hampshire government records. This will help in preserving and making these records accessible to researchers and the public.
The total amount for Publications Projects is $582,161, while the total amount for all projects is $1,654,653.
Several other institutions have also received funding. Strawbery Banke has received $10,884 to preserve, reproduce, and catalog historic photograph collections. The Portsmouth Athenaeum has received $30,125 for an archivist to process the collections of the Athenaeum and the Strawbery Banke Museum.
The Peterborough Historical Society has received $9,750 to arrange and describe the manuscript holdings of the society. The City of Manchester has received $35,489 for a one-year project to process and rehouse over 150 years of municipal records.
However, a recent search for the latest projects funded by the New Hampshire State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) for preservation and digitization initiatives did not yield any specific results as of August 2025. To obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information on New Hampshire SHRAB projects, it is recommended to check official sources such as the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources website, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) website, or to contact the New Hampshire SHRAB or State Archivist’s office directly.
Online education platforms could benefit from the digitized historical documents being made accessible by the grants, providing students with unique learning materials. The Citizen Archivist Initiative at Keene State College, for instance, encourages public participation in learning how to read, interpret, and transcribe historical documents. Furthermore, the New Hampshire Historical Society's initiatives aim to educate the public about valuable historical records, supporting self-development and education-and-self-development.
