National Digital Newspaper Program

The National Endowment for the Humanities Division of Collections and Infrastructure is soliciting applications for the National Digital Newspaper Program under solicitation number 20270113-PJ. The program aims to expand Chronicling America, a freely accessible online database maintained by the Library of Congress, by digitizing historically significant newspapers published between 1690 and 1963 from all 56 U.S. states and jurisdictions. The agency intends to award approximately 11 cooperative agreements with a total anticipated funding of 3 million dollars, with individual awards capped at 325,000 dollars. The period of performance is up to two years, beginning September 1, 2027. Awardees are required to digitize approximately 100,000 pages of newsprint, establish an advisory board for title selection, write title essays, and update bibliographic records in WorldCat. All work must adhere to Library of Congress technical specifications, and quarterly data deliveries are required. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by January 13, 2027, and must include a project narrative limited to 15 single-spaced pages, resumes for key personnel, and letters of commitment. Evaluation is based on a multi-stage process involving initial screening and peer review, focusing on the applicant's understanding of regional newspapers, access to master negative microfilm, institutional capacity for digital projects, and budget reasonableness. Final funding authority rests solely with the NEH Chairman.