Hidden Collections Grant
Forecasted
Hidden Collections Grant supports institutions and organized groups in microfilming or digitizing communal groups’ documents to preserve original records and expand access for scholars and the public.
Funder: Communal Studies Association
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2028 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $5,000; awarded every two years; no dollar match required
Summary: Supports microfilming or digital imaging of communal groups’ hidden document collections to preserve them and expand access.
Key Information: Collections must not already be publicly available digitally, and grant-created digital images must be accessible on a public website.
Description
The Communal Studies Association (CSA) Hidden Collections Grant supports established institutions and organized groups in preserving the documents of communal groups through microfilming or digital imaging. It focuses on “hidden collections”: materials that are not already available digitally to the public. Previously microfilmed items may be digitized with grant support.
The program addresses both preservation of original documents and access for scholars and the general public. Applicants describe the collection’s significance to the history of communalism and the group to which it belongs, along with their preservation methods and plans for online access. Digital projects must consider how materials will be described, hosted, backed up, and maintained over time.
