State Historical Society

Democratizing History: Digitization for a New Wisconsin History Museum [the Wisconsin Historical Society Is Weathering the Impacts of the Coronavirus Pandemic at a Pivotal Time in Its History. the Society Is in the Midst of a Multi-year Campaign to Build a New History Museum, Which Will Rely Heavily on Digitized Collections and Require Robust Capacity in the Society's Digital Collections and It Teams. Pre-pandemic, the Society Launched an Initiative to Scale Up Operational Readiness for Digitization. However, as a Result of Pandemic-related Revenue Losses, the Society Had to Reassign Staff Dedicated to Digital Collections Access Work to State Agencies Charged With Covid Emergency Response Planning, Setting the Project a Year Behind. Grant Funds Would Enable the Society to 1) Hire Necessary Staff and Provide Training to Support Expanded Digitization Services, 2) Conduct an Assessment of Current Digitization Services and Digital Stewardship Practices, and 3) Replace Equipment to Get Digitization Work Back on Schedule for the Opening of the New Museum.] [purpose: the Purpose of This Grant Is to Fund Nine Staff Positions and Modernize the Digitization Services at a State Historical Society in Madison, Wisconsin. Activities to Be Performed: the Wisconsin Historical Society Will Initiate the First Year of a Five-year Project to Modernize Their Collection Digitization Services Under This Grant. the Society Will Hire and Train Staff to Support the Expansion of Digitization Services, Conduct an Assessment of Its Current Digitization Services and Digital Stewardship Practices, and Replace Necessary Equipment. Expected Outcomes: Funding Will Retain Six Staff Positions, Create Three New Positions, and Reinstate Critical Collection Digitization Activities That Were Halted Due to the Pandemic. Intended Beneficiaries: Grant Activities Will Benefit the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and Their Broad Audience, Which Includes Scholars, Students, and Community Members Within the State and Beyond. Subrecipient Activities: the Project Does Not Intend to Issue Subawards.]