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 The new three-year grant is the largest the Papers
of Abraham Lincoln has received from the NEH. It comes in the form
of $100,000 in outright funds and $300,000 in matching funds.
“NEH is proud to support programs that illuminate the great ideas
and events of our past, broaden access to our nation’s many cultural
resources, and open up for us new ways of understanding the world in
which we live,” said William Adams, chairman of the National
Endowment for the Humanities.
The grant covers the period from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2019. It
will support the salaries of editors who are working through the
documentation of Abraham Lincoln’s early life and career. These
staff members, along with other editors, will focus on the markup,
annotation and review of Lincoln's legislation, correspondence and
speeches during his single term in Congress (1847-1849).
Because most of this offer comes in the form of a matching grant,
the Papers of Abraham Lincoln must raise at least $100,000 a year
from private sources to match the amount offered by the NEH. Thus,
the NEH award effectively doubles each private donation from friends
and supporters of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln.
 “This grant represents an affirmation of the importance of our
project,” said Director and Editor Daniel W. Stowell. “NEH support
validates the progress we have made thus far and encourages private
support of the exciting work remaining before us.”
Stowell noted that congressional support makes it possible for the
National Endowment for the Humanities to assist research like the
Papers of Abraham Lincoln. He thanked members of Congress from
Illinois.
Sen. Dick Durbin praised the work of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln.
“Just as Illinois left its mark on the character of Abraham Lincoln,
Lincoln left his lasting impressions on our state’s artifacts,
landscapes, buildings and folklore,” Durbin said. “The Papers of
Abraham Lincoln has played an integral role in providing Illinois
visitors and residents alike the opportunity to experience the magic
of Lincoln’s legacy. This funding will allow the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library and Museum to continue their valuable work
expanding our knowledge and understanding of this incredible
historical figure.”
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Congressman Rodney Davis added: “Although it has been more than 150 years since
President Lincoln’s passing, we continue to learn from his legacy through the
phenomenal work and research of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and
Museum. It is great to see the NEH continuing to support the Papers of Abraham
Lincoln project as there is still much to learn about the legislative career of
one of our country’s greatest and most inspirational leaders.”
The Papers of Abraham Lincoln is a long-term project dedicated to finding,
imaging, transcribing, annotating and publishing all documents written by or to
Lincoln during his lifetime (1809-1865). The project is administered by the
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (www.illinois.gov/alplm) and is
cosponsored by the Center for State Policy and Leadership at the University of
Illinois and the Abraham Lincoln Association.
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the
Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy and
other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from
around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the
Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.
[Shanta Thoele, Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency]
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