LEH Grants Program

LEH Guidelines for Web Site projects

Deadline: May 1 annually, for projects beginning July 1 and ending the following June 30. Applications are submitted electronically and will be available on the LEH Web site by April 1 of each year.

As described in the General Guidelines for All Applications, competitive proposals for Web site projects will set forth clear goals; demonstrate substantive humanities content; involve qualified humanities scholars in project planning, implementation and evaluation; and be suitable for a general adult, out-of-school audience.

Applications for Web site projects should also address the following:

1. Appropriateness of Format. Explain how the Web site format is appropriate for conveying the humanities content to the audience. Because the sharing and discussion of ideas is central to the humanities, describe the nature and the structure of the proposed Internet-based interactivity and how it will facilitate the audience’s experience of the humanities content. Provide a thorough description of the specific resources available, such as audio and visual materials, historical documents, and interviews. Explain how the organization and presentation of the material will enhance the audience’s understanding of the humanities content and advance the project’s intellectual goals.

2. Project Style and Technical Feasibility. To convey the project’s general style and technical feasibility, the application must include:

A Design Document that describes the project’s architecture, navigation, style of interactivity, and the overall look and feel of the project. It should describe how the interactivity combines the principal materials available for the project and integrates the analysis and interpretive content. This document must not exceed 2 MB.
Photos, storyboards, computer screen captures, or other graphics with your application. You should group these images in a single attachment. Images should be edited so that the total attachment does not exceed 2 MB. Include in this attachment a list of the images.
A sample that best represents the approach and format of the proposed project. If the digital work is on a Web site, provide the URL and clearly indicate that this Web site is your sample. If the sample or prototype is on CD or DVD, submit 15 copies.

3. Technical Personnel. Provide information about the principal members of the project’s technical team. Summarize each person’s qualifications and contributions to the project. Discuss professional experience and suitability for the proposed project.

4. Publicity and Distribution. Include a detailed plan for how the audience will be directed to the proposed Web site. Plans should be tailored to the specific needs of the format and target audience. Specific details are essential.

5. Web Site Maintenance. Include long-term (multi-year) plans for the maintenance of Web sites.

SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDELINES for projects involving ORAL HISTORY

The collection of field interviews can be a part of various LEH funded projects including Public Humanities Grants and Outreach Grants. Deadlines and other guideline information for those grant lines may be found on the LEH website. However, as LEH funds are geared towards humanities public programming— which requires interpretation and analysis—all projects must include an avenue for making the oral histories accessible to the public. Collecting, depositing and/or presenting transcribed oral histories is not considered a humanities project. LEH staff members can help you plan this portion of your project. Following are guidelines regarding the collection of oral histories in conjunction with any LEH funded project:

Humanities Scholar Involvement: A humanities scholar, or scholars, with training in the collection of oral history must play a central role in all phases of any project—the planning and preparation, the fieldwork itself, and the processing of the materials. The LEH can provide potential applicants with contact information for properly trained scholars.
Ethical Practices: Any oral history collection and/or processing should be conducted using the professional standards and practices of the discipline as set forth by the Oral History Association (OHA). OHA guidelines may be obtained through the OHA by calling (717) 245-1036, online at http://www.oralhistory.org/, or by writing OHA, PO Box 1036, Carlisle, PA 17013.
Presentation of Materials: Since LEH funds are geared towards public programming, projects must include some form of public presentation of the collected material as the end product. This may include a narrative stage at a festival, a publication, or website material. LEH staff members can help you develop these ideas. Collecting, depositing and/or presenting transcribed oral histories is not considered a humanities project.