By: Rachel Hill Ponko—
Indianapolis, IN—The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is recognizing a Delaware County organization for its work upholding the state’s heritage, through the state’s Bicentennial year and beyond. IHS is awarding the Delaware County Historical Society with a grant of $19,000.
The funding comes from the second round of IHS’s Heritage Support Grants, made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. Grant funds from the Endowment are allowing IHS to award a total of $2.5 million to organizations across Indiana, in at least five cycles through 2019.
The funding will allow the Delaware County Historical Society to take the first steps toward digitization. The organization will hire temporary employees to start documenting its collection.
The digitization project is one of several preparing the Delaware County Historical Society for the future. The organization has its first full time executive director in more than 20 years, and its board of directors is setting goals for more community involvement and longterm planning.
In addition, the organization is working with the city of Muncie as part of a grant of a city-wide survey of buildings and properties called “Scout Muncie.” When complete, the survey will be available for neighborhood groups and associations, as well as preservation activities.
The Delaware County Historical Society is one of 17 organizations across the state recognized with IHS’s second round of Heritage Support Grants. In addition to funding, the organizations received unique access to coaching on grant writing and individual projects. IHS also organized fundraising workshops led by its experienced Local History Services (LHS) staff.
For more information, guidelines or applications for eligible organizations, call (317) 2321882 or visit www.indianahistory.org/grants.
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and its home state, Indiana.
About the Indiana Historical Society
Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana’s Storyteller™, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing the state’s history. A private, nonprofit membership organization, IHS maintains the nation’s premier research library and archives on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and presents a unique set of visitor experiences called the Indiana Experience. IHS also provides support and assistance to local museums and historical groups; publishes books and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; produces and hosts art exhibitions, museum theater and outside performance groups; and provides youth, adult and family programs. IHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate and a member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.
http://delawarecountyhistory.org
