State Boards

Since 1974, the NHPRC has worked with state boards to broaden preservation of, and increased online access to, historical records; develop and promote best practices among the states; support activities that put the American people in touch with primary sources in their communities and online; promote the institutional advancement of organizations in underserved communities; and assist locally based repositories with training and tools to improve their stewardship abilities.

The governor of each state desiring to participate fully in the NHPRC grant program appoints a State Historical Records Coordinator, who shall be the full-time professional official in charge of the state archival program or agency. Each state also appoints a state historical records advisory board, and they are our primary means with partnering within states for archives projects.

The Commission will award grants to state historical records advisory boards (or representative agencies) to:

• Operate state-based regrant programs that preserve historical records and make them available online
• Provide educational and outreach programs, workshops, and other activities that enhance citizen and student engagement with historical records
• Offer scholarships, training opportunities, and other programs that support institutional advancement among records repositories, especially those in underserved communities
• Collaborate on projects with other organizations to address common problems or shared opportunities within a state or among a consortium of state archives
• Hold or participate in meetings and public forums on statewide or national archival issues.

Some SHRABs have web sites which offer additional information about their activities. The Council of State Archivists is an organization representing the boards and coordinators. Working collectively through their membership in CoSA, the State Coordinators encourage cooperation among the states and state boards on matters of mutual concern, define and communicate archival and records concerns at a national level, and work with the NHPRC and other national organizations to ensure that the nation's documentary heritage is preserved and accessible. For more information, see the CoSA web site.

View grants to your state by visiting our Grants by State and Territory map.