成人AV视频 receives NEH grant to preserve Jacksonville history
The 成人AV视频 proudly announces its selection as one of only eight institutions nationwide to receive a Preservation and Access Education and Training grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in 2025. Grants are awarded to support projects that address major challenges in preserving or providing access to humanities collections and resources and prepare the next generation of conservators and preservation professionals.
The $350K award will support the establishment of a three-year Archivist-in-Training program, an initiative designed to provide undergraduates with comprehensive archival training and hands-on experience while preserving significant historical collections in Northeast Florida. Thirty 成人AV视频 undergraduate students will receive paid internships, intensive training in archival preservation and processing and professional development under the mentorship of 成人AV视频 faculty and library staff. By providing opportunities for 成人AV视频 students to work directly with local historical materials, this program will open professional opportunities and cultivate practitioners who prioritize community-connected archival work.
A central focus of the initiative will be preserving Jacksonville’s rich African American history, including its renowned legacy as the “Harlem of the South.” Students will work to preserve critical collections such as the papers of philanthropist Eartha M.M. White, records of early 20th-century jazz in LaVilla and oral histories from the Geechee Gullah communities.
In addition to preserving local history, the initiative may contribute to educational curricula, including Duval County Public Schools’ African American history curriculum and summer writing institutes. If successful, 成人AV视频 plans to expand the program’s model to other universities to combine undergraduate education with community-connected archival work.
Developed by an interdisciplinary team of faculty in the 成人AV视频 Digital Humanities Institute led by Dr. Laura Heffernan, English professor, with Susan Swiatosz, University librarian, this program will offer unparalleled experiential learning opportunities. Key community partners include the Eartha M.M. White Museum, Ritz Theatre and Museum, Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center in St Augustine, Mandarin Historical Society and Museum, and Durkeeville Historical Society.
The project was also selected as a National Endowment for the Humanities’ special initiative, “American Tapestry: Weaving Together Past, Present, and Future,” as it has potential to help emphasize the role of the humanities in tackling contemporary social challenges.
For more information on the Archivist-in-Training program or to apply, contact Heffernan at l.heffernan@unf.edu.