Vermont Secretary of State’s Office Receives Programming Grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission

September 23 2021

Montpelier, VT – Secretary of State Jim Condos and State Archivist Tanya Marshall announced today that the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA), a division of the Secretary of State’s Office, has been awarded a $40,000 grant to support initiatives of the State Archives’ Vermont Historical Records Program.

This State Board Programming Grant, received in collaboration with the Vermont Historical Records Advisory Board, is funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), a statutory body affiliated with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

“Our historic and public records teach us critical lessons about our unique Vermont past,” said Condos. “Their proper preservation is critical, and I am grateful for this funding opportunity from NHPRC, supporting the important work happening through our State Archives’ Vermont Historical Records Program.”

The mission of the Vermont Historical Records Program (VHRP) is to improve public access to and engagement with Vermont’s historical records and to encourage or facilitate collaborative efforts among historical records repositories in Vermont. This grant will be used to purchase equipment and supplies in support of several new initiatives: a mobile digitization unit, a temperature and humidity monitoring program for storage areas, disaster recovery kits for historical records salvage, and a collections care equipment lending program. These resources will complement the technical assistance provided by VHRP staff, which includes site visits from the Roving Archivist, workshops and training sessions held virtually and throughout the state. The grant will also fund additional workshops on digital preservation and hands-on collections salvage, led by subject specialists.

“It is essential for Vermont and its historical records repositories to have sustainable assistance and support and we are grateful for the opportunities this additional funding provides,” says Marshall, who also chairs the Vermont Historical Records Advisory Board (VHRAB).

The NHPRC’s ongoing support, combined with support from the Secretary of State’s Office, makes it possible for the VHRP to continue to build statewide capacity to preserve and provide access to Vermont’s rich documentary heritage.

For additional information about the VHRP and any of these new initiatives, contact VHRP Director Rachel Onuf at rachel.onuf@vermont.gov or 802-622-4092.