Internships to Increase Public Access to Archival Resources | P18AS00715

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the "Internships to Increase Public Access to Archival Resources" grant opportunity?

It is a National Park Service project focused on improving the organization, documentation, and public accessibility of archival records across the National Capital Region. The project is centered on the National Capital Region Museum Resource Center, which curates more than 45 historic and archeological collections connected to the region and the United States.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

What is the main goal of the project?

The main goal is to create baseline documentation of archival records throughout the National Capital Region. This means building a clearer inventory and descriptive foundation so staff and the public can better understand what materials exist, where they are located, what condition they are in, and how they can be accessed and preserved.

Why is baseline documentation needed for these archival records?

The announcement explains that archival materials are distributed between individual park units and the Museum Resource Center, creating ongoing challenges in knowing what exists, where it is stored, and what condition it is in. Records may be stored informally in basements, attics, storage rooms, boxes, desk drawers, and libraries, often with limited organization or formal control and sometimes in acidic containers that speed deterioration. These conditions can create accountability gaps and make it harder to preserve and provide access to historically significant materials.

Where will the work take place?

The work centers on the National Capital Region Museum Resource Center, with project activities addressing archival holdings located both at individual National Capital Region park units and at the Museum Resource Center itself.

What kinds of materials are included in the archival holdings?

The holdings are described as broad and varied. Examples listed include materials from archeological excavations, records connected to the National Archives for Black Womens History, park resource management documentation, and large photograph collections generated by National Capital Region park units and the regional headquarters.

How does the internship component fit into the project?

Internships are a central way the project work will be carried out. Students would complete hands-on archival activities that reflect real-world archival workflows, helping advance both stewardship (better control and preservation) and public access (better discovery and responsible use).

What types of tasks would interns be expected to perform?

The announcement describes a range of professional archival tasks, including conducting archival assessments and writing findings, creating processing plans to guide arrangement and description, researching title issues and evaluating copyright and privacy considerations, documenting the physical condition of materials, recommending conservation needs, processing collections for responsible use, developing finding aids, and supporting researchers at the Museum Resource Center.

What is an archival assessment in the context of this project?

Based on the description provided, an archival assessment involves examining records to understand what is present, how it is organized (or not organized), where it is located, and what condition it is in, then writing up findings that can guide next steps such as processing and preservation improvements.

What are "processing plans" and why are they part of the work?

Processing plans are plans that guide how collections will be arranged and described. In this project, they support the broader goal of improving intellectual and physical control over scattered records so that collections can be managed consistently and made more accessible.

What does "improving intellectual and physical control" mean here?

As described, it refers to strengthening both the descriptive understanding of collections (what they are, how they relate, how they are described for discovery) and the practical control of where materials are stored and how they are handled and preserved, especially when items are scattered and stored informally.

What are finding aids, and why are they important to this project?

Finding aids are tools that describe archival collections and help researchers discover relevant materials efficiently. The project includes developing finding aids so that organized and processed collections can be identified and used more easily, supporting the goal of increased public access.

How does the project address preservation concerns?

The announcement highlights that some materials may be stored under poor or informal conditions and sometimes in acidic containers that accelerate deterioration. Intern activities include documenting physical condition, recommending conservation needs, and processing collections so they can be preserved and used responsibly.

Does the project consider copyright, privacy, or title issues?

Yes. The tasks listed for interns include researching title issues and evaluating copyright and privacy considerations as part of responsible processing and access.

What funding mechanism is being used for this opportunity?

It is listed as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.

What is the funding activity category and CFDA number?

The funding activity category is Employment, Labor and Training, with CFDA 15.945.

Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?

The eligible applicant category is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is P18AS00715.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $230,000.

How many awards were expected?

The announcement states there was an expectation of a single award.

Is this an open, competitive grant solicitation?

No. The posting is explicitly described as a Notice of Intent to Award rather than an open solicitation.

What does "Notice of Intent to Award" mean for applicants?

In this case, it means the National Park Service was providing public notice that it planned to fund the project without competition. The announcement states that no applications were to be accepted under this notice.

Why were no applications accepted?

The funding was structured as a modification to an existing task agreement under an existing cooperative agreement with the University of Maryland, so it was not set up to accept new applications.

Who was the intended recipient referenced by the notice?

The notice indicates the project was tied to an existing cooperative agreement with the University of Maryland.

What were the posted creation and closing dates, and do they represent an application window?

The posting includes a creation date of September 19, 2018, and an original closing date of September 29, 2018. The announcement clarifies these dates function more as public notice timing rather than an application window, since applications were not being accepted.

How does this project improve public access to archival resources?

By creating baseline documentation, improving inventory and descriptive information, strengthening intellectual and physical control, and producing tools like finding aids, the project aims to make it easier for staff and the public to discover what materials exist and to access them in a responsible and sustainable way.

What role does supporting researchers play in the internship work?

The description notes that interns would support researchers at the Museum Resource Center, connecting the behind-the-scenes archival work (assessment, processing, description) to the public-facing goal of enabling research and access.