Prepare Special History of Slave Stampedes, The Underground Railroad on the Missouri River Boarderlands- MWRO | NPS NOIP18AC00145

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this National Park Service grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Prepare Special History of Slave Stampedes, The Underground Railroad on the Missouri River Borderlands - MWRO."

Which agency is offering this funding?

The funding is offered by the National Park Service (NPS), which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is NPS NOIP18AC00145.

What type of funding mechanism is used?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity issued as a cooperative agreement, which indicates active collaboration or involvement by the National Park Service during the project.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to private institutions of higher education.

How many awards does the program anticipate making?

The program anticipates making one award.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum (ceiling) amount for the award is $150,000.

When was this opportunity created and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on June 13, 2018, and the original closing date was June 25, 2018.

What CFDA number is referenced for this opportunity?

The listing references CFDA 15.945.

What activity categories does this opportunity fall under?

The activity categories span humanities (cultural affairs) as well as research and development.

What is the main purpose of the funded project?

The project funds the creation of a focused historical study (a special history) that re-examines the Underground Railroad in Missouri and Illinois by centering on episodes described as "slave stampedes" between 1845 and 1861.

What does the grant mean by "slave stampedes" in this context?

In the context provided, "slave stampedes" refers to group escape attempts during the 1845 to 1861 period, which the study will closely document and analyze.

What geographic area does the research focus on?

The research focuses on a defined borderlands region along the Missouri River, specifically in Missouri and Illinois.

What time period will the study cover?

The study will cover events between 1845 and 1861.

How is this project different from broad or general histories of the Underground Railroad?

The project is designed to move beyond broad narratives by closely documenting and analyzing specific group escape events in a defined region, building a clearer, evidence-based picture of how, where, and why these escapes happened and what outcomes followed.

What kinds of research activities are emphasized?

The work emphasizes systematic research and documentation. The recipient is expected to inventory and evaluate sources and then conduct in-depth investigation primarily using period newspapers and legal records.

Which source types are expected to be used most heavily?

The study is expected to rely primarily on period newspapers and legal records, after completing an inventory and evaluation of available sources.

What details is the study expected to reconstruct for each event?

The study aims to identify specific events and reconstruct key details such as locations and routes, dates and timing, the people involved (including those escaping and those pursuing, aiding, or prosecuting), and the final results (including whether escape efforts ended in freedom or capture).

Will the research identify both freedom outcomes and capture outcomes?

Yes. The project specifically includes documenting outcomes, including which escape efforts ended in freedom and which ended in capture.

Why does the National Park Service want the incidents organized in a consistent way?

By organizing incidents in a consistent, methodical way, the project intends to establish an approach that can be replicated for studying similar patterns in other border states and related National Park sites.

How does NPS frame the broader significance of this work?

NPS frames the project as contributing to a wider understanding of slavery, resistance, and freedom-seeking. It positions the Underground Railroad as the nation's first Civil Rights Movement and argues that detailed study of "stampedes" can deepen public understanding of collective resistance and the risks shaped by border-state politics, law enforcement, and slavery-era legal systems.

Are specific National Park units connected to this project?

Yes. The project connects directly to interpretation and public history needs at two National Park units referenced as JEFF and LIHO.

How will the project support interpretation and public history at JEFF and LIHO?

The opportunity describes using shared regional history to support stronger, more nuanced storytelling and engagement at those sites, informed by the evidence-based findings of the study.

What are the main deliverables required by the grant?

Deliverables include a written special history presented as a monograph that will be made publicly available, along with a digital platform that shares the research in an accessible format.

Will the written history be publicly accessible?

Yes. The monograph is intended to be made publicly available.

What is the purpose of the digital platform deliverable?

The digital component is intended to share the research in an accessible format, extend the reach of the work beyond academic audiences, support public learning, and help diverse audiences connect with the history through parks and online access.

Is this project intended only for academic audiences?

No. While the work involves systematic historical research, the opportunity explicitly includes a digital platform to broaden access and support public learning beyond academic audiences.

Does the opportunity suggest that the project methods could be reused elsewhere?

Yes. NPS highlights that the methods and findings can serve as a model for future research initiatives in other border regions where similar Underground Railroad histories remain understudied.