Michilimackinac Historical Society

CF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED GRANTS

COLLECTIONS ACCESS AND ARTIFACT-CENTERED HUMANITIES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING [THE MICHILIMACKINAC HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS REQUESTING FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES TO EXPAND DIGITAL ACCESS TO ITS COLLECTION, DEVELOP AND DELIVER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING CONNECTED TO THE MICHILIMACKINAC AREA, AND TAKE STEPS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT ITS COLLECTION.] [PURPOSE: THE GRANT WILL HELP CREATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND DIGITAL ACCESS TO MICHILIMACKINAC HISTORICAL SOCIETY?S MUSEUM, WHICH TRACES THE HISTORY OF THE STRAITS OF MACKINAC IN MICHIGAN. THE AWARD WILL ENABLE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO RETAIN THREE JOBS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE MUSEUM WILL UPGRADE THE SUBSCRIPTION OF ITS DATABASE TITLED PAST PERFECT, MOVE ITS DIGITAL COLLECTIONS TO A CLOUD-BASED PLATFORM, AND EXPAND ACCESS TO ITS COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS RELATED TO THE REGION?S INDIGENOUS TRIBES AND BRITISH, FRENCH, AND AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS. THE MUSEUM WILL DIGITIZE ITS COLLECTIONS USING HIGH RESOLUTION SCANNERS AND CAMERAS, IMPROVE ITS CATALOG ENTRIES REGARDING ITS COLLECTIONS, CATEGORIZE AND INTERPRET THESE ITEMS WITHIN THE DATABASE TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND FUTURE USE, AND IMPROVE CITATIONS WITHIN EACH RECORD. THE MUSEUM WILL CURATE ONLINE EXHIBITS, WHICH WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS, SCHOOL GROUPS, RESEARCHERS, AND ENTHUSIASTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE MUSEUM WILL HAVE A SERIES OF LOCAL HISTORY PRESENTATIONS TO HIGHLIGHT ITS COLLECTION AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE REGION. THE MUSEUM WILL STREAM THESE PRESENTATIONS AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE ON ITS WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, AND YOUTUBE ACCOUNTS. THE MUSEUM STAFF WILL COMPLETE THE PROCESS OF DIGITIZATION, RESEARCHING, PRESERVING, AND CATALOGING OF THE COLLECTION, AND DEVELOP A ?BEHIND THE SCENES? VIDEO SERIES HIGHLIGHTING DIFFERENT PIECES TO COVER PRESERVATION/CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES, INTERESTING HISTORIES OR ITEMS, AND LOCAL CONNECTIONS TO FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HERITAGE.  EXPECTED OUTCOMES: OUTCOMES INCLUDE EXPANDING AND UPGRADING TECHNOLOGICAL CAPACITY AND LAUNCHING NEW INITIATIVES TO EXPAND THE MICHILIMACKINAC HISTORICAL SOCIETY?S OUTREACH AND IMPACT.  INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THE GRANT ARE THE GENERAL PUBLIC, HUMANITIES EXPERTS, PUBLIC HUMANITIES SPECIALISTS, AND MEMBERS OF THE THE MICHILIMACKINAC HISTORICAL SOCIETY STAFF.  SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.]

THE MICHILIMACKINAC HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN, WILL PLAN AND IMPLEMENT THE COLLECTIONS ACCESS AND ARTIFACT-CENTERED HUMANITIES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING INITIATIVE. THE SOCIETY'S PROGRAMMING ATTRACTS VISITORS AND CONTRIBUTES FINANCIALLY TO THE REGION, BUT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN IN 2020 DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, A NEW SLATE OF PROGRAMMING WILL EXPAND DIGITAL ACCESS TO THE SOCIETY'S COLLECTION, DEVELOP AND DELIVER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING CONNECTED TO THE MICHILIMACKINAC AREA, AND PRESERVE AND PROTECT ITS COLLECTION, SUPPORTING THE SOCIETY'S REENGAGEMENT WITH ITS VISITORS FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC. THE PROPOSED INITIATIVE INCLUDES UPGRADING THE SOCIETY'S DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION AND MOVING TO A CLOUD-BASED PLATFORM TO EXPAND ONLINE ACCESS TO THE ORGANIZATION'S COLLECTION OF ARTIFACTS, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION TO CURATE ONLINE EXHIBITS.