The University of North Texas is the only education institution in the Dallas-Fort Worth region to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
National Endowment for the Humanities Awards $34.79 Million in Grants
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded grants totaling $34.79 million to 97 humanities projects across the United States. These grants support a wide range of initiatives, including research, exhibitions, teacher training, preservation, and digital humanities projects related to American history and culture.
The University of North Texas is one of the recipients, being the only school in its region to receive this grant. The University's digital libraries division will continue its digitalization work, with a focus on digitizing 100,000 pages of newspapers. Mark Phillips, the UNT associate dean of Digital Libraries & External Relations, is the project director for this initiative.
Other notable projects include the development of a digital edition of over 13,000 writings by Frederick Douglass. This extensive collection will provide valuable insights into the life and thoughts of one of America's most influential figures.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum will use a grant to decontaminate, document, and preserve plastic objects in its collection associated with the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. This important work ensures that these historical artifacts are preserved for future generations.
The grants also fund deeply cultural work connected to the country's darker moments. For example, the University of Notre Dame’s Program on AI and the Development of Ethics in Agents received a grant to explore virtue ethics in AI design, with a focus on the ethical implications of AI in the context of historical events such as the Holocaust.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's permanent galleries of 18th century art of the Americas will be reinstalled with grant support. This project aims to provide a deeper understanding of this period in American history through visual art.
The goals of these grants extend beyond individual projects. The initiative is a part of the National Digital Newspaper Program, a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress. The aim is to develop an internet-based, searchable database of U.S. newspapers with descriptive information and select digitization of historic pages.
The projects range in depth and breadth, connecting Americans to their country, history, and identity. The grants ensure that educators, students, and the public have access to accurate, informative materials that deepen our understanding of the American story.
The grants also celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. Projects supported by these grants will contribute to a broader understanding of America's past, present, and future, providing resources for meaningful engagement with the nation's founding principles. NEH funding opportunity programs also continue for the 2026 cycle, with anticipated grant announcements in April 2026.
NEH acting Chair Michael McDonald stated that the grants will illuminate our history, literature, and culture. "We are proud to support these projects, which will enrich our understanding of America's past and present," he said. The grants announced on Friday are part of the endowment's latest round of awards.
[1] NEH Grants Announcement [2] Detailed State-by-State Grants List [3] NEH Funding Opportunity Programs [4] Additional Project Information
- The University of North Texas's digital libraries division, funded by an NEH grant, will focus on digitizing 100,000 pages of newspapers as part of an online education and self-development initiative.
- The National Endowment for the Humanities has partnered with the Library of Congress for the National Digital Newspaper Program, a project aiming to create an internet-based, searchable database of U.S. newspapers, supporting learning and education-and-self-development through online education.
