Trickle of financial aid yielded an abundance of details about colonial California
In the pursuit of a purposeful and contemplative life, people often ponder eternal questions: Who am I? Where did I originated? Where am I heading? Many find answers in religion, psychology, literature, history, philosophy, or the arts.
For over three decades, I, Steven W. Hackel, have been a history professor, diligently researching California's past and its people. Much of this work has been made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), a small, underfunded government agency. Trump's administration and the Department of Government Efficiency significantly reduced the NEH's funding, affecting countless Americans seeking self-understanding.
The NEH has been instrumental in our national quest for wisdom and self-awareness since its inception in 1965. It has funded more than 70,000 projects nationwide, resulting in over 9,000 published books, 500 film and media programs, and the editing of papers for 12 U.S. presidents, as well as other influential figures.
By establishing the NEH, Congress aimed to recognized that a thriving democracy necessitates intelligent, visionary citizens, and that the federal government should offer "full value and support" to the humanities. Although Congress has rarely lived up to these ideals, the allocated funds proved essential to the humanities across the country.
Over its 60-year lifespan, the NEH disbursed approximately $6.5 billion, with the bulk distributed through a stringent peer-review process. Most funding went to individual states' humanities councils and was issued as grants of $50,000 or less. Federal investment in the NEH has been a remarkable investment in our nation's cultural heritage, enriching the lives of countless individuals and strengthening our union.
My own research on colonial California was significantly aided by an NEH dissertation fellowship, which allowed me to complete my thesis and subsequently publish a book. This project delved into Spanish-language sources and Indigenous Californian experiences, providing novel insights into California's colonial history. You can find my book "Junipero Serra: California's Founding Father" on bookshelves.
Other projects funded by the NEH include the creation of an online database of people affiliated with the California missions prior to 1850. This database has informed numerous articles and books on early California, and has enabled thousands of people to trace their ancestry back to 18th-century pueblos, presidios, and Native villages.
In addition to these achievements, the NEH has funded the creation of visualizations of Native movements to the California missions, featured in Southern California museums, and a gallery exhibition at Mission San Gabriel that centers Native experiences.
These projects represent a minuscule fraction of the NEH's contributions to Southern California's cultural fabric. In 2024, NEH funding amounted to $200 million - only 0.0029% of the $6.8-trillion federal budget. Eliminating the NEH would result in negligible savings; however, the lasting consequences for our society would be immeasurable.
In times of increasing challenges to our constitutional order, economy, and societal fabric, and with education and science targeted for budget cuts and ideological conformance, the humanities have never been more critical in helping us comprehend and strive to meet the nation's motto, "out of many, one."
As the congressional legislation creating the National Endowment for the Humanities expressed, the federal government has a "necessary and appropriate" role "to help create and sustain not only a climate encouraging freedom of thought, imagination, and inquiry but also the material conditions" for humanistic inquiry. These words remain relevant and should be heeded today.
- The NEH's role in providing funding for projects nationwide has contributed significantly to our understanding of health, environment, and history in Los Angeles, California, and beyond.
- Many California scholars, like myself, have benefited from the NEH's financial support for research in fields such as humanities, education, and self-development.
- In the realm of education, the NEH has funded the creation of databases and visualizations, such as the one tracing ancestry to 18th-century California, providing critical resources for Californians interested in their heritage.
- The NEH's underfunded status is concerning, as it jeopardizes the ability to continue such projects that facilitate a deeper understanding of our society, economy, and law.
- Reducing NEH funding can have far-reaching implications on the health of our democracy, given its role in fostering intelligent, visionary citizens.
- Just as USC and its Rams football team draw fans from all walks of life, the NEH's projects similarly unite people across California and the nation, bridging cultural and ethnic divides.
- Criticism of the NEH often overlooks the long-term positive impacts on our society, with publications, books, and exhibitions enriching public dialogue on critical issues like environment, science, and humanities.
- In light of the current political climate, with government efficiency targets and potential cuts to education and science, it is crucial that we recognize the "necessary and appropriate" role of the federal government in supporting initiatives that sustain our cultural heritage.
- The NEH serves as a tool for fostering empathy, understanding, and unity within our diverse society, playing a vital role in ensuring that our nation's motto, "out of many, one," is realized and upheld.
