Central New York Library Resources Council

Documentary Heritage Program

Established in 1988, the DHP is a statewide program administered by The State Archives designed to locate, organize and make available New York's historical records. The DHP consists of regional services provided through the Reference and Research Library Resource Systems (3Rs) and a statewide competitive grants program. The Regional Archivist for Central New York is Susan Hughes.

Download a guide to submitting and updating records to the New York State Archives online catalog: Historic Documents Inventory

What are the DHP Regional Services?

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Free On-Site Visits For region not-for-profit organizations needing assistance to strengthen their historical records collections. The DHP Regional Archivist can help you with questions on arrangement & description, appraisal, the care of your collections and other archival issues.
Lending Library A wide selection of resource materials is available through the DHP. The library collection includes books and videos, which can be borrowed for up to 4 weeks by any local individual or organization.
Workshops The DHP offers workshops and seminars throughout the year. Topics include:
- Determining Historical Values
- MARC for Historical Records
- Internet Access to New York's Historical Records
For a listing of current workshops see CLRC's CE Calendar
Raise Public Awareness The DHP can be your link to the goings on in other regions of the state, and legislative activity in Albany. The DHP is an advocate for saving documentary materials, encouraging continued support and increasing resources allocated to new and existing programs. The Regional Archivist coordinates and promotes Archives Week activities, encourages inclusion of historical records programs in other special events, is involved in increasing media and political attentions to archives and promoting general public awareness wherever possible.
DHP Newsletter Dhp Today is published 3 times per year, and as part of CLRC's newsletter Refermation. Each issue highlights regional and statewide news, grants, and training opportunities.
Grants The DHP assists repositories in seeking local, state and federal funding for projects to support historical records programming.

What Grant Funding is
Available From the DHP?

Documentary Heritage Program (DHP) grants-in-aid are designed to encourage more inclusive documentation of New York State's history and culture by supporting projects that identify, survey, collect, and make available important records relating to traditionally under-represented groups and topics. It is a statewide program established by law to provide financial and technical support to nonprofit organizations, including, but not limited to archives, libraries, historical societies and museums and other organizations, that hold, collect and make available historical records. The New York State Archives, a unit of the State Education Department, administers the program.

Timetable for Grant Projects
Grant applications must be postmarked by February 1. Current grant-funded projects may begin July 1, 2008 and must be completed by June 30, 2009.

Eligibility. Applicants must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to apply.

Range of funds available. A total of $100,000 is available for grant projects. Grants will be available in amounts from $1,000 to $25,000

Funding Priorities. Several topical areas are available for projects. Such projects are supported to provide a more even historical record in New York State.

First level priority topics are Population groups in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Century, De-industrialization and Economic Revitalization in the Twentieth Century, Word Trade Center--Attack, Response, Recovery, and Education Policy.
Second level topics priorities are Mental Health and Environmental Affairs.

Project Categories.
Three types of projects are eligible for consideration:

Documentation projects to identify, survey, and plan for the collection of records.
Arrangement and description of historical records. Historical records strategic planning projects.
Regional documentation planning initiatives.

DHP Grant Resources available on-line

DHP/CLRC Publications

Links to Archival Resources

New York Sites

The State Archives
NYS Newspaper Project
The State Archives' On-Line Catalog, Excelsior, provides a fully searchable index to all of the records series preserved in the State Archives. You can also search the database of the New York State HISTORIC DOCUMENTS INVENTORY (HDI). You can search for records via keyword, creating agency or government, and by subject.
The New York State Library
New York State Museum
New York Genealogy
New York History Net

Regional Conferences

New York Archives Conference (formerly known as Lake Ontario Archives Conference)
MARAC (Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference)
Preservation & Conservation
CLRC Preservation Resources Page
CoOL (Conservation OnLine)
NEDCC (Northeast Document Conservation Center)

National Sites

SAA (Society of American Archivists)
AAM (American Association of Museums)
Repositories of Primary Sources This is a listing of over 3,600 websites describing holdings of manuscripts, archives, rare books, historical photographs, and other primary sources for research.
Daybook.html Archivists Day Book A service of the Society of Southwest Archivists, this site contains information on archival events around the world through the year 2006.
AASLH (American Association for State and Local History)
NARA (National Archives and Records Administration)
NUCMC (National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections)
Ready, Net Go! This site is an archival "meta index" or index of archival indexes. It can refer you to the major indexes, lists, and databases of archival resources. From them you can link to every archives and archival resource in the metaverse!

Listservs discussion groups

Listservs are email discussion groups that center around a wide variety of topics. There is a listserv for just about everything. From listservs about pets or cars to, well, things that we are interested in - archives, museums and libraries. Listservs are a great way to keep up on the latest developments in the archives/museum field, and they are a great source of information. Below are just a few to which you might subscribe:

CNYDHP
This moderated list is sponsored by the Central New York Library Resources Council Documentary Heritage Program. This list is available for posting event announcements, queries, and other news related to historical repositories in Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Herkimer counties. To subscribe visit: http://www.clrc.org/about/cnylib.php.
Archives & Archivists LISTSERV
This is THE list for archivists. It boasts over 3,000 subscribers and discussion includes all aspects of archival management. To subscribe visit: forums.archivists.org/read/all_forums/.
APH
The Association of Personal Historians is a group of writers, editors, oral historians and videographers who assist people and groups in preserving lifestories. To subscribe send the following message in the body of mail to: LISTSERVE@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU, SUBSCRIBE APH, firstname lastname
H-LOCAL
For a discussion of teaching, research, methodology, and public presentation of state and local history. To subscribe, send the following message to: LISTSERV@MSU.EDU, Subscribe H-LOCAL your name/organization.
MUSEUM-ED
Is an open, unmoderated list which serves as a forum for museum educators. To subscribe, send the following message to: LISTPROC@MTN.ORG, SUBSCRIBE MUSEUM-ED, firstname lastname.
MUSEUM-L
This is a general interest list for museum professionals and others interested in museum-related issues. To subscribe, send the following message to: listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com, Subscribe MUSEUM-L your name.

Guide to Historical Organizations in Central New York

The Guide provides information on historical organizations, including historical societies, archives, libraries, museums and local governments that preserve and make available to the public collections of historical records and publications. Organizations listed are found throughout Oneida, Onondaga, Madison and Herkimer Counties. Researchers are also encouraged to visit the CLRC Membership List that provides contact information and access to the websites of its member institutions, including academic libraries and most public libraries in the region, many of which hold collections of historical records.

Is your organization not represented in the guide? A submission form is available below for completion by the appropriate representative. The form is available to download in a PDF version that may be printed, completed and returned via US mail or fax. If email is preferred, use the fill-in-the-blank Word form. Address information is included on the form. Need to update the information found in your organization's entry? Simply use the same form, filling in only the fields needing to be changed.

Guide to Historical Organizations in Central New York (PDF)
Submission / update form: Word document or PDF

Onondaga County History Speakers' Bureau

Sponsored by the Documentary Heritage Program Central New York Library Resources Council

What is the Speakers' Bureau? The goal of the Speakers' Bureau is to provide a resource of presenters on historical topics that will be offered at no cost to the sponsoring organization. The Onondaga County History Speaker's Bureau seeks to complement the Speaker's Directory for Oneida, Madison and Herkimer Counties currently offered by the Oneida County Historical Society, Fort Stanwix National Monument and the Northern Frontier Project (for more information, contact Oneida County Historical Society). Presentation topics relate to Onondaga County history. Examples of programs may include:

Please note: While speakers agree not to accept payment for speaking engagements, any reimbursement for travel expenses or donations to non-profit historical organizations they represent may be negotiated between the organization and the speaker.

List of Speakers
How to join

Feedback Form: Word document or PDF

© 2007 Central New York Library Resources Council
6493 Ridings Road, Syracuse, New York 13206
Voice: 315/446-5446 | Fax: 315/446-5590