Rescuing Texas History
Background
For more than a decade, the University of North Texas Libraries have used the Rescuing Texas History (RTH) program to bring diverse collections into The Portal to Texas History. The program began with generous funding from the Summerlee Foundation which provided support for 2006, 2007, and 2009. Later cycles have been supported directly by the UNT Libraries.
RTH periodically invites institutions and individuals to apply for digitization "mini-grants." The winning projects are selected by a committee of UNT history professors along with staff from the UNT Libraries' Digital Libraries Division and External Relations Office. Winners receive services that include scanning, description, and hosting of their items on the Portal.
We originally conceived RTH as a way of digitally preserving historical items that were at-risk from handling, age-related deterioration, or less than ideal storage conditions. But RTH has provided additional far-reaching benefits to both users and partners of the Portal. Hidden collections with historical significance have surfaced and become readily available to a worldwide audience. Both small and large communities have showcased their institutions' cultural heritage materials. With centralized access, users have made unexpected connections among many types of materials. And RTH has strongly contributed to the Portal's continued growth and development.
Rescuing Texas History Collections in the Portal
How to Apply
When we are accepting applications, you can find the RTH program advertised on our Funding Opportunities page on the UNT Libraries website.