Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) has approved 31 Historical & Archival Records Care (HARC) grants totaling $147,700 to support crucial efforts to preserve Pennsylvania’s invaluable historical records and make them accessible to residents across the Commonwealth.
From supporting efforts to digitize and scan photographs of early oilfield sites in Crawford and Venango counties to preserving the sermons and hymns of Charles Albert Tindley, whose works inspired the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome,” these grants will help preserve and tell Pennsylvania’s shared history and ensure it remains accessible for years to come.
The grant awards range from $751 to digitize and create preservation copies of two unique 16 mm motion pictures regarding New Cumberland to $5,000 for the Heinz History Center to process and catalog the Kadiatou Conte-Forte Papers, a Pittsburgh resident and founder of the Balafon West African Dance Ensemble.
“The HARC grants are more than just funding awards; they are an essential investment in the integrity of Pennsylvania’s collective memory,” said Andrea Lowery, Executive Director, PHMC. “From rare films to vital personal papers, these records hold the truths of our past. Through this program we are safeguarding our history and building a more accessible platform for every resident to discover their heritage and understand the journey of the Commonwealth and our nation as we celebrate our 250th anniversary.”
HARC grants are awarded competitively and are designed to improve the preservation and accessibility of historically significant records held by local governments, historical records repositories, and academic institutions.
The Pennsylvania State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) oversees the HARC grant program. SHRAB operates under federal regulations governing the National Historical Publications & Records Commission and serves as the central advisory body for historical records planning in the state.
The following is a list of HARC grants by county:
Allegheny
Historic Elizabeth Incorporated - $4,943
Heinz History Center - $4,990
The Historical Society of Mount Lebanon - $5,000
WQED Multimedia - $4,848
Beaver
Beaver County Industrial Museum - $5,000
Bucks
Andalusia Foundation - $4,865
Historic Langhorne Association - $5,000
Centre
Centre County Historical Society - $5,000
Cumberland
Cumberland County Historical Society - $4,000
Friends of the New Cumberland Public Library - $751
Erie
Presque Isle Light Station - $4,998
Fayette
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy - $5,000
Jefferson
Jefferson County Historical Society - $5,000
Lancaster
Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County - $4,779
Lancaster County Historical Society - $5,000
Lehigh
Cedar Crest College - $4,973
Montgomery
Springfield Township Historical Society - $4,050
Philadelphia
First Regiment Infantry Historical Education Foundation Inc. - $5,000
Johnson House Historic Site Inc. - $5,000
Monell Chemical Senses Center - $4,988
North10 Philadelphia - $5,000
Philadelphia City Treasurer and City Planning Commission - $5,000
Carpenters Hall - $4,850
Tindley Temple United Methodist Church - $5,000
Somerset
Springs Historical Society - $4,678
Venango
Oil City Main Street - $4,992
Petroleum History Institute Inc. - $5,000
Washington
Donora Historical Society Inc. - $5,000
York
Penn Township Board of Commissioners - $5,000
York County Commissioners Archives - $4,995
York County History Center - $5,000
About The Pennsylvania State Archives
The Pennsylvania State Archives is the official and permanent home of many of Pennsylvania’s most treasured documents — from William Penn’s Charter to the documents that establish our state’s boundaries, including the texts that protect property rights and the familial records of our ancestors. Open to all, the Pennsylvania State Archives is a source for research and learning.
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learn more by visiting PHMC online or following us on Facebook, X, Instagram or LinkedIn.