Oral History Grants: Project Grants, Transcription & Indexing and Presentation Grants

Oral History Grants: Project Grants, Transcription & Indexing and Presentation Grants is sponsored by Kentucky Historical Society (Kentucky Oral History Commission). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Kentucky Oral History Commission | KY Historical Society Click here to enable the accessibility widget for this website (Can also be opened using the Alt+9 Key) CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUND FOR KHS TODAY! To Search KHS Collections, Click Here to search KHS Collections. Kentucky Oral History Commission Preserving the stories that are a part of Kentucky’s history.

The Kentucky Historical Society administers the Kentucky Oral History Commission (KOHC), the only state commission in the nation committed to statewide oral history documentation through granting programs and outreach. KOHC reaches across the state to record and preserve the diverse stories that make up Kentucky’s rich and colorful history.

Awarded over $1 million to more than 600 individuals, colleges, universities, and community organizations, resulting in the collection of more than 35,000 interviews in repositories throughout the state.

Secured nearly 10,000 interviews within the KHS Collection, making it one of the largest in the U.S. Pass the Word (Oral History Searchable Online Database) Click here to go to Pass the Word Twice per year, the Kentucky Oral History Commission grant programs offer monetary, equipment, and training grants to assist amateur or professional oral historians with oral history research projects on topics of particular significance to Kentucky.

These grants encourage statewide participation in the collection and preservation of historically valuable interviews. Project grant application deadlines for FY2027 are October 4, 2026, and March 14, 2027. KOHC also offers accreditation for archives that want to be permanent repositories for oral history collections which KOHC sponsors through grant awarded funds and resources.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS? Join Michael Kilmore, KHS Oral Historian, for an informative VIRTUAL workshop that will explain the grant application process and answer any questions you may have. Workshops are scheduled for September 2 & 3, 2026.

Click here for more information and registration . DOWNLOAD GRANTS OVERVIEW PRESENTATION HERE . Project grants support the creation of Kentucky oral history research projects.

All projects must comply with the Oral History Association’s Principles and Best Standards . _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Transcription and Indexing Grant Transcription and indexing grants support the transcription or indexing of existing oral history interviews located in Kentucky repositories.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Presentation grants support the use of existing oral history collections in a variety of media including traditional exhibit, online exhibit, film, print publication, radio and podcast.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Technical Assistance Grant Technical assistance grants provide audio recording equipment, recording media, and applicant training for local and community oral history projects by individuals or organizations.

Kentucky Oral History Commission Members Kentucky Oral History Commission Members April 2026 (Appointed under the stipulations of KRS 153.

380) Scott Alvey, Executive Director, Kentucky Historical Society, Ex-Officio Rusty Heckaman, Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Ex-Officio Kentucky Oral History Commission Advisors Kentucky Oral History Commission Advisors (Appointed by the Kentucky Oral History Commission) Brent Björkman, Kentucky Folklife Program Delainey Bowers, Kentucky Folklife Doug Boyd, University of Kentucky Dr. Kathryn Engle, University of Kentucky Appalachian Center Ann Ferrell, Western Kentucky University Heather Fox, University of Louisville Leena Haider, Fayette County Clerk Emily Hudson, SEKYAAMCC (Southeast Kentucky African American Museum and Cultural Center) Felicia Jamison, University of Louisville Nathan Lynn, McCracken County Public Library Kopana Terry, University of Kentucky Bailey Vandiver, University of Kentucky No upcoming meetings currently scheduled.

Please check back soon. Watch past Oral History Commission Meetings. KOHC Archival Accreditation Archives that want to be permanent repositories for oral history collections which KOHC sponsors through grant awarded funds should receive KOHC Archival Accreditation.

The guidelines, which includes a series of standards, allows KOHC to be responsible stewards of the state resources for oral history documentation and to maintain support for Kentucky repositories which continue to grow and manage their oral history collections in a responsible manner. Contact the commission for details. For a full list of recent grant recipients, click here .

The Kentucky Historical Society is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, an affiliate of the Smithsonian, has full accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums and is a founding member of the History Relevance Campaign. To make a better tomorrow, invest in yesterday . Thomas D.

Clark Center for Kentucky History 100 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601 Old State Capitol & Public Grounds 300 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601 Kentucky Military History Museum 125 East Main St, Frankfort, KY 40601 Martin F. Schmidt Research Library 100 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601 Hatfield Media Logo and Website Link