Thesis project approved copy.pdf - Sacramento

223 Pages·2013·1.41 MB·English

DEVELOPING A GRANT-WRITING GUIDE FOR PUBLIC HISTORIANS

A Project

Presented to the faculty of the Department of History
California State University, Sacramento

Submitted in partial satisfaction of
the requirements for the degree of

MASTER OF ARTS

in

History
(Public History)

by

Sonya D. Lovine

FALL
2013
© 2013

Sonya Denise Lovine
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ii
DEVELOPING A GRANT-WRITING GUIDE FOR PUBLIC HISTORIANS

A Project

by

Sonya D. Lovine

Approved by:

__________________________________, Committee Chair
Dr. Patrick Ettinger

__________________________________, Second Reader
Dr. Lee Simpson

____________________________
Date

iii
Student: Sonya D. Lovine

I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the university
format manual, and that this project is suitable for shelving in the library and credit is to
be awarded for the project.

__________________________, Graduate Coordinator ___________________
Dr. Patrick Ettinger Date

Department of History

iv
Abstract

of

DEVELOPING A GRANT-WRITING GUIDE FOR PUBLIC HISTORIANS

by

Sonya D. Lovine

This project was developed based on a recognized need in the public history field
for assistance in finding grant money and guidance in grant writing and constructing
successful grant proposals. This resource is specifically designed to assist public history
and related professionals in the process of grant writing. One purpose of this project is to
provide grant seekers with a list of potential funding sources for public history projects.
Although time-sensitive by nature, the guide covers standard procedures, terminology,
and examples that will remain relevant. The project relies on a variety of grant-writing
resources, articles and books focused on historic preservation, public memory, and
museum studies, as well as oral interviews conducted with public history professionals.
The guidebook, entitled Taking Public History for Granted: A Grant-Writing Guide for
Public Historians, can be used in public historians’ pursuit of external funding from
federal, state, and private funding sources for a multitude of public history projects.

_______________________, Committee Chair
Dr. Patrick Ettinger

_______________________
Date
v
DEDICATION

This project is dedicated to my parents, Richard and Stella Lovine, whose love and
support helped me get through this most challenging time.
vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First I would like to thank David Earwicker, Assistant Vice President of Research
Administration at Sacramento State. Over the course of 25 years after receiving my
bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and working at Sac State, I tried several times to
return to school to pursue a graduate degree. Never did I have a supervisor who provided
me with as much enthusiasm and motivation to continue my education until I began
working for you. “Get a master’s degree,” you said, “it will be fun!” Over the past five
years, I frequently grumbled “I am only doing this for you!” As I approach graduation, I
realize now that you were only helping me do this for me. For that, I thank you.
Thank you to Kim Harrington, Professional Development and Training
Coordinator, who has championed my slow but diligent efforts to complete my graduate
degree. You gave me confidence that I could reach what often felt like an unobtainable
goal.
To my supervisor, Shannon Rexin, thank you for teaching me everything I know
about proposal development, budgets, grant writing, and how to find the often elusive
funding source! The knowledge you shared with me contributes to the foundation of this
project.
I would be remiss to not acknowledge my first history professor at the beginning
of this journey here at Sac State, Dr. Al Holland. Thanks to you I have come a long way
from the first historiography I ever wrote! Dr. Jim Rose, thank you for the support you
gave me when life knocked me off my feet, and for reminding me not to let the trauma I
vii
endured define me. To my advisors, Dr. Patrick Ettinger and Dr. Lee Simpson, the both
of you have consistently believed in me – at times more than I believed in myself. I
could not have accomplished all that I have without the incredible guidance, knowledge,
and experience the two of you have shared with me. Thank you for steering me in the
right direction to do this project. It is meaningful to me to give something back to fellow
colleagues in the public history field and to also give back to the university. My hope is
that I have achieved that with this guidebook.
Thank you to many friends who gave me endless support. Melani Wilkie, thanks
for always being my source of inspiration. Susan Rice, thank you for helping me out
when I needed it most. To Steven Campbell, you are still here and for that I am deeply
grateful. Finally, thank you to the two people to whom this project is dedicated – Mom
and Dad. When I first started this journey, you thought I was crazy! You applauded
every “A” in class that I earned. You calmed my nerves before every presentation. You
were there for me no matter what. I love you both. Thank you for giving me the means,
the brains, and the passion to achieve one of my greatest goals.

viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

Dedication ................................................................................................................................ vi
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ vii
Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION ……………...……………………………………………………….. 1
2. THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC HISTORY ............................................................................ 6
Defining the Term ........................................................................................................ 6
Chronological Development ........................................................................................ 8
Academic Training .................................................................................................... 14
3. DEVELOPING THE GUIDE ........................................................................................... 19
4. LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE FIELD .................................................................... 28
5. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 39
Appendix. Taking Public History for Granted: A Grant-Writing Guide for Public

Historians……………………………………………………………………..... 42

Bibliography ........................................................................................................................ 208

ix
1

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Grant writing represents an art form and those capable of mastering it realize the
value in this skill. Unless employed at a research institution or establishing a career in
grant writing, for most people learning to write grants does not rank as a high priority.
Grant writing requires hard work, and a great amount of time, dedication, and resilience.
I chose to develop this project – a grant-writing guidebook for the public history field –
based on a recognized need for a public history-specific guide to obtaining grant money.
Of course, grant-writing books do exist; some written in a generic fashion establish a
broader relevancy to all aspects of grant writing in any discipline. Others specifically
focus on grants in specific fields, such as education, social services, sciences, or health.
To date, it appears a guidebook specifically for history or public history does not exist.
For my thesis project, I developed a working guide particularly for researchers in
the public history field who might be new to grant writing, for those unaware of where to
locate funding programs, and for those simply seeking tips on how to prepare the best
research proposal possible. This guide ought to help in the development of a proposal,
regardless of whether seeking funding from federal, state, or local government, or private
or corporate foundations.
This project evolved out of my professional responsibilities as a Sponsored
Research Officer at California State University, Sacramento and my enrollment in the
Capital Campus Public History Master’s Program. Employed at the Research
Administration and Contract Administration office while completing my studies, I was