KOHC: Oral History Grants - Technical Assistance Grants

The KOHC: Oral History Grants - Technical Assistance Grants, administered by the Kentucky Historical Society, provide essential resources for local oral history projects. These grants offer audio recording equipment, training, and support to individuals and organizations with limited experience. Since 1976, KOHC has awarded over $1 million, facilitating the collection of 35,000 interviews that capture Kentucky’s rich history. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, with award notifications issued within 60 days.

Note: Application deadline is ongoing and award notification is within 60 days of submitting the application.
Kentucky Oral History Commission
From tenant farmers and lay midwives to political leaders and nationally acclaimed authors, the Kentucky Oral History Commission (KOHC), administered by Kentucky Historical Society, reaches across the state to record and preserve the diverse stories that are a part of Kentucky’s rich and colorful history. Nationally, KOHC is the only state commission committed to statewide oral history documentation through granting programs and outreach.
Awarded more than $1 million to more than 600 grants to individuals, colleges, universities and community organizations, resulting in the collection of more than 35,000 interviews located at repositories throughout the state.
Established a collection of nearly 10,000 interviews, one of the largest in the United States, at the Kentucky Historical Society.
Technical assistance grants provide audio recording equipment, recording media, and applicant training for local and community oral history projects by individuals or organizations. This grant category is designed to support local and community oral history projects undertaken by individuals or organizations with little oral history experience OR those only requiring equipment loan (not funds).
Grant Award – Successful applicants receive:

• A minimum of one audio recorder and external microphone.All required recording media (i.e., memory cards).

Training and supervision by a member of the Commission’s staff or other oral history professional assigned by the Commission. The degree of training and supervision will depend on the individual applicant’s needs.

Eligibility

Any individual or organization conducting oral history research on the local or communitylevel may apply. Applicants may include county historical societies, civic organizations, university programs, and teachers (grades nine through twelve only) using oral history in the classroom. No oral history experience or training is necessary.

Ineligibility

Applicants with outstanding final reports or delinquent interviews funded through the KOHC or other KHS program are ineligible.