The Ohio Humanities Council

Connecting what we learn and the way we live

The Ohio Humanities Council encourages all Ohioans to explore the human story, to use history, literature, philosophy and the other humanities as the means to arrive at new insights. OHC is an independent, nonprofit organization funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the State of Ohio, and private contributions. Since 1972, the Council has provided services and grants to hundreds of Ohio’s cultural organizations.

Learn about some of our major initiatives by clicking on the links above. For topics that are of current interest, please scroll down this page. Remember to check our calendar for upcoming humanities events around the state.

Enjoy your visit to www.ohiohumanities.org!

To download the Ohio Humanities Council logo, click here.

Teachers Institutes in the Humanities, Summer 2010
Grant award: $20,000 maximum
Preliminary Draft Deadline:    September 15, 2009
Final Draft Deadline:   October 15, 2009

The Ohio Humanities Council invites proposals for its Summer 2010 Teachers Institutes in the Humanities.  College and university departments–either solely or in conjunction with their education or continuing studies departments–may submit a proposal for a one-week seminar designed to enrich teachers’ understanding and appreciation of the humanities subjects they teach.  Because of a special initiative from the National Endowment for the Humanities, OHC encourages institutes which explore significant topics in American or Ohio history, but proposals for any humanities themes are welcome.

REQUIREMENTS:

Strong Humanities Curriculum.  The Council is especially interested in teachers institutes which are multicultural and interdisciplinary.  For example, a recent OHC-supported humanities institute examined contemporary Arab American culture in various expressive forms, including poetry, music, and personal narratives about family immigration experiences and living in the United States.  The curriculum included presentations by Arab American graduate students, documentary films, and instruction by a professor of anthropology and literature who has done extensive fieldwork in Middle Eastern countries.

Graduate Credit Option for Participants.  OHC grant funds can be used to underwrite a portion of the costs of graduate credit or to provide scholarships for teachers and administrators of underserved student populations.  OHC encourages universities to offer tuition discounts as part of the required cost-share for a humanities institute. Cash stipends for attending teachers can be part of the institute  budget.

Institutes are designed for Ohio teachers.  Institutes should be open to K-12 teachers and administrators currently working in Ohio.  An institute should further plan schedules that allow time for teachers and faculty to interact with one another during meals and at evening events.  Ideal size for a summer institute is 20-25 teacher participants.  OHC encourages proposals which involve K-12 teachers or school administrators in the planning stages for an institute.  The proposal should include a recruitment plan for contacting teachers throughout the state by appropriate grades and subject area.

Follow-up Programming.  Proposals should outline a plan for follow-up programs to determine the success of the summer institute, strengthen communication between universities and local school districts, and identify ongoing questions and concerns from teachers and administrators.  Examples of follow-up programs include assessment meetings, classroom visits by institute faculty, mentoring sessions, etc.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

A proposal will be judged on the strength of its humanities content; the option of graduate credit hours for attendees;  potential for recruiting participants, especially from underserved school districts; credentials of the institute faculty; commitment of the host institution; and reasonableness of the proposed budget.  Because of the special requirements for a summer institute, applicants should submit a preliminary draft of their proposal by September 15.   

To begin the application process, contact OHC Program Officer Jack Shortlidge:
by phone:   614/461-7802, or 1-800-293-9774 (in-state toll-free);  by email: jacks@ohiohumanities.org

He will be happy to answer questions, discuss ideas for institutes, share a sample summer institute proposal with potential applicants, and guide host institutions through the application process.

OHC recently completed the pilot for a reading and discussion program called “Literature and Medicine.” Between September of 2008 and March of this year, staff members at the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital at Case Western Reserve University met once a month to discuss short stories and poetry selected from Imagine What It’s Like, A Literature & Medicine Anthology, edited by Ruth Nadelhaft. The pilot program was facilitated by Georgina Dodge, Assistant Vice Provost for Minority Affairs at the Ohio State University. Liaisons at Rainbow Hospital who helped to plan the program and recruit co-workers to take part were Dr. Aparna Bole and Medical Librarian Vivian McCallum. The photo was taken during the last literature and medicine meeting at Rainbow Hospital on March 23, 2009.

This program was begun in Maine in 1997 and over that time it has taken place in 20 states and hundreds of health-care institutions Here is a brief overview of the program format and basic goals which are paraphrased from information provided by the Maine Humanities Council.

“Literature and Medicine” is a reading and discussion program for health-care employees, such as doctors, nurses, social workers, medical librarians and administrative staff people. It typically takes place in a health care setting where the discussants are working, such as a hospital. The discussions are facilitated by a humanities scholar who selects readings, such as short stories, poems, and essays, in consultation with a liaison at the health-care facility which is hosting the program. There are usually about 15-20 people in a group and everyone goes by first names, has an equal voice and agrees to follow basic ground rules (such as confidentiality).

For further information about the Literature and Medicine program in Ohio, please contact Jack Shortlidge, Program Officer at OHC: jacks@ohiohumanities.org or by phone at 1-800-293-9774.

The Ohio Humanities Council is seeking scholars who can portray historical characters for Ohio Chautauqua 2010. Presentations will be costumed performances based on thorough academic research. Ohio Chautauqua 2010 will focus on the 1930s. Occurring for approximately five weeks in June and July, the program will feature characters such as Eleanor Roosevelt, John L. Lewis, Paul Robeson, John Steinbeck, Benny Goodman, Margaret Mitchell, James F. Byrnes, Henry Ford, Mae West, and Joe Louis. We welcome applications for all characters that are appropriate to the theme.

A portrayal consists of a monologue (30-40 minutes) followed by question-and-answer sessions, both in and out of character. Scholars will also submit an essay and other written materials about the character. During each week as a scholar in residence, performers will present one evening performance, two daytime workshops (one for youths, one for adults), and will be available for appearances at social and publicity events. Scholars will receive an honorarium, per diem, and travel and lodging expenses. Applicants are responsible for developing their own scripts, costumes, and props.

All applications to portray an Ohio Chautauqua 2010 character must include:

· Cover sheet with your contact information and the name of the character you wish to portray

· Current vita/resume detailing acting and research experience, along with letters of reference

· 500-word essay detailing the importance of the character to the theme and a brief bibliography of sources of information on the character

· 20-minute videotape of you portraying the character.

Submit applications to:

Ohio Humanities Council

471 E. Broad Street

Suite 1620

Columbus, Ohio 43215.

Questions? Call Fran at 800-293-9774.

Application deadline is April 17, 2009.

We invite all K-12 Teachers and Administrators to join us during the summer of 2009 for an extraordinary program on the campus of

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and in Springfield, Illinois. In each of the two, one-week workshops we will explore Abraham Lincoln’s life in Springfield and New Salem Village, Illinois and the political and historical challenges he faced as President. Join us at SIUE as we hear from outstanding Lincoln scholars drawn from universities in the St. Louis area. Following a day of welcome and discussions, we will tour the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, renowned for its use of interactive technological exhibits as well as artifacts belonging to the Lincoln family. . .

To Continue Reading, Click Here

The Ohio Humanities Council (OHC) seeks partners in historical societies and museums around the state to participate in a summer internship program for public history students.

This is the continuation of a program formerly conducted by the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums (OAHSM). Two or three internships will be supported and applications will be judged in a competitive process.

If you are interested in hosting a student intern this summer, you should propose specific project on which the intern will work for a period of ten to twelve weeks. However, it is also desirable for the intern to be exposed to many aspects of the museum profession during their term.

OHC will provide a grant of $2,000 for a stipend for intern and requires the host museum to add $500 to that amount. OHC may also arrange for an experienced museum professional to provide periodic supervision of the intern to supplement that by your own staff.

An application form may be obtained by contacting the OHC office. Applications must be submitted by May 8, 2009. Applications from students are currently being accepted, but you may identify a student with which you would like to work and can have that student contact OHC to receive an application.

Contact Frank Dunkle at (800) 293-9774 or frankd@ohiohumanities.org for more information or to receive and application. Applications must be returned by May 8, 2009 to:

Ohio Humanities Council

471 E. Broad Street #1620
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3857

Click here to download our application

Click here to download our 2009 Internship Flyer

Catching Stories

Oral History Institute in Ohio

If you are conducting an oral history project - or if you are thinking about starting one - you should apply to attend this year’s Oral History Institute. The Institute will occur June 2-4 on the beautiful campus of Kenyon College in Gambier. The program trains participants in planning and conducting successful oral history projects. Emphasizing hands-on experience, topics covered in the schedule include framing questions, interviewing techniques, technology, transcribing and archiving, fundraising, and devising public programs based on oral history. To develop these skills, participants will work on a practice project that encompasses all stages of oral history. There will also be time for you to consult with experts about additional projects.

The faculty consists of professors from the fields of History, Sociology, Archiving, and Telecommunications who have extensive experience with Oral History.

We encourage volunteers or paid staff from local historical organizations, libraries, schools, and colleges and universities to apply. Admission to the institute is limited to 30 and is competitive. The cost of the institute is $275, which includes two nights stay, six meals, and all workshop materials. To help subsidize the cost of the institute, the Ohio Humanities Council has a limited number of partial scholarships for Ohio residents.

To download the 2009 Oral History Institute Application, click here.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact the Ohio Humanities Council at 800-293-9774 or email frankd@ohiohumanities.org. The application deadline is May 4.

The Oral History Institute is co-sponsored by the Ohio Humanities Council and The Rural Life Center at Kenyon College, in cooperation with Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums and the Ohio Historical Society.

To find the answers to these and other questions, click here for more information!

Gateway to History website will link teachers to the materials being created by numerous Ohio school district university partnerships under the Teaching American History program supported by the US Department of Education. Check out the site at www.gatewaytohistory.org

The Ohio Humanities Council will sponsor a 2009 tour of Between Fences, an exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street. This exhibition was developed especially for small institutions and rural audiences that typically do not have access to traveling exhibits. For more information please contact Jack Shortlidge at 1-800-293-9774 or jacks@ohiohumanities.org.

Click Here to Learn More!