[Pittsburgh, PA, May 21, 2024] – The Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium (WPDHAC) is delighted to announce the receipt of a $115,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation. This generous funding will enable WPDHAC to strategically expand and enhance its digital, community-based archive, as well as increase public access to it.
The grant, spanning from April 2024 through March 2026, will support two key projects aimed at furthering the Consortium’s mission. First, The Consortium will reinstate a Preservation Scholar position, aptly named the “Mellon Foundation Preservation Scholar,” to provide expertise in archiving and preservation protocols and assist in the development of a comprehensive collections strategy and management plan. This will ensure the responsible maintenance and growth of The Consortium’s community archive.
Secondly, to improve access to its archive, The Consortium will upgrade its cataloging processes. Additionally, The Consortium seeks to make 100% of its archive accessible to the public online, while also enhancing its usability and searchability.
“We are deeply grateful to the Mellon Foundation for its generous support,” said Cindy Leonard, Project Director of The Consortium. “This grant will empower us to strengthen our archival infrastructure, expand our collections, and make our resources more accessible to historians, scholars, advocates, activists, and the public.”
The grant builds upon past successes in The Consortium’s ongoing commitment to preserving and sharing disability history. By enhancing its archival capabilities and increasing public access, The Consortium aims to broaden its role as a vital resource for disability history and advocacy.
For more information about the Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium, please visit https://www.wpdhac.org.
About Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium:
The Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium was founded in 2015 with the purpose of preserving and honoring the historic struggle of individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of human and civil rights. Through its archival initiatives and advocacy work, WPDHAC seeks to promote community access, participation, and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities.
Contact:
Cindy Leonard
Project Director
Western Pennsylvania Disability History and Action Consortium
info@wpdhac.org
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