Historical Society receives grant funding from Ohio History Fund

The Mahoning Valley Historical Society has received a $4500 grant award from the statewide Ohio History Fund, Ohio History Connection’s competitive matching grant program for history.

The funds will allow the Historical Society’s Archives to digitize microfilm copies of records from Republic Steel from the 1880s – 1960s and scrapbooks compiled by former Youngstown mayor Charles P. Henderson. This project will make these materials more accessible to the public and better ensure the preservation of the original records. The History Fund received 33 grant applications totaling over $388,000 in requests.

MVHS’ award was one of thirteen projects chosen for funding. Leann Rich, Manager of Education and External Relations for the Society was at Statehood Day in Columbus to accept the award.

In its first two years, the History Fund has created grants that help support local history and preservation-related projects all across Ohio. By selecting “The Ohio Historical Society” (doing business as the Ohio History Connection) as a donation fund on your state tax returns, you can support the History Fund grant program that benefits our communities and helps preserve Ohio’s stories. So far, Ohio taxpayers made 20 history projects possible. In the last fiscal year, which ended this past June, Ohioans had contributed $165,000 to the History Fund, with an average contribution of around $9. The History Fund needs to raise at least $150,000 this coming tax season to stay on Ohio’s tax forms for the next two years.