Federal State Partnership

Through the Office of Federal/State Partnership, NEH and the fifty-six state humanities councils work to enable all of the nation's citizens, wherever they live, to benefit from locally designed humanities programs on their particular concerns, interests, and needs. The partnership of NEH and the state humanities councils increases the public's awareness of and participation in the humanities.

State humanities councils are nonprofit organizations that operate in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam. Through the Partnership, NEH funds are given annually to the councils to support locally initiated programs on a competitive basis. Councils also design and conduct initiatives themselves to bring excellent humanities programs and services throughout each state and territory. In all their activities, state humanities councils sponsor and support the pursuit and enjoyment of education and lifelong learning.

In 2000, councils supported thousands of programs that reached millions of Americans: among them were 1,920 Chautauqua-type performances; 1,800 exhibitions; 4,000 film, television, or radio programs; 4,500 speakers bureau presentations; 360 cultural tourism projects; 2,000 literacy programs; 5,000 reading and discussion programs; and 2,000 teacher institutes and workshops. More than 20,000 scholars were involved in council projects and council grants.

Encouraging reading is characteristic of state humanities councils. Sponsorship of large-scale book festivals is the public side of this commitment. Literacy, reading, and literature programs are the personal side, cultivating and nurturing individual readers. Many councils feature literacy and reading programs at the core of their programming. In 2000, the Vermont Council on the Humanities supported grassroots literacy efforts in twenty-nine communities with book mobiles, a literacy fair, and a weekly children's-literacy radio program. The Prime Time Family Reading Time program of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities introduces families to children's books and encourages the participants to become comfortable in libraries. It won a "Coming Up Taller" award in 2000 from the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Since its inception, twenty-eight councils have adopted Prime Time programs.

Councils are important engines of civic discourse. Through its New Books for New Readers program, the Kentucky Humanities Council published Ronald W. Eades's Fights for Rights. The book has special value for adults learning English and working to acquire US citizenship. The Utah Humanities Council's Front Porch Discussion Series addresses issues of diversity, the good society, and growth. The civic culture initiative of the Montana Committee for the Humanities, which helped plan the 2000 Governor's Conference on Civic Engagement, has developed a website (www.civicmontana.org) of resources on civil society and democratic renewal. "Parallel and Crossover Lives" is the Texas Humanities Council's community-based oral history and cultural-preservation project that examines Texas history and culture before and after public school desegregation. The archive of historical information it began creating in 2000 will be used for research and public programming, and to foster discussion among disparate community groups.

Councils place a high priority on improving the statewide quality of humanities teaching and learning in the elementary and secondary grades. The Georgia Humanities Council's Center for Character Education responded to the Georgia General Assembly's curriculum requirement by providing character education concepts, resources, and practices from its humanities collections for educators, policy makers, parents, and communities. The councils in Georgia, Hawai'i, Maryland, Nevada, and New Mexico sponsor their state's History Day program and competition, which fosters academic achievement and intellectual growth in sixth to twelfth graders. Twenty-seven winners of New Mexico History Day competed with more than twenty-one hundred students from all over the United States at the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Making humanities education and lifelong learning a hallmark of American life is a pillar of the partnership between NEH and the state humanities councils. The sponsorship of the Bard College Clemente Course in the Humanities by councils in Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Washington provides topflight educational opportunities to disadvantaged adults. A member of one of the Washington Commission for the Humanities' Clemente classes confirms that, "Being in this class and learning about Plato--just to begin thinking about those things--really opens me up mentally to places I wouldn't have gone by myself. It enriches my life on a daily basis."

As they pursue their goal of engaging all Americans in study, reflection, and discussion of the humanities, state humanities councils continue to strengthen their organizational structures and to build partnerships in order to expand their resources and audiences. Last year councils were successful in obtaining more than $20 million from state legislatures, individuals, corporations, foundations, and other sources.

Edythe Manza
Director
Federal/State Partnership

Federal State Partnership

Alabama Humanities Foundation
1100 Ireland Way, Suite 101
Birmingham, AL 35205-7001
(205) 558-3980
Michael E. Malone, Chairman
Robert Stewart, Executive Director
$534,034

Alaska Humanities Forum
421 West 1st Street
Suite 300
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 272-5341
Stephen, Ph.D. Haycox, Chairman
Elizabeth Forrer, Executive Director
$523,124

Amerika Samoa Humanities Council
P.O. Box 5800
Pago Pago, AS 96799
(684) 633-4870
Lui Tuitele, Chairman
Niualama Taifane, Executive Director
$227,545

Arizona Humanities Council
The Ellis-Shackelford House
1242 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004-1887
(602) 257-0335
Suzanne Pfister, Chairman
Dan Shilling, Executive Director
$523,784*

Arkansas Humanities Council
10800 Financial Centre Parkway
Suite 465
Little Rock, AR 72211-0000
(501) 221-0091
Paul Austin, Chairman
Robert E. Bailey, Executive Director
$486,882

California Council for the Humanities
312 Sutter Street, Suite 601
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 391-1474
Mary Curtin, Chairman
James Quay, Executive Director
$1,415,248

Colorado Endowment for the Humanities
1490 Lafayette Street,
Suite 101
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 894-7951
Phyllis S. Alexander, Chairman
Margaret A. Coval, Executive Director
$512,840*

Connecticut Humanities Council
955 South Main Street
Suite E
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 685-2260
Helen Higgins, Chairman
Bruce Fraser, Executive Director
$505,548*

Delaware Humanities Forum
100 W. 10th Street
Suite 1009
Wilmington, DE 19801
(302) 657-0650
Jeffrey Mask, Chairman
Charlotte D. Staelin, Executive Director
$432,078*

Florida Humanities Council
599 2nd Street S
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 553-3800
Frank Helsom, Chairman
Fran Cary, Executive Director
$838,156

Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades
Box 9023920
109 San Jose St.,3rd Floor
Corner of Luna Street
San Juan, PR 00902-3920
(787) 721-2087
Ana Helvia Quintero, Chairman
Juan M. Gonzalez Lamela, Executive Director
$527,700

Georgia Humanities Council
50 Hurt Plaza SE, Suite 1565
Atlanta, GA 30303-2915
(404) 523-6220
Thomas E. Dasher, Chairman
Jamil Zainaldin, Executive Director
$615,610*

Guam Humanities Council
426 Chalan San Antonio
Center Pointe Bldg. Ste. 101
Tamuning, GU 96911
(671) 646-4461
Anthony A. Leon Guerrero, Chairman
Jillette Leon Guerrero, Executive Director
$252,448*

Hawai'i Council for the Humanities
First Hawaiian Bank Building
3599 Waialae Avenue, Room 23
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 732-5402
Mitch Yamasaki, Chairman
Annette M. Lew, Executive Director
$500,536*

Humanities Council of Washington, D.C.
925 U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 347-1732 EXT.1
Joann Stevens, Chairman
Joy Austin, Executive Director
$429,350*

Humanities Iowa
100 Oakdale Campus, Northlawn
Iowa City, IA 52242-5000
(319) 335-4153
David Vikurek, Chairman
Christopher Rossi, Executive Director
$495,172*

Idaho Humanities Council
217 West State Street
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 345-5346
Marc Johnson, Chairman
Richard Ardinger, Executive Director
$444,108*

Illinois Humanities Council
203 N. Wabash Avenue
Suite 2020
Chicago, IL 60601-2417
(312) 422-5580
J. Paul Hunter, Chairman
Kristina Valaitis, Executive Director
$780,804*

Indiana Humanities Council
1500 North Delaware Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 638-1500
Thomas Wilhelmus, Chairman
Scott T. Massey, Executive Director
$584,836

Kansas Humanities Council
112 S.W. 6th Avenue, Suite 210
Topeka, KS 66603
(785) 357-0359
Warren Hixson, Chairman
Marion Cott, Executive Director
$486,736

Kentucky Humanities Council
206 E. Maxwell Street
Lexington, KY 40508
(606) 257-5932
Roger J. Wolford, Chairman
Virginia Smith, Executive Director
$522,912*

Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
225 Baronne Street, Suite 1414
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 523-4352
Neil T. Erwin, Chairman
Michael Sartisky, Executive Director
$538,888

Maine Humanities Council
674 Brighton Avenue
Portland, ME 04102-1012
(207) 773-5051
Geoffrey Gratwick, Chairman
Dorothy Schwartz, Executive Director
$448,876*

Maryland Humanities Council
11350 McCormick Road
Suite 503
Hunt Valley, MD 21031-1002
(410) 771-0650
Rhoda Dorsey, Chairman
Barbara Wells Sarudy, Executive Director
$557,540

Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities
One Woodbridge Street
South Hadley, MA 01075
(413) 536-1385
David Lionel Smith, Chairman
David A. Tebaldi, Executive Director
$594,050

Michigan Humanities Council
119 Pere Marquette Drive
Suite 3B
Lansing, MI 48912-1270
(517) 372-7770
Stephen R. Williams, Chairman
Rick Knupfer, Executive Director
$707,622

Minnesota Humanities Commission
987 E Ivy Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55106-2046
(651) 774-0105
W. Andrew Boss, Chairman
Cheryl Dickson, Executive Director
$551,072*

Mississippi Humanities Council
3825 Ridgewood Road, Rm. 311
Jackson, MS 39211
(601) 432-6752
Gemma Douglas Beckley, Chairman
Barbara Carpenter, Executive Director
$489,294

Missouri Humanities Council
543 Hanley Industrial Court
Suite 201
St. Louis, MO 63144-1905
(314) 781-9660
Randolph Maness, Chairman
Michael Bouman, Executive Director
$565,888

Montana Committee for the Humanities
311 Brantly Hall
University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812-8214
(406) 243-6022
Eileen Sansom, Chairman
Mark Sherouse, Executive Director
$436,952

NMI Council for the Humanities
AAA-3394, Box 10001
Saipan, MP 96950
(670) 235-4785
Isamu Abraham, Chairman
Isaac Magofna, Executive Director
$243,828

Nebraska Humanities Council
Lincoln Center Building
Suite 225
215 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE 68508
(402) 474-2131
Pamela Snow, Chairman
Jane Renner Hood, Executive Director
$460,412*

Nevada Humanities Committee
1034 North Sierra Street
Reno, NV 89507
(775) 784-6587
Barbara Cloud, Chairman
Judith K. Winzeler, Executive Director
$449,840

New Hampshire Humanities Council
19 Pillsbury Street
PO Box 2228
Concord, NH 03302-2228
(603) 224-4071
Richard L. Kremer, Chairman
Charles G. Bickford, Executive Director
$445,256*

New Jersey Council for the Humanities
28 West State Street
6th Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608
(609) 695-4838
Michael J. Bzdak, Chairman
Jane Rutkoff, Executive Director
$653,388

New Mexico Endowment for the Humanities
209 Onate Hall
University of New Mexico
Corner of Campus & Girard St.
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(505) 277-3705
Ned Miller, Chairman
Craig Newbill, Executive Director
$457,156

New York Council for the Humanities
150 Broadway, Suite 1700
New York, NY 10038
(212) 233-1131
Samuel D. Waksal, Chairman
David Cronin, Executive Director
$1,000,184

North Carolina Humanities Council
200 South Elm Street, Ste. 403
Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 334-5325
Elizabeth K. Minnich, Chairman
Alice Barkley, Executive Director
$619,598*

North Dakota Humanities Council
2900 Broadway, Suite 3
P. O. Box 2191
Bismarck, ND 58502
(701) 255-3360
John Ettling, Chairman
Everett Albers, Executive Director
$441,296

Ohio Humanities Council
695 Bryden Road
PO Box 06354
Columbus, OH 43206-0354
(614) 461-7802
George R. Garrison, Chairman
Gale E. Peterson, Executive Director
$760,456

Oklahoma Humanities Council
Festival Plaza, Suite 270
428 West California
Oklahoma, OK 73102
(405) 235-0280
David Levy, Chairman
Anita May, Executive Director
$502,790*

Oregon Council for the Humanities
812 SW Washington Street
Suite 225
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 241-0543
Charles Walker, Chairman
Christopher Zinn, Executive Director
$498,810

Pennsylvania Humanities Council
325 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2607
(215) 925-1005
James E. Douthat, Chairman
Joseph J. Kelly, Executive Director
$795,600

Rhode Island Committee for the Humanities
60 Ship Street
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 273-250
Galen A. Johnson, Chairman
M. Drake Patten, Executive Director
$442,096*

South Carolina Humanities Council
1308 Columbia College Drive
PO Box 5287
Columbia, SC 29250
(803) 691-4100
S.C. McMeekin, Jr., Chairman
Randy L. Akers, Executive Director
$517,856*

South Dakota Humanities Council
Box 7050, University Station
Brookings, SD 57007
(605) 688-6113
Sidney Goss, Chairman
Michael F. Haug, Executive Director
$432,964

Tennessee Humanities Council
1003 18th Avenue South
PO Box 24767
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 320-7001 EXT.1 Linda Darmon Caldwell, Chairman
Robert Cheatham, Executive Director
$559,908

Texas Council for the Humanities
Banister Place A
3809 South Second Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 440-1991 EXT.1
Wright L. Lassiter, Jr., Chairman
Monte K. Youngs, Executive Director
$976,688

Utah Humanities Council
202 West 300 North
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
(801) 359-9670
France A. Davis, Chairman
Cynthia Buckingham, Executive Director
$464,736

Vermont Council on the Humanities
200 Park Street
RR1, Box 7285
Morrisville, VT 05661-0058
(802) 888-3183
Charles R. Putney, Chairman
Victor R. Swenson, Executive Director
$429,028

Virgin Islands Humanities Council
5-6 Kongens Gade, Corbiere
Complex, Suite 200B-201B
St. Thomas, VI 00802
(340) 776-4044
Tregenza Roach, Chairman
Magda Smith, Executive Director
$252,563

Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
145 Ednam Drive
Charlottesville , VA 22903-4629
(804) 924-3296
Wyndham B. Blanton, Jr., Chairman
Robert C. Vaughan, Executive Director
$604,980*

Washington Commission for the Humanities
615 Second Avenue, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 682-1770
Jack Faris, Chairman
Margaret Ann Bollmeier, Executive Director
$568,250

West Virginia Humanities Council
723 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Suite 800
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 346-8500
Nancy Bulla, Chairman
Kenneth Sullivan, Executive Director
$470,716

Wisconsin Humanities Council
222 South Bedford Street
Suite F
Madison, WI 53703-3688
(608) 262-0706
Susan Brewer, Chairman
Max Harris, Executive Director
$559,598

Wyoming Council for the Humanities
PO Box 3643
University Station
Laramie, WY 82071-3643
(307) 766-6496
Barbara Allen Bogart, Chairman
Robert G. Young, Executive Director
$425,854*

*federal matching funds