Administrative History of the Midwest Archeological Center, National Park Service

Description

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Master cooperative agreement number P15AC00289 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and the Organization of American Historians (OAH) to “promote the greater public and private understanding of American history for their mutual benefit and for the people of the United States as well as future generations, so that they can enjoy the historic resources of the NPS.” Task Agreement P15AC01592 original agreement was for $80,000.00 and a modification to add additional funding in the amount of $14,981.25 is required to fund the current project activities. STATEMENT OF WORK: This project will document the conditions surrounding the establishment of the Midwest Archeological Center (MWAC) and place its evolution since then in the context of its administrative responses to changing roles within the NPS, with research including archival and oral historic components. This Principal Investigator will visit multiple repositories and conduct interviews with a number of present and past MWAC staff, spanning several decades of the Center’s history. The history of the MWAC is of interest within and outside of the NPS, and this project will contribute to scholarly research on the history of archeology in the United States. In addition to technical report, this project includes the preparation of at least one article for scholarly publication. RECIPIENT AGREES TO: Provide funding to an historic researcher, selected in consultation with the MWAC; work with MWAC and the selected researcher to develop a detailed scope of work and schedule for the administrative history project; travel to four or more repositories to collect primary data on the history of MWAC; travel to and conduct oral history interviews with approximately 10 individuals with personal knowledge of MWAC history; compile collected data, develop a technical report detailing key events in MWAC’s history. This report will include: (a) maps and photographs that contribute to the story, (b) appendices containing copies of important legislation, executive orders, cooperative agreements, personnel rosters, and other documents and date valuable for management reference, and (c) a bibliography that directs interested readers to additional sources, (d) an index for easy cross-referencing; provide a draft technical report to the NPS for comment, and address edits provided by NPS and OAH. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AGREES TO: Work with OAH and the selected researcher to develop a detailed scope of work and schedule for the project; Work with the OAH researcher to provide access to MWAC archives, administrative, and library records as needed for this project; work with the OAH researcher to develop a list of key interview subjects, assist with contacting individuals as needed; make available certain current MWAC staff members that may be included on the list of interview subjects; review and provide comments on the draft technical report provided by OAH; if requested, review and provide comments on publications developed by OAH, and curate project records as NPS archives for access by future researchers.

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