Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in the Great State of Ohio

Dedicated to cemetery preservation in the great state of Ohio


"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

Exploring Grants / Funding Opportunities for Such Issues as Records Preservations and Digitization

Sharing from Krista Horricks of the Ohio History Connection - February 13, 2018.:

General comments from Krista.:


"As for the Ohio History Fund, while there isn’t a dollar amount set aside for cemeteries, there is still the opportunity for cemetery-related projects to be awarded a grant. Like when the Green Lawn Abbey Preservation Association won $3,450 in 2016 for the restoration of their stained glass windows.

 If someone wants to apply for a cemetery-related Ohio History Fund grant, they just need to figure out which three categories their project fits into.:
  •  Organizational Development
  •  Programs & Collections
  •  Bricks & Mortar

    The Bricks & Mortar category would be great for a cemetery preservation/restoration project (like what Green Lawn Abbey did).
  • The Programs & Collections would be good for educational programming, workshops, or recordation (“further the study, recordation, interpretation, publication and dissemination of historical information, engagement of communities in history, or conservation of historic collections and archives.”)

    The biggest setback I have come up against when it comes to the Ohio History Fund is the match requirements (60/40 for Bricks & Mortar and Programs & Collections).

    While even volunteer hours, etc. can count as part of the match, so many cemetery preservation groups are working with nothing, or just trying to get off the ground.

    ***Also the requirements for Project Director/Project Bookkeeper/Authorizing Official.

    So many tiny historical societies are run by volunteers with limited experience (and the positions can’t be held by family members, spouses, or partners…which excluded my hometown Fredericktown Historical Society,). 

    I understand why these requirements are needed before the organization awards the money, but it is very limiting to tiny organizations who would really benefit from a few thousand dollars."

Krista Horrocks | Project Reviews Manager, State Historic Preservation Office
  • Ohio History Connection| 800 E. 17th Ave. Columbus, OH  43211-2474
    p. 614.298.2022 | f. 614.298.2037 | khorrocks@ohiohistory.org
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"There are also opportunities for grants through, for example, the Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board (http://www.ohrab.org/grants/). While this is for records preservation and digitization, if an organization has cemetery records they are looking to save, this is definitely a great opportunity. "


Planning for the preservation of and access to Ohio's historical records…

http://www.ohrab.org/grants/

http://www.ohrab.org/grants/grant-application-tips/

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Below you will find some grant funding opportunities for cemetery-related projects in Ohio.

This is an ongoing list, please contact myself, Krista Horrocks, at khorrocks@ohiohistory.org, if you know of any other opportunities we can add to this list! Thank you!

Ohio History Fund
-          Deadline: Early September
-          Projects: Various, from professional training to public programming to restoration and preservation
-          Grant Option #1: Organizational Development, $1,000-$4,000, 80/20 Match Requirements
-          Grant Option #2: Programs & Collections, $2,000-$20,000, 60/40 Match Requirement
-          Grant Option #3: Bricks & Mortar, $2,000-$20,000, 60/40 March Requirement

-          How can it apply to cemeteries? A Programs & Collections grant could apply to educational cemetery tours, workshops, etc. Bricks & Mortar could apply to gravestone preservation, etc.

            In 2016, the Green Lawn Abbey Preservation Association was awarded $3,450 for restoration of a stained glass window in Green Lawn Abbey.

Ohio Historic Markers Grant
-          Deadline: July 1
-          Projects: Applying for and installing an Ohio Historic Marker
-          Grant Option #1: Historic Markers Grant Program, matching grant up to $750
-          Grant Option #2: William G. Pomeroy Foundation grant for the following counties (Ashland, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Meigs, Ottawa, Portage, Sandusky, Seneca, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne), full funding of a standard marker

-          How can it apply to cemeteries? Almost 60 Ohio Historic Markers can be found in cemeteries across Ohio! Every cemetery holds a unique history, consider applying for an Ohio Historic Marker to memorize your important local cemetery.

Ohio Historic Records Advisory Board (OHRAB) Grant
-          http://www.ohrab.org/grants/
-          Deadline: End of February
-          Projects: Records Preservation and Digitization Projects
-          Grant Option #1: OHRAB Regrant Program, $500 to $2,000, projects completed within 8 months

-          How can it apply to cemeteries? A historical society might own cemetery burial records from a local cemetery that they would like to preserve and digitize for future researchers.

-          Misc.: The OHRAB website also includes information and links for the National Historical Publications & Records Commission (NRHPRC) Grant Program for larger-scale digitization projects, $150,000-$200,000, projects completed within 1 to 3 years


Krista Horrocks | Project Reviews Manager, State Historic Preservation Office
Ohio History Connection| 800 E. 17th Ave. Columbus, OH  43211-2474
p. 614.298.2022 | f. 614.298.2037 | khorrocks@ohiohistory.org

The Ohio History Connection’s mission is to spark discovery of Ohio’s stories. Embrace the present, share the past and transform the future.