DOCUMENTING MODERN LIVING National Endowment for the Humanities

The Miller House & Garden Background MHG: Designed by Eero Saarinen, with interiors by Alexander Girard and landscape design by Daniel Urban Kiley. In 2009, after Xenia Miller’s passing, the family donated the house and gardens along with its contents to the IMA. Included archival documentation. It’s digitization was the subject of this grant proposal.

The Archives MHG collection: It is one of the very few architectural archives that contains, not only the architect’s perspective, but that of the client. Documentation of over 50 years of the design, construction and maintenance of the house is meticulous. 333 linear feet including files, photographs, material samples, correspondence, design drawings, card files.

Our application process Applied in 2010 (project not funded) Call with NEH reviewers Re-applied in 2011 (funds awarded!) Our grant application was published in the NEH’s website as an example. [Disclaimer] NEH application process: Study grant guidelines. All include a document checklist, timeline, and information about the application. Option to submit a draft for staff review. Submit materials prior to deadline close. All submitted via the Grants.gov website. Panel of outside scholars review submissions. NEH staff makes recommendations based on scholar reviews and available funds Chairman of NEH makes final decisions Notifications Process takes about ten months from submission to notification.

What is unique about your collection? MHG: Comprehensive documentation. Few, if any, architectural archives were fully digitized in 2010-11. Perspective of both client and architects/designers. High volume of requests.

Who is your audience? Probably the most important part of the application and where subject specialists (if available) are incredibly helpful. Who will your project appeal to? Which fields of study will it benefit? Make sure that your audiences are as large as possible. Also, think of a multi-disciplinary approach. MHG: Architecture, design, women as patrons, history of philanthropy, conservation of mid-century materials.

Rely on each member’s strengths for grant application 1.Federal grants are long and competitive (ours was 87 pages long). Make sure you have a good team for the application process. 2.Archivist (lead), Librarian, 2 curators, 1 educator, Head of technology, 1 programmer, 1 grant writer.

Don’t reinvent the wheel Unless the grant is about software innovation and processes, use proven methods that have worked for others. What worked for us. What didn’t.

Make it easier on the reader Think of a grant as a work application. Make it easier for readers.

“I will certainly be most interested in doing work anywhere in this country…where there would be a chance to contribute to the advancement of living. I would count a house for you and Xenia definitely in this realm.” Letter from Alexander Girard to J. Irwin Miller (May 12, 1953), Miller House and Garden Collection (M003), Indianapolis Museum of Art Archives.

Expect change Grants may take years to complete so expect institutional and staffing changes. Will all your staff be there until the end of the grant? Is there a staff member who can take over specialized tasks if necessary? Be aware that any changes to the staff or the grant period will have to be reported to the agency.