Missouri Digital Heritage Initiative facts for kids
The Missouri Digital Heritage Initiative is a cool project that helps put lots of information about Missouri's history online. It's like a big team effort to make it easier for everyone to learn about the past. In 2007, Robin Carnahan, who was the Secretary of State for Missouri at the time, suggested this important idea. Her goal was to help people in Missouri find out more about their state's history and the stories of their local towns.
What is the Missouri Digital Heritage Initiative?
The Missouri Digital Heritage Initiative works to share Missouri's history with everyone. It's a partnership between the Missouri State Archives and the Missouri State Library. They also work with the State Historical Society of Missouri. Together, they help different places across the state. These places might be museums, libraries, or historical societies. The initiative helps them turn old records and documents into digital files. This means you can easily find and look at them online from anywhere!
How Does it Help Students and Teachers?
The Missouri Digital Heritage Initiative isn't just for grown-ups. It also has special learning materials for students and teachers. These materials are based on what students learn in school. They help kids understand their heritage by using "primary materials." These are original documents, like old letters, photos, or maps. Teachers, parents, and students can find these educational tools right on the initiative's website. It's a great way to make history come alive for school projects!
Who Pays for This Project?
The Missouri Digital Heritage Initiative gets its money from special funds called LSTA. This stands for Library Services & Technology Act. These funds come from the federal government through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The money is then given out through grant programs by the Missouri State Library. The Missouri State Library is part of the Secretary of State's Office, which is currently led by Jay Ashcroft. This initiative took the place of an older project called "Virtually Missouri."
