Historic Resource Study of the Blackford House, Ferry Hill, and Bridgeport Community African American History | P18AS00631

Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00631

The Department of the Interior, National Park Service announced a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity titled "Historic Resource Study of the Blackford House, Ferry Hill, and Bridgeport Community African American History" (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00631), created September 4, 2018. The project sits in the humanities and cultural affairs space (CFDA 15.945) and is designed to support a single award with an anticipated maximum federal funding amount of $56,749. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically signals that the National Park Service expects to be actively involved during the project rather than simply providing funds and receiving a final report.

The purpose of the grant is to produce a Historic Resource Study centered on African American history connected to the Blackford House, Ferry Hill, and the Bridgeport Community in Maryland, with specific attention to Lock 38 and Ferry Hill. The National Park Service intends to work directly with a research team to create research products that take a comprehensive approach to documenting the lives and labor of both enslaved and free African American workers. In practical terms, this means developing a well-supported historical narrative that explains who these individuals and communities were, how they lived, and how their work contributed to the local economy and the broader social fabric of the area.

A key emphasis of the project is understanding African American roles in the local economy and community life, which suggests research that goes beyond a single site history and instead ties people, places, and labor systems together across the surrounding landscape. The study is expected to result in a synthesized history of the African American experience at Lock 38 and Ferry Hill, likely drawing from archival records, maps, property and probate documents, census data, local and regional histories, institutional holdings, and other primary and secondary sources relevant to the canal-era and community development of the region. The description also highlights the possibility of identifying or analyzing connections to the Underground Railroad, implying that researchers may be expected to assess evidence for escape networks, routes, safe locations, and local actors, while carefully distinguishing between documented history, plausible interpretation, and oral tradition.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the notice pointing applicants to an additional eligibility clarification field (not included in the text provided). The opportunity also notes that "NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED," indicating that, while the opportunity was formally posted, it is not open for new submissions in its posted form and may have been intended for a specific partner, time-limited solicitation, or an already-determined collaborative arrangement.

Overall, the grant opportunity is aimed at producing an authoritative Historic Resource Study that strengthens how these sites and their surrounding community can interpret African American history, including the intertwined experiences of enslaved and free people, their economic contributions, community formation, and potential Underground Railroad associations. The end result is meant to give the park a stronger research foundation for stewardship, interpretation, and public education related to these historically significant locations.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Historic Resource Study of the Blackford House, Ferry Hill, and Bridgeport Community African American History" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Sep 04, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $56,749.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for P18AS00631

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