CORNELL
U N I V E R S I T Y

 Albert R. Mann Library New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
 Ithaca, New York 14853-4301 New York State College of Human Ecology







 8 July 1997


 Dear USAIN/NEH Phase 2 Project Participants:

 Enclosed is a copy of the Phase 2 USAIN grant proposal to the National Endowment for the
 Humanities (NEH) "Preserving the History of U.S. Agriculture and Rural Life -- State and Local
 Literature, 1820-1945". Carolyn's work in coordinating the proposal writing was excellent and the
 process went smoothly. Thanks to all of you for your work on the proposal.

 I think you will enjoy reading through this proposal. Each state compiled an excellent statement on
 the history of its agriculture and rural life and made a strong case for the importance of the
 preservation of the literature. Altogether, your work on the narratives, the budgets, setting up the
 scholarly review panels, and demonstrating your state's capability to carry out the work makes this
 a most compelling cooperative proposal.

 The proposal was submitted to NEH June 27, 1997. We will hear from NEH about the success of
 our proposal next Spring, probably in April or May 1998. If the Phase 2 project is funded work
 will begin in July 1998 with a Project Managers meeting at ALA in Washington, D.C.

 We believe our chances of funding are very good. In anticipation of possible funding, it would be
 advisable for those states which will be compiling their bibliographies as part of the project to
 begin planning how they will approach the work. Representatives of nearly all the states were able
 to attend the Project Managers meeting at ALA in San Francisco and as a result have a pretty good
 idea what will be involved. Re-reading the methodological article in Library Resources and
 Technical Services [37(4): 434-443] might be useful in thinking through what will be required of
 you. Calling me, Wally, or a colleague at another participating institution might also prove helpful.
 Later in the year we will send all new participants a copy of one or more completed bibliographies
 for your perusal.