Schneider Announces Federal Grant for Chicago Botanic Garden
Federal funds will facilitate conservation and digitization of rare books at Chicago Botanic Garden
Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) announced the award of $202,000 to the Chicago Horticultural Society, which operates the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, to conserve, digitize, and disseminate rare and fragile horticultural records. The grant was awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
The Chicago Botanic Garden is home to nearly 4,000 rare books, journals, and manuscripts, some dating to the 16th and 17th centuries. These volumes offer perspective on five centuries of research in botany, botanical art, horticulture, agriculture, gardening, and landscape design. They present an opportunity to chart the evolution of the modern science of botany, uncovering intricate relationships between science and art, botany and medicine, and humans and nature.
"The Chicago Botanic Garden is a jewel of the Tenth District, and the site of many wonderful educational, cultural, and community events," said Schneider. "With this grant, the team at the Chicago Botanic Garden will be able to conserve and digitize more of their rare book collection, and share this information with audiences around the globe. I look forward to closely following this innovative project as it progresses."
"With this NEH funding, the Chicago Botanic Garden's Lenhardt Library will work with the Northeast Document Conservation Center to conserve and digitize a collection of 19th century language of flowers books containing charming botanical poetry and floral illustrations," said Jean M. Franczyk, president and CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden. "The digitized volumes will be added to the Biodiversity Heritage Library where they will be freely available to audiences across the country and globe, for research and enjoyment."
About Federal Grants:
Congressman Schneider's office is available to help Tenth District applicants seeking information or assistance applying for federal grants. Please contact the office in Lincolnshire at (847) 383-4870 to learn more.
Please also subscribe to Congressman Schneider's Monthly Grants Newsletter for updates on local awards and new federal funding opportunities.