Need financial aid to help complete your history project? The Wyoming Historical Society, a nonprofit membership driven educational organization, offers cash grants to people involved in research activities based on various aspects of the state’s history. The grants, ranging from $100 up to $1,500 are awarded based on applications submitted to the Society’s Lola Homsher Endowment Fund Committee. The deadline is Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, with applicants notified of the results in the spring. All applications must be submitted electronically via the Society’s website at wyshs.org.

Wyoming Historical Society’s First Vice President Lucas Keeler says that work done by amateur and professional historians through these grants supports the society’s mission to make Wyoming’s past accessible to present and future generations.

Grant monies are drawn from a fund established by the late Lola Homsher, a noted historian and state archivist. One of Homsher’ s most significant contributions to preserve Wyoming history came when she spearheaded creating the Wyoming Historical Society in 1953. After her retirement Homsher made a major donation to the Society that has been used as an endowment to help fund Society programs.

The committee reviews all proposals and makes awards after the selection process has been completed, usually in spring. Preference is given to proposals that promise original research on topics related to Wyoming history. Wyoming residents are also given preference, but all applications are welcome. Proposals must include a statement of purpose, an explanation of the project, the value to Wyoming history and a description of how the public will benefit from the research.

Last year’s recipients used funds to enhance their research on topics ranging from researching the rosters of former inmates of the Wyoming Frontier Prison, re-photography, historic area school research, and cultural impacts of Greek and German immigrants. "

Applications that touch upon all aspects of Wyoming history are welcome,” Keeler says.

Applications and rules can be obtained by visiting the Society’s website at wyshs.org and selecting “Programs” and then “Lola Homsher Research Grant Program.” If you do not have access to the internet, contact the Wyoming Historical Society at 307-322-3014 or executivedirector@wyshs.org to receive a copy of the application. Electronic proposals are due Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. All recipients must provide the Society with an interim report and a final report about their projects.