The Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum recently announced they’ll award a $2,000 history grant and a $500 teacher stipend in 2024 through the Roger Easton History Grant.
Those eligible for the grant can apply at olympiahistory.org, and questions about the grant can be sent to olyhistory@gmail.com. Applicants for the grant must be a K-12 teacher, student teacher, administrator or classroom professional in accredited schools in Thurston County.
The grant recipient can use the grant funds to secure curriculum and classroom materials, training including classes and conferences, develop materials in curriculum or related purposes or for teaching historic programs or events. The projects or training must be related to Washington state or Pacific Northwest history. Extra consideration will be given to proposals that address Thurston County’s history.
The deadline for the grant application is Nov. 15, and the grant itself will be awarded on Jan. 15, 2024. The grant completion date is marked for June 30, 2024, and the report due date is Sept. 30, 2024.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of OHS and BHM board members and a local educator. Required application information includes name, mailing address, phone number, email address and a short summary of a proposal.
Other required information includes a 200-word summary of your interest in local, regional and state history. Another question includes whether the applicant has taught or presented local history in a classroom, school or district, and must be written at a 500-word maximum.
The entire application can be found at https://olympiahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Easton-App9152023-1.pdf.
Easton, the grant’s namesake, was raised in Olympia and graduated from Olympia High School. After attending Saint. Martin’s University, he became a teacher and had a long career in North Thurston Schools. According to Olympia History, Easton’s deep and abiding interest in local history was his main focus aside from teaching and working with students.
Easton was a longtime member of different local historical groups, including the Olympia Heritage Commission, Thurston County Historic Commission and the 5 Lacey Historic Commission. The longtime North Thurston Schools teacher was also a founding member of the Olympia Historical Society and active in the Bigelow House Museum.
