The project historian will work with the tribal engagement specialist in the development of the tribal engagement plan, and once finalized, ensure appropriate implementation of the plan throughout the course of the project, including how and when the tribes and Pueblos would like to be engaged. The administrative history project team will work with this specialist to ensure that tribal and pueblo members are engaged in a meaningful way. The project historian will conduct and transcribe a minimum of 5 and up to 15 oral history interviews. The project historian will then undertake secondary source research and preliminary archival investigations. This research combined with the oral histories will be the foundation for a detailed outline of the administrative history along with a preliminary bibliography.

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NCPH, via our cooperative agreement with the National Park Service, is seeking a Project Historian to complete Chaco Culture National Historical Park’s (CHCU’s) administrative history. Chaco Canyon National Monument was established by President Theodore Roosevelt on March 11, 1907. It was initially managed by the Government Land Office before transferring to the National Park Service in 1916. On December 19, 1980, Congress redesignated the site as Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Seven years later, the park was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2013, the NPS moved Chaco under co-management with a second park unit. The park has never had an administrative history completed, despite its long history as a federally managed site.

(While this Request for Letters of Interest is specific to Component A, the person selected for the first phase of the work will have rights of first refusal to continue with Component B if future funding is secured. If Component B funding is not awarded in subsequent years, the project will be considered complete upon delivery of Component A requirements.)

Read the full Request for Letters of Interest in Word and PDF formats.

Project Title: Chaco Culture National Historical Park Administrative History
Project Budget: $23,000.00 for Component A, with an additional $9,320.00 allotted for travel and $1,000.00 for supplies related to the production of oral histories. Funding for Component B will be pursued in subsequent years.
Deadline for Letter of Interest to NCPH: September 22, 2025 Extended to September 30, 2025
Expected Date to Award Project: October 10, 2025
Anticipated Start Date: October 20, 2025
Timeline for Completion of Component A: October 30, 2027
(If funding is secured in subsequent years, the Project Historian will have rights of first refusal to continue their work for four additional years. See end of RLoI for a proposed breakdown of Component B if future budgets allow.)