SCLS Awarded Grant to Digitize Historic Collection

 Sussex County Library System Awarded Grant to Digitize Historic Collection

Newton, New Jersey – The Sussex County Library System (SCLS) is proud to announce it is among a select group of 21 New Jersey public libraries awarded funding from the New Jersey State Library REV 250: Examining the Semiquincentennial through a Jersey Lens grant program. This initiative supports public libraries in engaging their communities with New Jersey’s pivotal role in the American Revolution as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary.

Sussex County newspapers—spanning from 1814 to the mid-1900s—offer a rich tapestry of local history, capturing diverse political viewpoints and the everyday lives of rural communities shaped by mills, farms, and small-town industry. The library holds seven county-specific newspapers vital for documenting historical events and tracing social change in the region.

The $25,000 grant will support “Opening Windows to the Past,” a project spearheaded by SCLS Local History and Genealogy Librarian Tara Schaberg, to digitize a portion of the library’s historic newspaper collection and provide free, searchable online access for researchers, students, and history enthusiasts.

As part of the project, SCLS will digitize and host New Jersey Herald microfilm from 1849 through the early 1900s. It will also edit and host previously digitized files from the Stanhope Eagle (1885–1950), Sussex County Independent (1871–1929), Sussex Register (1814–1943), and Wantage Recorder (1894–1937). Once complete, these resources will be available online to anyone interested in exploring Sussex County’s contributions to state and national history.

The digitization will be carried out using the Community History platform by Advantage Archives, which also hosts digital collections for the Newark Public Library and the Albert Wisner Public Library in Warwick, NY.

“We are so proud of Tara Schaberg for securing the maximum grant amount for this important project,” said Ellen Callanan, Assistant Director of the Sussex County Library System. “Her dedication to preserving and sharing Sussex County’s unique history will benefit our community for generations to come. This project will keep Sussex County’s history alive and accessible to everyone.”

REV 250: Examining the Semiquincentennial through a Jersey Lens is an initiative of the New Jersey State Library that offers public libraries the opportunity to celebrate New Jersey’s contributions and place in American history.