Submitted by Emily Arendt
May 6, 2025
At a time when the Trump Administration is quickly altering public interpretations of history and removing references to the past on websites and public spaces, it is vital that historians keep track of what is changing. The Early Republic Tracker is dedicated to documenting instances where the federal government is removing facts and stories essential to the public’s understanding American history from public historical sites, museums, websites, and executive agencies.
Where/When did the changes take place?
- April 1, 2025
What changed?
- The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent federal agency, terminated a $250,000 grant to the Ohio History Connection that would have added LGBTQ+ historical markers across the state. Ten markers would have commemorated a number of historic sites and figures, including Edmonia Lewis, a nineteenth century sculptor whose works broke racial and gender norms.
Why does the change matter?
- Funding cuts like these specifically target projects that make visible the history of diverse peoples, including the LGBTQ+ community. Without public historical interpretation of queer historical sites and figures, the full scope of American history is not represented.
Evidence of change?
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