University awarded grant to preserve Houck papers

Southeast Missouri State University has received a $22,500 Missouri Historical Records grant to fund the conservation, arrangement and description of the Louis Houck papers.

Missouri Secretary of State Matt Blunt made the announcement Thursday.

The Missouri Historical Records Grant Program was created last year through a $300,000 legislative appropriation from the state of Missouri and a $300,000 matching grant from the National Historical Publication and Records Commission, the grant-making arm of the National Archives.

This is the largest award of its kind made by the commission, and Missouri was one of only seven states to receive the funding. The program is administered through Blunt's office.

"I commend Southeast Missouri State University and the other grant award winners for their dedication to preserving Missouri history," Blunt said in a media release.