Zeltsman’s $60,000 grant is for research and writing a book, “Making Paper in Mexico: A Material, Political and Environmental History,” spanning pre-Columbian times to the present.

The project is one of 204 in the humanities receiving a total $28.1 million in NEH support for collaborative and individual humanities research, preservation of historic collections, humanities exhibitions and documentaries, and education programs and resources.

“The range, diversity, and creativity of these new projects speak to the wealth of humanities ideas and deep engagement of humanities practitioners across our country,” said NEH Chair Shelly Lowe (Navajo). “From Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Hilo, Hawai‘i, NEH funding reaches thousands of towns and communities, supporting local organizations, fostering creative projects, and providing access to high-quality humanities for all Americans.”