We explore, cultivate, and champion the public humanities in order to strengthen New Jersey’s diverse community.
What that means
We believe humanities fields such as history, literature, and philosophy are the best hope for our state and country's future. It's the humanities that help us break free from the limitations of our individual experience and see both the perspectives of others and the larger social forces that affect us all.
We work to bring the critical thinking and reflection the humanities spur to the Garden State's broad and diverse population, through programs and support for other humanities organizations.
Our programs, grants, resources, and convenings foster appreciation for the public humanities in every district in the state. Explore our impact
Our Mission
We explore, cultivate, and champion the public humanities in order to strengthen New Jersey’s diverse community.
No defeat is made up entirely of defeat—since the world it opens is always a place formerly unsuspected.
We take heart in these words of William Carlos Williams, poet chronicler of the New Jersey spirit. While some of our programs have been suspended due to the 2025 federal funding cuts, the world opened by the challenges we and our society face remains full of possibility.
We do not yet know what that world will look like, but we look to the wisdom of the humanities for guidance. History tells us that good ideas have a way of coming back around, and we're hopeful that these programs will too, alongside our many current offerings. In the meantime, explore our activities, and take action in one of the ways below.
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In January 2025, NJCH announced $205,716 in Grant Awards to 17 NJ Organizations Meet them »
Events
Featured
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Featured
Events
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Want to see your event listed here? NJCH, at its discretion, may list events from its grantees, partners, and organizations within the NJ humanities community. Email us your event info for consideration.
6 events found.
Events
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News
Resource Roundup January 2026
Our monthly email newsletter for the NJ Humanities community with helpful information, including notifications of funding, professional development events, meetings, and conferences from both NJCH and the larger nonprofit community.
America’s Founding Son: Bob Crawford in Conversation with Sean Wilentz
Best known as the bassist for the Grammy-nominated band The Avett Brothers, the author, historian, and podcaster Bob Crawford brings his storytelling sensibility to a new, accessible, and engaging biography of John Quincy Adams. Hear him in conversation with Princeton University historian Sean Wilentz March 14.
Three new members join the NJCH Board of Trustees
Three New Jersey women bringing a wealth of valuable experience in nonprofits, education, arts, and humanities have joined the NJCH Board of Trustees.
Ever wonder: what's the story behind the myth of the Jersey Devil?
The Jersey Devil is a distinctive piece of our state's lore, a mythical creature legendary enough to serve as both a symbol of the Pine Barrens region and the mascot of our NHL franchise. Scholars supported with NJCH funds have traced this strange creature's origins to a mish-mash of political, religious, and capitalist conflict over generations of early America.
Program Spotlight
Prime Time Family Reading
Prime Time Family Reading is a national program serving 6- to 10-year-old kids and their families. Participating families build early literacy skills, engage in critical thinking, and connect with each other through literature and discussion. NJCH is excited to expand this program to more NJ libraries in 2026!
Resource Roundup
Looking for other grant funding sources in New Jersey? Professional development opportunities? Networking? A new job?
Subscribe to the Resource Roundup, our monthly e-newsletter geared toward those working in humanities and nonprofit organizations.
Humanities People
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In addition to serving as history department chair at Kean University and as vice chair of NJCH’s board, Dr. Mercantini is the book reviews editor for New Jersey Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal. Meet Jonathan » |
Selected Sponsors & Partners
