Short-term Fellowships
Short-term fellowships support scholars in residence for one to three months with a monthly stipend of $2,500. Scholars must hold a terminal degree in their field in order to be eligible for a short-term fellowship. To evaluate our applications each year, the Fellowships Program assembles external and internal committees of respected scholars, aiming for disciplinary, methodological, and geographical diversity. Committee membership changes annually. The committee is charged with evaluating applications based on the proposed topic’s impact, its relevance to the field, the originality and sophistication of the scholar’s approach, the feasibility of the scholar’s research objectives, and their expected use of Folger collections. Particular weight is accorded to the scholar’s stated plan of work, and how their efforts will be concentrated in the Folger’s collections. The Folger Institute’s Assistant Director for Fellowships, Dr. Amanda Herbert, chairs the committee meeting and reviews the committee’s recommendations with the Executive Director, Dr. Kathleen Lynch, in light of the Folger’s standards of professional ethics, priorities, and policies about conflicts of interest (all of which are described to the committee members in advance). At its discretion, the Folger may supplement committee recommendations.
The Folger has now opened its short-term fellowships to members of the performing arts community, as well as scholars working at archives, museums, and libraries. We welcome applications from archivists, creative artists, curators, librarians, performers, and playwrights whose research will benefit from focused engagement with the Folger collections.
DEADLINE: The next deadline for application is March 1, 2018 for a period of residence from June 2018 through June 2019, which offers scholars an opportunity to undertake a three-month fellowship during the summer months. The short-term fellowship application portal will open December 15, 2017.
ELIGIBILITY:Before beginning your application, please be sure to review the Rules and Requirements for the Folger Institute Fellowships Program. You can also consult the FAQs for further information.
To apply for a short-term fellowship, please submit the following:
- 250-word abstract of your project.
- 1,000-word description of your project, placing particular emphasis upon the ways that you intend to work with the Folger’s collections.
- Two-page CV.
- One-to-two page list of primary sources, rare materials, or digital assets you wish to consult at the Folger Library. This list will be used to help determine the viability of your project in view of the availability, condition, and conservation or exhibition status of the Folger’s collections.
- Two letters of recommendation.
AWARD: Short-term fellowships support scholars in residence for one to three months with a monthly stipend of $2,500.