Fellowship for research at the Library of Congress

J. Franklin Jameson Fellowship in American History

The Franklin Jameson Fellowship in American History is offered annually by the Library of Congress and the American Historical Association to support significant scholarly research for one semester in the collections of the Library of Congress by scholars at an early stage in their careers in history. The fellowship is named in honor of J. Franklin Jameson, a founder of the Association, longtime managing editor of the American Historical Review, formerly Chief of the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, and the first incumbent of the Library's Chair of American History. It is designed to assist scholars early in their careers.

Eligibility

At the time of application, applicants must hold the Ph.D. degree or equivalent; must have received this degree within the past seven years, and must not have published or had accepted for publication a book-length historical work. The fellowship will not be awarded to complete a doctoral dissertation.

Research Project

The applicant's project in American history must be one for which the general and special collections of the Library of Congress offer unique research support. Applicants should include a statement substantiating this relationship.

Duration

The fellowship will be awarded for 2–3 months, as the Jameson Fellow desires, to spend in full-time residence at the Library of Congress. Working space will be provided by the Library of Congress, but the Jameson Fellow is required to spend at least two months in residence.

Other Requirements

Before the conclusion of the fellowship, the Jameson Fellow will summarize the results of his or her research at a professional gathering arranged by the American Historical Association and the Library of Congress. Jameson Fellows are not required to complete their projects during the tenure of the fellowship, nor need they necessarily publish their results as a discrete work.

Stipend

The total stipend may vary from year to year. For 2010–11, the amount will be $5,000. This will not be prorated according to the proposed length of tenure of the fellowship.

Selection

Selection will be by a committee of the American Historical Association, in consultation with designated officers of the Library of Congress, who will advise the committee on the strength of Library holdings to sustain the research project. The AHA encourages non-tenured faculty, public historians, independent scholars, and two-year faculty to apply.

Deadline

All application materials and letters of recommendation must be postmarked by March 15, 2010.

Full details about how to apply are here.

Photo: Library of Congress reading room.