Indiana State Library Bicentennial Fellowship

In honor of the Indiana State Library's 200th anniversary, the ISL Bicentennial Committee, in conjunction with the Indiana State Library Foundation, will support one ISL Bicentennial Research Fellowship for 2025. Emerging or established researchers and historians who are prepared to conduct and publish new research and scholarship with a focus on Indiana history or a specific collection housed at the Indiana State Library are encouraged to apply. The fellowship provides a $1000 stipend to support in-person research for five consecutive work days at the Indiana State Library in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.

Eligibility

Applicants must be emerging or established historians, researchers, authors, post-docs, or graduate students with proven writing skills, a demonstrated passion for Indiana history, and the ability to perform in-person research at the Indiana State Library for five consecutive days, Mon.-Fri. between January 6-December 19, 2025. Applicants can be based anywhere in the U.S., but we particularly encourage Indiana residents outside of Marion County to apply.

Timeline

Application opened: Tuesday September 3, 2024, 8:30 a.m. EST

Application deadline: Tuesday November 26, 2024, 4:30 p.m. EST

Fellowship will be awarded by: Tuesday December 31, 2024, 4:30 p.m. EST

Fellowship period Monday January 6-Friday December 19, 2025

How to Apply

Please submit a completed ISL Bicentennial Application along with Research Statement/Proposal (1 pg.), a resume/CV (3 pg. maximum), one letter of recommendation, and up to three writing samples/samples of work to [email protected]. Writing samples can be submitted as pdf or word file formats and should not be longer than 20 pages each.

Selection Process

A Bicentennial Research Fellowship Review Committee composed of staff librarians and historians will convene to review all application documents and award the fellowship. All applicants will receive written notification via email on whether they have been selected for the fellowship. The application review will take place between December 2-20, 2024.

Additional Benefits

• An ISL mentor will be onsite to assist the fellow at the Indiana State Library
• Access to onsite research databases and ISL services
• Study carrel room from which to conduct research
• Access and contacts to partner organizations and agencies while in Indianapolis

Outcome

Upon completion of the Fellowship, the fellow will have the opportunity to present their findings at a Lunch and Learn session or write a blog post for the Indiana State Library blog. If the fellow publishes their work, we ask that a copy be donated to the Indiana State Library.