American Philosophical Society, Library & Museum

2021-2022 Fellowship Opportunities at the Library & Museum of the American Philosophical Society

The Library & Museum of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia invites applications for long- and short-term fellowships for scholars engaged in all fields, and especially those working on projects pertaining to the history of science, technology, and medicine; early American history; and Native American and Indigenous studies.

The APS Library & Museum’s collections make it among the premier institutions for documenting and exhibiting the history of the American Revolution and founding, the history of science from Newton to NASA, Native American languages and culture, and the development of American anthropology. The Library & Museum houses over 14 million manuscripts; 350,000 volumes of printed materials and bound periodicals; 250,000 images, fine art, and other objects; thousands of maps and prints; and more than 3,500 hours of audio recordings of Native American languages.

Comprehensive, searchable guides and finding aids to our collections are available online at www.amphilsoc.org/library and http://amphilsoc.pastperfectonline.com/.

Applications are now open for the following positions:

• The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship (deadline: Friday, December 4, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST).

• Long-term predoctoral fellowship opportunities in the history of science and in early American history (deadline: Friday, January 29, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST)

• David Center for the American Revolution Short-Term fellowships (deadline: Friday, March 5, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST).

Applicants whose research subjects overlap any other APS Library & Museum fellowship programs may also submit applications to other pertinent programs, though only one fellowship can be awarded to an individual. The strongest applications will demonstrate a clear need to consult materials housed in the APS Library & Museum and will list which collections will be used during the fellowship term.

See individual fellowship descriptions below for more information and instructions on how to apply. For a complete listing of all APS grant and fellowship opportunities, visit www.amphilsoc.org/grants/fellowships.
 

Long-Term Fellowships

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship

This 2-year fellowship will provide a recent Ph.D. with hands-on experience in curatorial work and the opportunity to pursue an independent research project, preferably one related to the collections or programs of the Society’s Library & Museum. Primary responsibilities will include: 1) Conducting research in the APS Library & Museum collections in preparation for exhibitions exploring the intersections of history, art, and science; 2) Selecting objects for exhibitions and developing thematic narratives; 3) Helping plan and implement exhibitions as well as researching and writing interpretive materials for non-scholarly audiences (exhibition labels and text panels, website text, etc.)

• Applicants will receive a stipend of $51,548 a year plus benefits, along with additional funds for research support, travel, and relocation.

• Twenty percent of the Fellow’s time will be reserved for their own independent research, ideally using resources at the APS or kindred regional institutions. The Fellow will also be expected to participate in the vibrant intellectual community at the Society.

• The fellowship term is July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023.

To apply, please submit materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/79200

Deadline: Friday, December 4, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Friends of the American Philosophical Society Predoctoral Fellowship in Early American History (to 1840)

This 12-month fellowship is intended for advanced Ph.D. students working toward the completion of the dissertation.

• Applicants will receive a stipend of $25,000 to support twelve months of work on topics pertaining to early American history (to 1840).

• The successful applicant will receive an appointment as a Research Associate at the McNeil Center for Early American Studies, which will provide library and computer privileges at the University of Pennsylvania to those who agree to participate regularly in the McNeil Center’s seminars and other programming (www.mceas.org).

To apply, please submit materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/79202

Deadline: Friday, January 29, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
 

John C. Slater Predoctoral Fellowship in the History of Science

This 12-month fellowship is intended for advanced Ph.D. students working toward the completion of the dissertation.

• Applicants will receive a stipend of $25,000 to support twelve months of work on topics pertaining to the history of science, broadly defined.

• Applicants’ research must pertain to topics in the history of science or related fields.

• The successful applicant will be affiliated with the Consortium for History of Science, Technology, and Medicine (www.chstm.org).

To apply, please submit materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/79197%20

 Deadline: Friday, January 29, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
 

Short-Term Fellowships

David Center for the American Revolution Short-Term Resident Research Fellowships

These fellowships continue the 30-year tradition of the David Library awarding over 200 fellowships to scholars working on projects about the American Revolution and Founding Era. These opportunities provide one month of support for researchers in residence and are open to scholars in all fields who show a demonstrated need to use the collections for their project.

A stipend of $3,000 per month is awarded to all successful applicants for a minimum of one month and a maximum of three months. Approximately 25-30 short-term fellowships are awarded each year.

Applicants may be:

• Holders of the Ph.D. or its equivalent.

• Ph.D. candidates who have passed their preliminary examinations and are working on their dissertation research.

• Degreed independent scholars (without current academic affiliation).

• U.S. citizens or foreign nationals. Candidates who live 75 or more miles from Philadelphia receive some preference.

To apply, please submit materials to https://apply.interfolio.com/79138

Deadline: Friday, March 5, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

-----------------------

Applicants: Please use Interfolio's help desk for any issues pertaining to the online application process.

Contact regarding the Fellowship program and the American Philosophical Society Library & Museum may be directed to Adrianna Link, Ph.D., Head of Scholarly Programs, at alink@amphilsoc.org or by phone at 215-440-3415.

The American Philosophical Society is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly excellence while supporting a working and intellectual environment that fosters an inclusive atmosphere for learning, prizes diverse origins and points of view, advances equal opportunities to learn and communicate, and encourages the widest possible access to its collections. The APS has titled these goals the APS IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equality, and Access) for its enduring institutional commitment to these values.