Applications for the Houghton Library Fellowships at Harvard University are open to scholars at any stage of their careers who are seeking to undertake projects that require in-depth research into the Houghton Library holdings, draw on staff expertise, and participate in the intellectual life of the institution. Scholars are entitled to a basic stipend to support living and learning. Interested entrants must apply before the deadline.
Program Details
Houghton provides fellows with access to other University libraries and opportunities to share knowledge and promote their research through its academic and public publications and programs.
Recent fellows’ research topics speak to the breadth and depth of Houghton’s holdings, ranging from colonial-era Native American music to Sanskrit manuscript collecting and Iberian chivalric romances to the pregnancy of celebrities on stage in London.
Fellowship Benefits
Fellows in this group will receive a $4,500 stipend each and are expected to live in Houghton for at least four weeks during the fellowship year.
Level and Areas of Study
The fellowship program is for scholars at all stages of their careers.
Place of Study
The place of the program is at Harvard University in the United States.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for Houghton Library Fellowships at Harvard, applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Open to candidates of all nationalities. Non-U.S. citizens awarded a fellowship are required to obtain a J-1 visa. Harvard University can sponsor the visa, but fellows are responsible for paying associated fees and will receive their stipend 2-3 weeks after arriving at Houghton Library.
- Doctoral students, post-doctoral, academics and independent scholars, as well as curators, and other library, archive and museum professionals, are welcome to apply.
- Fellowships normally are not granted to scholars who live within commuting distance of the library.
- Scholars are welcome to apply each year. If awarded a fellowship, however, a period of 5 years must elapse before another fellowship may be awarded.
- We particularly welcome applications from students and scholars from underrepresented groups in academia, including women, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, first generation scholars, and persons with disabilities.
Application Procedure
Eligible applicants for the Houghton Library Fellowships are to apply online and submit the following required documents:
- a project proposal (1,000 words maximum)
- a preliminary list of Houghton collection materials
- a curriculum vitae
- one letter of reference
Submission Deadline: January 20.