Apply now for special collections fellowships

December 1, 2022

The Wilson Special Collections Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries is now accepting applications for four funding opportunities for students and researchers who wish to use the rich and deep resources available in UNC-Chapel Hill’s special collections.

Of special interest may be our doctoral fellowship awards focused on the American South and our Rare Book Collection Fellowships.

We are also excited embark on the third year of our teaching fellowships for students enrolled in a North Carolina Master’s of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program. MLIS students from underrepresented groups in the library and archives professions are especially encouraged to apply.

Applications for research fellowships will be accepted on a rolling basis but priority will be given to applications submitted by midnight on January 21.

Complete applications for Primary Sources Teaching fellowships are due by midnight January 31.

Details about all awards can be found on our Fellowships web page.

Southern Studies Doctoral Fellowships

Wilson Library invites applications from doctoral students and candidates studying the American South for its Southern Studies Doctoral Fellowships. Applications that make use of oral histories are encouraged.

Further details about these fellowships, applicant eligibility, and the application process can be found on our Southern Studies Doctoral Fellowships page.

Visiting Researcher Fellowships

Wilson Library invites applications for research fellowships of at least ten-days that support intensive, innovative, and impactful research and artistic use of its collections. Eligible researchers include:

  • Master’s students
  • Faculty
  • Independent scholars
  • Established performing and creative artists

These awards support research focused on North Carolina and the American South.

Further details about these fellowships, applicant eligibility, and the application process can be found on our Visiting Researcher Fellowships page.

Rare Book Collection Fellowships

Wilson Library offers three types of awards to support the intensive use of its Rare Book Collection.

  • The Bond Fellowship invites applications from the broader community of doctoral students and candidates, faculty, and independent scholars. These awards support research residencies of between one and three months.
  • The Hanes Graduate Fellowship supports doctoral and master’s students enrolled at UNC-Chapel Hill whose research requires direct and sustained use of Rare Book Collection materials.
  • The McLendon-Thomas Award for the broader community of master’s and doctoral students whose research projects focus on the history of medicine and draw deeply and substantively on the Wilson Library’s Rare Book Collection.

Further details about these fellowships, applicant eligibility, and the application process can be found on our Rare Book Collection Fellowships page.

Primary Sources Teaching Fellowships

The Primary Sources Teaching Fellowships support graduate students enrolled in one of North Carolina’s five public MLIS programs who are interested in learning about teaching with primary sources such as

  • Archives
  • Manuscripts
  • Rare books
  • Photographs
  • Audio
  • Video
  • Born digital materials
  • Digitized materials

And interested in teaching student groups including

  • K-12
  • College
  • University
  • Community audiences

Fellows will

  • Receive a $5,000 award
  • Participate in a five-week online summer training program
  • Attend a three-day in-person workshop at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Be placed in a paid internship at a cultural heritage institution local to them during the fall semester

MLIS students from underrepresented groups in the library and archives professions are especially encouraged to apply.   

Further details about these fellowships, applicant eligibility, and the application process can be found on our Primary Sources Teaching Fellowships page.