Special Collections and Archives
Research and Creative Fellowships
Summer 2018
Sponsored by Carolyn ’67 and Joseph ’68 Warden
This year, Special Collections and Archives will offer two 10-week summer fellowships for Furman undergraduates. These competitive fellowships will allow students to perform original research using materials in Special Collections and Archives for a research or creative project of their own design.
The rare books and manuscripts housed in the Furman Libraries range across several centuries, from medieval manuscripts to contemporary artists’ books, and from the Furman University Archives to South Carolina and Southern historical manuscript collections. Summer Fellows will explore these collections and use them to work on a project that can be discipline-based, related to their major or minor fields of study, or their career goals. Projects can also be interdisciplinary or creative in nature, based on their skills, background, and demonstrated interests. Our collections are diverse and rich with cultural meaning. We want to encourage Furman students to use them in the creation of new knowledge, art, or music.
Fellows will receive a summer stipend ($3,500) in addition to lodging on campus and access to all other campus amenities for the period of June 1 – August 15, 2017, and will be expected to be in residence during that time. While Fellows will work independently, it is expected that they will have a faculty sponsor who can provide occasional advice and guidance (either on-site or remotely) during the fellowship period. Fellows will also work closely with the faculty and staff of the Furman Libraries during their time in residence.
Following its completion, Fellows will be expected to submit a short report on their fellowship experience and a copy of their completed project to be added to Special Collections and Archives and FUSE. They will also take part in a public presentation of their work for the Furman community during the fall semester following their fellowship.
Eligibility: First-year students through juniors are eligible to apply for a summer 2018 Fellowship.
Instructions for Applicants: Course credit is not required for this fellowship. Applicants should submit a research proposal by March 1 outlining the work they would like to undertake during their fellowship, especially noting how the collections in Special Collections and Archives will help them achieve their goals, together with a current resume. Applicants should also discuss their project and application in advance with a Furman faculty member who will act as their sponsor, and submit (or have submitted) a letter of support from the faculty sponsor at the same time. In addition to the collection information found on the Special Collections and Archives website and library catalog, inquiries about holdings and collection strengths are encouraged. Please send all questions and all application materials to Jeffrey Makala (jeffrey.makala@furman.edu).