Rare Book Collection Fellowships

The Bond Fellowship

• Scholarly researchers
  • Doctoral student or candidate
  • Faculty
  • Independent scholar
• Have or be actively pursuing the terminal degree in your discipline

The Hanes Fellowship

• Full-time master’s or doctoral students
• Enrolled in a graduate program in the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill
• Currently working on a thesis or dissertation project

The McLendon-Thomas Award 

• Full-time master’s or doctoral students
• Enrolled in a graduate program
• Currently working on a thesis or dissertation project on the history of medicine

Agree to

• Submit a research proposal and research plan that draws deeply and substantively on the Rare Book Collection
• Commit to a full-time research residency at Wilson Library for the duration of the award
  • The residency must take place during our research year: June 1 of the year awarded to May 31 of the following spring
• Participate in the intellectual life of the Library and the fellowship program, which includes:
  • A public presentation of research findings and experiences
  • The submission of a brief research report
  • For the McLendon-Thomas Award, a presentation at the Bullitt History of Medicine Club lecture series

All application materials are due by midnight ET on January 31. Submit them electronically via Interfolio using the Rare Book Collection Fellowships Application.

The online application requires the submission of the following supporting materials:

• Research Proposal: A brief narrative (no more than 1200 words) that describes your proposed research and its intellectual significance.
• Research Plan: A substantive preliminary list of Wilson Library Rare Book Collection materials that you will consult during your residency. Include brief annotations concerning the relevancy of each collection.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Two confidential letters of recommendation.  For graduate students, one letter must be from your academic advisor.
• For graduate students, a letter from the Director of Graduate Studies confirming your current academic status.

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Merit of the proposal.
• Applicant’s qualifications and letters of recommendations.
• Demonstrated need to access in person the holdings of the Wilson Special Collections Library.

See the Wilson Library Research Fellowships Guidelines for more details on applying for a fellowship, accepting a fellowship, and planning your residency.

• December 1: Applications open for electronic submissions via Interfolio.
• January 31: All application materials must be received by midnight ET.
• March 31: Successful applicants are notified by email.
  • Preliminary acceptance of award must occur within 7 calendar days of the email’s receipt.
• April 15: Accepting applicants must return all required documentation and biographical information by midnight ET.
• May 31: Submit residency dates.
• June 1: Opening of research season.
  • Research reports are due one month after completing the research residency.
• October 31: Close of research season.