Grant Applications

The Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library of Duke University announces the availability of grants for researchers whose work would benefit from access to the library's archival and rare printed collections. Three of these grants are described on this page.  These grants are offered by the library's research centers: The Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture; The John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture; and The John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History. Researchers may apply for grants from more than one center. The maximum award per applicant is $1,000.

For the research centers' grants we strongly encourage applicants to speak with staff of the respective centers or with Research Services staff before applying for a grant. Past applications have demonstrated that those who spoke with a staff member about their projects produced stronger applications. We can lead you to potential sources of which you may not otherwise be aware.

• The Bingham Center offers Mary Lily Research Grants for research involving the use of their collections or research into other collections with a focus on women’s history and culture. For more information, please consult the Bingham Center website or contact cwhc@duke.edu, tel. 919-660-5967.
  
• The Franklin Research Center offers travel grants for research involving the use of its collections or for research with a focus on African and African-American studies. For more information, please consult the Franklin Center website or contact franklin-center@duke.edu, tel. 919-660-5922.
• The Hartman Center offers travel grants up to $750 for the use of any of the Hartman Center's collections. In addition, the Center will fund up to three J. Walter Thompson Research Fellowships. Each Fellow will receive a stipend of $1000 during his or her stay in Durham. Fellowships are available to researchers planning to spend a minimum of two weeks at Duke doing research that focuses on the J. Walter Thompson Company Archives. For more information, please consult the Hartman Center Web site or contact Lynn Eaton, Reference Archivist, John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History, hartman-center@duke.edu, tel. 919-660-5827.

Eligibility and Uses of Grant Money

Any faculty member, graduate or undergraduate student, or independent scholar with a research project directly related to the collections at Duke University’s Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library in the areas of African and African American documentation, women’s history, and/or sales, advertising and marketing history may apply for a research grant. All applicants must reside beyond a 50 mile radius of Durham, NC. Grant money may be used for travel to the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, costs of copying pertinent archival resources, and living expenses while pursuing research here, including accommodations and meals.

Application Process

Obtain an application form (Word Document, 45KB) from this web site or any of the contact people listed above. Electronic grant submission is preferred; send application and other documentation as an attachment to the email address below. Applications by mail or fax will also be accepted (address and fax number below).  Graduate and undergraduate students or their advisors should mail recommendations to the address below. If you wish to apply to more than one center for the same project, simply check the appropriate boxes at the top of the application form to indicate that you have chosen this option. Grants will not exceed $1,000 even if awarded jointly.  

Deadlines

The next cycle of awards will be for use between March 2010 and August 2011. You may request application information at any time. Applications must be received or postmarked by January 29, 2010. Awards will be announced during March 2010.

Contact Information for Submitting Applications

All grant application materials (regardless of which grant program is being applied to) should be submitted using the contact information below:

Research Grant Program
attn: Amy McDonald
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
Box 90185
Duke University
Durham, NC 27708-0185 U.S.A.

Fax: 919-660-5934 

E-mail: RBMSCL_Grants@notes.duke.edu