The Archive of Documentary Arts co-sponsors travel grants of up to $1,500 to researchers whose work would benefit from access to the photographic and documentary arts collections at the Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. 

Research and Travel Grants are also available in the following collecting areas within the Rubenstein Library: 

• Sallie Bingham Center for Women's History and Culture
• John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture
• John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising, and Marketing History
• Human Rights Archive
• History of Medicine

For more information, please see the our main travel grant page.

Photo Credit (Right): Wendel White from the Manifest Series

Who is eligible?

• Anyone who wishes to research materials from the Rubenstein Library's photographic or Documentary Arts may apply, regardless of academic status.
• Visual and performing artists, filmmakers and writers are encouraged to apply.
• All applicants must reside beyond a 100-mile radius of Durham, N.C., and may not be current Duke students or employees.

What expenses does the grant cover?   

• Transportation expenses (including air, train or bus ticket charges; car rental; mileage using a personal vehicle; and parking fees)
• Accommodations
• Meals

Travel grants are paid as reimbursement upon completion of research travel after original receipts are submitted. Checks usually take a few weeks to be processed and mailed. International grant recipients are reimbursed via wire transfer.

Research Topics

Research topics should strongly integrate the photographic and/or documentary arts collections of the Rubenstein Library which includes, but is not limited to, the holdings of the Archive of Documentary Arts. Intersectional research projects that cross disciplines or internal collection categories are encouraged. We also encourage applicants to discuss their research projects and the Rubenstein Library collections that might support it with our reference archivist before submitting an application. Submit an inquiry via our online form. All of our available collections are included in our online catalog which can be browsed from the following links:

https://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/

https://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/collections

How do I apply?

• Go to our main travel grant page and complete the online application form, which includes uploading a CV. (You may start the form and return to it later, but you must complete it within a week from the same computer and browser.)
• A sample application form is available as a Word document and PDF for reference purposes.
• A letter of recommendation is required for graduate and undergraduate students (from a faculty advisor) and for independent scholars or artists (from an appropriate reference). We will not consider an application complete until we receive the recommendation. Recommendations may be submitted as an e-mail attachment to Sierra Moore.