Research Fellowships

To apply for a fellowship or grant:

1. Review the fellowship descriptions below.
2. Unless otherwise stated, you must submit your application online. Please note that only currently open fellowships will be listed.
3. Recommenders must submit an online recommendation form.

• Charles E. Peterson Fellowship of the Buildings of the United States and the Athenaeum of Philadelphia
• Edilia and François-Auguste de Montêquin Fellowship
• HABS-SAH Sally Kress Tompkins Fellowship
• Study Program Fellowships

STUDY PROGRAM FELLOWSHIPS

 
Purpose
Study Program Fellowships are offered in conjunction with each SAH Study Day or SAH Field Seminar to allow for a graduate student or emerging professional to participate in the program. These fellowships are funded by the Society of Architectural Historians' Scott Opler Endowment for New Scholars.
 
The Award
The fellowship covers the single occupancy price of the tour package. Also included is a travel stipend of up to $200 intended to provide underwriting for travel to and from the Study Day/Field Seminar destination. The travel stipend portion of the award is granted on a reimbursable basis, paid after the study tour with travel receipts and a completed Travel Reimbursement Form. SAH suggests that if additional financial support is needed to cover other related expenses (airfare, meals not covered, etc.) that the applicants contact their respective university/college, academic advisor, department head or employer to investigate the financial opportunities afforded them.

Criteria for Application
2020 Study Program Fellowships are open to current full-time MA and PhD students and emerging professionals who have received a MA or PhD between 2016 and August 2020. Current membership in SAH is not required to apply, however, fellowship recipients will be required to join SAH before attending the tour and receiving the award. 

Reporting Requirements
Study Program Fellowship recipients are asked to complete a report for each day of the tour, which includes a paragraph explaining how the tour contributed to the recipient's research. Within one week of the conclusion of the tour, fellowship recipients are required to upload images to SAHARA (25 for a Study Day, 50 for a domestic Field Seminar, 100 for an international Field Seminar).

Application Details
Applicants must submit the following through the online portal:

• A statement (in English, 300 words) that explains how this fellowship will advance your studies or interests
• A curriculum vitae (5 pages max)
• One letter of recommendation (must be submitted using the online recommendation form)

CHARLES E. PETERSON FELLOWSHIP OF THE BUILDINGS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE ATHENAEUM OF PHILADELPHIA

Purpose
In a joint program with the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, the Society of Architectural Historians is pleased to offer an annual fellowship that will support the participation of a graduate student in the research and writing for a volume in the Buildings of the United States (BUS) series and/or SAH Archipedia, the Society’s online architectural resource. This fellowship was established in 2008 in honor of Charles E. Peterson, FAIA, founder of the Historic American Buildings Survey. The recipient will research some aspect of American architecture prior to 1860, which they may choose from a list of topics provided by authors of forthcoming BUS books. The prize will be presented at the Society's annual conference in April and will be announced in the SAH Newsletter following the conference.

The Award
The committee will award the fellowship by February 3, 2020, at which time the recipient will choose from the pre-defined list of available topics. The fellowship grant of $2,500 will be contingent upon the recipient's completion of the project, which is expected to require 150 hours of work. A portion of the award ($500) will be paid in early June to cover the recipient's immediate expenses. The balance of the award ($2,000) will be payable upon completion of the project. The completed project must be submitted to SAH by August 31, 2020. 

Criteria for Application
The fellowship is intended for students currently enrolled in graduate programs in art or architectural history, architectural design, urban planning, historic preservation, landscape architecture, American studies, or related disciplines. Preference will be given to SAH members. The successful applicant does not need to reside in Philadelphia, although the Athenaeum will be glad to have the fellowship recipient use its collections. Applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of BUS/SAH Archipedia editors and authors. You do not have to be a member of SAH to apply for this fellowship, but membership is encouraged. 

Application Details
Applicants must submit the following through the online portal:
• Cover letter discussing their research interests and professional goals
• CV or resumé
• Brief writing sample (5-10 pages)
• Recommendation from an advisor or principal professor submitted using the online recommendation form

Applications for the 2020 award will open October 1, 2019, and will be accepted up to January 6, 2020.

 

HABS-SAH SALLY KRESS TOMPKINS FELLOWSHIP

Purpose
The Sally Kress Tompkins Fellowship, a joint program of the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) and the National Park Service’s Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), permits a graduate student in architectural history or a related field the opportunity to work on a 12-week HABS history project during the summer of 2020. The Fellow will prepare a written history that focuses on a significant U.S. building or site for the permanent HABS collection at the Library of Congress. The Fellow’s research interests and goals will inform the building or site selected for documentation by HABS staff. The Fellow is usually stationed in the HABS Washington, D.C., office. The Fellow will be selected by a jury of two SAH members and one HABS representative.

The Award
The award consists of a $12,000 stipend and SAH conference registration and travel expenses up to $1,000. The successful applicant will be notified in late February and will be recognized at the SAH 73rd Annual International Conference in Seattle, Washington (April 29–May 3, 2020). The award includes travel, hotel accommodation, and registration for the SAH Seattle conference up to $1,000. The award will be announced in the May 2020 issue of the SAH Newsletter.

Reporting Requirements
In addition to the final project/written history, recipients are required to upload a minimum of 50 images documenting their summer HABS project to the SAHARA image archive prior to completion of the fellowship.

Criteria for Application
Applicants should be pursuing graduate studies in architectural history or other related fields. You do not have to be a member of SAH to apply for this fellowship, but membership is strongly encouraged. 

Application Details
Applications for the 2020 HABS-SAH Sally Kress Tompkins Fellowship must be emailed to Lisa Davidson by December 31, 2019.

For application instructions, visit: nps.gov/hdp/jobs/tompkins.htm or contact Lisa Davidson at 202-354-2179 or lisa_davidson@nps.gov.

EDILIA AND FRANÇOIS-AUGUSTE DE MONTÊQUIN FELLOWSHIP

Purpose
This award provides support for travel related to research on Spanish, Portuguese, or Ibero-American architecture. 

The Awards
The awards consist of a $2,000 fellowship for an advanced graduate student and a $6,000 fellowship for a senior or emerging scholar. The awardees will be notified in December and will be recognized at the SAH 73rd Annual International Conference in Seattle, Washington (April 29–May 2, 2020). The awards also will be announced in the May 2020 issue of the SAH Newsletter.

Criteria for Application

These annual fellowships are intended to support the research of graduate students who have completed their coursework and are engaged in doctoral dissertation research, and senior or emerging scholars who have completed their PhD or equivalent terminal degree.  The research to be supported must focus on Spanish, Portuguese, or Ibero-American architecture, including colonial architecture produced by the Spaniards in the Philippines and what is today the United States. The applicant must be a current member of SAH. 

Reporting Requirements
Following completion of travel and research supported by the fellowship, each de Montêquin Fellowship awardee must submit a written report summarizing their research and explaining what travel was undertaken and how funds were spent. The report will be submitted to the SAH office no later than three months following the completion of work related to the fellowship. Awardees are required to upload images to SAHARA (a minimum of 50  for junior scholars and a minimum of 150 for senior scholars). 

Application Details
You will need two recommendations to apply for this fellowship (must be submitted using the online recommendation form), a description of the research project on Iberian or Ibero-American architecture to be funded (500 words maximum), a current curriculum vitae (5 pages max), and a statement of purpose.

SAH is accepting applications for the 2020 Edilia and François-Auguste de Montêquin Fellowship through September 30, 2019.