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 of content for SAH Archipedia, the Society’s online architectural resource. This is a unique publication opportunity
for graduate students. Proposed content must be related to some aspect of American architecture and/or urbanism prior to 1860, which may include Indigenous, Spanish Colonial, and/or African American topics. This fellowship was established in 2008
in honor of Charles E. Peterson, FAIA, founder of the Historic American Buildings Survey. 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 28, 2025. The fellowship grant of $2,500 will be contingent upon the recipient's completion of the project, which is expected to require approximately 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, 2025.
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
- Proposed content (1 page). This must be related to some aspect of American architecture and/or urbanism prior to 1860, although you should bring the building/site history up to the present. Please be sure to consult SAH Archipedia to ensure the proposed
content is not already published. Proposals may include one or more of the following:
- Updating and/or expanding existing building entries. For example, expanding plantation entries to include analysis of slave quarters and the plantation landscape.
- New building entries (approximately 250-750 words), with a brief statement about the significance of each.
- A thematic essay (1,000-2,000 words) that contextualizes a set of existing and/or new entries.
- Brief writing sample (5–10 pages)
- Recommendation from an advisor or principal professor submitted using the online recommendation form
For examples of work by past Peterson fellows, please see the following: Buildings of Connecticut; Gulf Coast Tribes; Schools for the Deaf, 1817–1865.
Applications for the 2025 award will open October 2024. The application deadline is December 31, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact Ann Gilkersen, Managing Editor of SAH Archipedia at AGilkerson@sah.org.