The Linda Hall Library is now accepting applications for our 2025-26 fellowship program. These  fellowships provide graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and independent scholars in the  history of science and related humanities fields with financial support to explore the Library’s  outstanding science and engineering collections. Fellows also participate in a dynamic  intellectual community alongside in-house experts and scholars from other Kansas City cultural  and educational institutions. 

The Linda Hall Library holds nearly half a million monographs and more than 43,000 journal  titles documenting the history of science and technology from the 15th century to the present. Its  collections are exceptionally strong in the engineering disciplines, chemistry, and physics. In  addition, the Library boasts extensive resources related to natural history, astronomy, earth  science, environmental studies, aeronautics, life science, infrastructure studies, mathematics, and  the history of the book. 

The Library offers residential fellowships to support on-site research in Kansas City, as well  as virtual fellowships for scholars working remotely using resources from the Library’s digital  collections. Applicants may request up to four months of funding at a rate of $3,000 per month  for doctoral students and $4,200 per month for postdoctoral researchers. 

The Library is also offering several fellowships intended for specific groups of researchers: 

• The National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship provides nine months of  residential funding ($5,000 per month) to a postdoctoral scholar whose research explores  the intersection of science and the humanities. 

• The History of Science and Medicine Fellowship, offered in partnership with the Clendening History of Medicine Library at the University of Kansas Medical Center,  provides one month of residential funding ($3,000 per month) to a doctoral student whose  research examines the intersecting histories of science and medicine. 

• The Pearson Fellowship in Aerospace History provides up to two months of residential  funding ($4,200 per month) to a postdoctoral scholar studying the history of aviation or  spaceflight. 

• The Presidential Fellowship in Bibliography provides up to four months of residential  funding ($4,200 per month) to a postdoctoral scholar whose research focuses on the study  of books and manuscripts as physical artifacts. 

The Linda Hall Library is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive research environment  and encourages members of any groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in  academia to apply for fellowship support. 

Please share this announcement with graduate students, colleagues, or anyone else who might be  interested in the Linda Hall Library’s fellowship program. All application materials are due no  later than January 17, 2025. For further information, visit the Fellowships page on our website or  e-mail fellowships@lindahall.org.

Assistant Professor of History at Western Colorado University 

POSITION: Western Colorado University invites applications for an Assistant Professor of U.S. History.

We seek an effective teacher-scholar engaged in teaching and research on histories of what is now the Western United States (western Turtle Island/northwestern Abya Yala) and its environment and/or public lands. We particularly welcome applications from scholars whose work focuses on subjects such as critical studies of race, ethnicity, gender, and class; settler colonialism and decolonization; Indigenous knowledge; migration and diaspora; environmental and/or Indigenous policy; and/or marginalized peoples and contested spaces in the American West.

Teaching is the primary focus of this position, and the faculty member will be responsible for teaching a 4-4 load per year. These will include one or more of the program’s U.S. history survey courses, General Education courses, as well as upper-division U.S. history courses and special topics. Depending on qualifications, the candidate may also have the opportunity to teach in the Environmental and Sustainability program and potentially supervise graduate students and teach in the Masters in Environmental Management program. Interdisciplinary collaboration across the Social Sciences, Humanities and/or with Computer Science is desirable.

This position should complement our current team who cover African, European, Latin American, and Public History. The History program seeks a colleague who can show evidence of teaching excellence, scholarly productivity, and curriculum vision. Applicants should directly address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in research, service, and teaching pedagogy.

The History program at Western Colorado University is part of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences. The program has 3 full-time faculty members and approximately 45 majors following three tracks: Standard History major, Secondary Licensure, and Public History. We also support a number of accelerated master’s programs (Environmental Management and Education). The successful applicant will help to nurture an interdisciplinary culture in the Behavioral & Social Sciences department and will contribute to Western’s mission and strategic plan, collegiality, student mentorship, inclusive and interdisciplinary teaching, creating professional pathways, and growing enrollment.

QUALIFICATIONS: A Ph.D. or similar terminal degree from a regionally-accredited university is required. A Ph.D. in history is preferred, but candidates with doctorates in American studies, Indigenous/Native American studies, ethnic studies, or similar fields will be considered if their research is primarily historical in nature. Evidence of teaching excellence and a demonstrated ability to work collegially in a student-centered learning environment while building relationships with external constituents thatbenefit student is also expected. Candidates must also be able to use technology in instructional delivery, including ability to teach online and hybrid courses. Collegiality and professional flexibility are characteristic of the department and would be sought in the successful candidate.

SALARY/BENEFITS: $57,000-$59,000 annualized salary. Western offers an excellent benefits package including shared premiums for a comprehensive health insurance plan, dental insurance, retirement plan, life insurance, and other insurance options. After one year of employment, Western provides free tuition for dependents enrolled full time in undergraduate programs for up to four years. 

START DATE: August 2025

APPLICATION: Apply online at www.western.edu/jobs. Required attachments to the application include: letter of application, curriculum vitae, transcripts, teaching evaluations, statement of teaching philosophy, diversity statement, and a reference list with names and contact information of three references.

Please direct questions to Dr. William Niemi (970-943-3045); email: wniemi@western.edu.

Screening of applications will begin immediately and application deadline is January 15, 2025.

Note: If transcripts are required for your application, you may redact information that identifies your age, date of birth, dates of attendance, or graduation from the educational institution. If a degree is required for employment, official transcripts (unopened or delivered directly to HR) are required upon hire; copies/scans submitted during application will not serve the purpose of official transcripts upon hire.

Additional Information on Western and Gunnison/Crested Butte

Western Colorado University is a public institution with an enrollment of ~3,700 graduate and undergraduate students, the majority of which reside on the campus and in the community.  With average class sizes of 17 students, faculty and staff share a strong commitment to inclusivity and personalized, immersive education. They are student-oriented, collegial, enthusiastic, and engaged in the campus and community. Western is committed to continual growth in regard to diversity, equity, and inclusivity and promotes participation in DEI initiatives from students, faculty, staff, and the community. Please see our diversity statement, and our DEI Committee charge.

 

The University is located in Gunnison, Colorado, a rural community 200 miles southwest of Denver and the gateway to Crested Butte, a world class ski community.  K-12 students are served by the award-winning Gunnison Watershed School District. Both communities value the arts, quality of life, community-based wrap around services for children and adults, and continued personal growth and learning opportunities. At an elevation of 7,700 feet in the southern Rocky Mountains, the Gunnison Valley provides exceptional year-round outdoor recreational and cultural opportunities including summer arts and music festivals, mountain biking, skiing, kayak/rafting, rock climbing, hiking and camping… all within minutes of the campus. 

Visit http://www.western.edu to learn more about the university.

 

An Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.

Curator, South Dakota Oral History Center, Assistant Professor of Practice

Job Posting: University of South Dakota

Overview: The University Libraries, of the University of South Dakota (USD), seeks a teacher, scholar and public historian to serve as the Curator of the South Dakota Oral History Center. Through teaching, fieldwork, scholarship and public engagement, the successful candidate will advance the center’s mission of collecting, preserving and sharing oral histories of the people of the Northern Plains. Integral to accomplishing this mission, the curator will collaborate with programs in the University Libraries, specifically Archives and Special Collections and Digital Humanities, as well as departments and programs across campus, especially the departments of History and Native Studies, and the Institute of American Indian Studies. The curator will strive to advance the center’s relationships with tribal communities in South Dakota and the region, elevate the visibility and impact of the center throughout the state, region and nation, and move the center towards greater engagement with the profession of oral history.

Review of applications begins January 15, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

Responsibilities: 

Teaching:

• Develops and delivers credit-bearing courses in oral history, oral history orientations and workshops for academic and community audiences, and library and research skills orientations and programming for USD courses and the community.
• Develops and supervises credit-bearing internships in the field of oral history.
  

Scholarship:

• Designs, leads and executes research projects through the collection, preservation and dissemination of oral histories.
• Presents and publishes in the field of oral history.
• Seeks and secures grants to advance a program of scholarship, as well as the preservation of and access to oral histories held by the center.
• Engages with the discipline and practice of oral history, e.g., ethics, research with tribal communities, copyright and the uses and roles of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.

Preservation and Access:

• Uses national standards, best practices and local policies and procedures to ensure the preservation, organization, transcription, description and digital access to oral histories.
• Provides research support and assistance to individuals seeking to use oral histories held by the center.

Service:

• Collaborates with organizations in South Dakota, the region and nation to develop oral history projects and workshops, as well as serves on committees of the library, and/or the university, and/or professional societies.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications include:
• Ph.D. in History, Native Studies, Anthropology, English or a relevant field within the humanities or social sciences; or dual master degrees—M.A. or M.S. in Oral History with a M.A or M.S. in History, Native Studies, Anthropology, English, Library & Information Science, or another relevant field within the humanities or social sciences.
• A record of undergraduate and/or graduate teaching in the field of history, or another field of the humanities, or a relevant field in the social sciences.
• A record of fieldwork in oral history.
• A record of experience in using descriptive metadata schemas for cataloging oral histories.
• Demonstrated experience with technologies used in recording, transcribing, editing, digitizing, and cataloging oral histories.
• Evidence of a strong public service orientation, ability to work independently, project management skills, and strong oral/written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications include:
• A record of undergraduate and/or graduate teaching in the field of oral history, and/or substantially integrating oral history in humanities and/or social sciences courses.
• A record of scholarship in the field of oral history, including publishing peer-reviewed articles.
• A record of developing policies and practices for research with marginalized communities.
• Experience with digital humanities methodologies and tools in one or more of the following areas: textual analysis, mapping, timelines, multimedia exhibits, or podcasting.
• A record of securing grants and funding for oral history projects and scholarship.
• A record of managing oral history projects.
• A record of engaging community audiences through oral history projects.
• Managing and supervising students, including graduate assistants, and/or staff.

Position reports to the Dean of the University Libraries.

To apply, see https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu/postings/41068 and submit a curriculum vitae, cover letter addressing required qualifications, and provide contact information for at least 3 professional references.

U.S. sponsorship is not available for this position.

Salary: $70,000–$80,000

Department Description: Students, families, faculty and scholars from across the nation engage with the oral history collections of the South Dakota Oral History Center https://www.usd.edu/Academics/Libraries/ID-Weeks-Library/South-Dakota-Oral-History-Center, a department of the University Libraries. The center houses over 5,000 recordings, most of which are digitized and document settler colonial and Indigenous experiences on the Northern Plains in the 19th and early 20th centuries; South Dakota’s history, society and culture during the early and mid 20th century; South Dakota’s political history; and university history.

In 2022, the University of South Dakota renovated and expanded Archives and Special Collections (ASC) and the South Dakota Oral History Center (SDOHC). The SDOHC is co-located with ASC, the University Libraries’ Digital Imaging Lab, a research room that also serves as a teaching and learning space, and ample collection storage and processing spaces. The University Libraries manage an archival collection storage space and processing space at the Preservation Center, an off-site facility shared by the University Libraries and the National Music Museum. In 2023, the University of South Dakota launched a digital humanities initiative, which is led by the Digital Humanities Librarian/Assistant Professor of Practice. The Curator of SDOHC will join a vibrant team of humanities scholars, imaging professionals, and archivists.

The University Libraries include I.D. Weeks Library and the Wegner Health Sciences Library. The position is based at the I.D. Weeks Library on the University of South Dakota campus in Vermillion, SD. Vermillion is located on the Missouri River and within an hour drive of Sioux Falls – South Dakota’s largest city.

Contact: Kim Miller

Program Assistant

University Libraries

University of South Dakota

605-658-3367

Kim.miller@usd.edu

Dr. W. David Baird, Seaver College Dean Emeritus and Howard A. White Professor Emeritus of History at Pepperdine University, died on November 15, 2024. 

Dr. Baird's involvement with the WHA began in the 1970s, when he served as a commentator on a panel at the 16th Annual Conference in Denver. He was actively involved in the organization for several decades, lending his time to a number of WHA committees, presenting his work at conferences, and publishing articles in the Western Historical Quarterly. A past WHA President (1989), and member of the WHQ Board of Editors (1980-82), Dr. Baird's passing is a devastating loss for our organization. 

Please read below a message written by one of Dr. Baird's mentees, Patti Loughlin. Pepperdine University also posted a memorial article that covers Dr. Baird's long career.

---------

With deep sadness and a heavy heart I write to let you know that distinguished historian Dr. W. David Baird, University of Oklahoma alumnus, former Oklahoma Historical Society board member, and Seaver College Dean Emeritus and Howard A. White Professor Emeritus of History at Pepperdine University, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024.

David was a mentor to me at Pepperdine and introduced me to the fields of western history, Native history, and Oklahoma history.

Born in Edmond, Oklahoma, Baird received the A.A. degree from George Washington University in 1959, the B.A. in history and geography from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1961, the M.A. in history and geography from the University of Oklahoma in 1965, and the Ph.D. in history and geography from the University of Oklahoma in 1969.

Baird held appointments on the history faculty at the University of Arkansas (1968-1978) and Oklahoma State University (1978-1988) before joining the faculty at Seaver College, Pepperdine University, as the Howard A. White Professor of History in 1988. He became Dean of Seaver College in 1998, a position he held until 2008.

Baird’s scholarly record includes fourteen books, most recently The Quest for Distinction: Pepperdine University in the Twentieth Century (2016) and Churches of Christ in Oklahoma: A History (2020). Baird’s publications in American Indian history include Peter Pitchlynn: Chief of the Choctaws (1972) and The Quapaw Indians: A History of the Downstream People (1980). Baird’s contributions to Oklahoma history include The Story of Oklahoma (1994, 2007, 2020), an award-winning textbook for junior high and high school students, and Oklahoma: A History (2008), for general readers, both coauthored by Danney Goble.

Baird has served as executive director of the American Historical Association, Pacific Coast Branch (1996-2004), president of the Western History Association (1988-1989), and international president of Phi Alpha Theta (1989-91). When David Baird retired as dean of Seaver College, Pepperdine University created the W. David Baird Distinguished Lecture Series in his honor.

No public funeral services are planned at this time.

CFP - Outdoor Recreation History in the North American West Seminar (Aug. 7-8, 2025)

Call for Papers

Outdoor Recreation History in the North American West

Proposal Deadline: 15 January 2025
Seminar Date: 7-8 August 2025

 [Download CFP here]

North American West landscapes of mountains, forests, deserts, and rivers have served as sites for survival and work for centuries, but also as a playground. The development and growth of camping, hiking, hunting and fishing, skiing, biking, mountain and rock climbing, river-running, and other activities play key roles in attracting visitors to the region, retaining residents by driving local economies, coloring regional cultures, and shaping how many perceive the region. The viability these activities and the health of their associated outdoor spaces have faced continual challenge and change. Today, these include new technologies that are altering the forms of outdoor recreation and who participates in them, fast-growing recreation and tourism industries that dominate regional economies, increased usage and consumer demands that stress environments and those tasked with managing them, and changing climates. All this makes for uncertain futures and demands fuller historical understanding. New scholarship that acknowledges these issues along with colonial pasts, Indigenous relationships with landscapes, accessibility inequities to BIPOC and marginalized communities, survival of local communities, and other fraught issues can help better inform our present and guide our futures.

To facilitate these conversations, the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies at Brigham Young University will host a fully funded 2-day seminar on August 7-8, 2025. Selected participants will write and pre-circulate chapter-length pieces (approximately 6,000-8,000 words) before gathering on the BYU campus to workshop them together. These will subsequently be revised and published as an edited collection. Redd Center Associate Director and Professor of History Brenden W. Rensink will serve as seminar organizer and volume editor. Historians Annie Coleman (Notre Dame), Phoebe Young (CU-Boulder), and others will help facilitate small- and large-group workshop sessions. Authors are encouraged to consider diverse voices and perspectives in their work. Senior and junior scholars (including graduate students) are welcomed.

 

Apply using this link (https://tinyurl.com/outdoorrecreationhistory) by January 15, 2025.

Contact Brenden W. Rensink at bwrensink@byu.edu if you have questions.

 

Past edited volumes that have emerged from past Redd Center seminars include: 

• Religion in the American West, Todd M. Kerstetter and Fred E. Woods, eds. (University of Nebraska Press, forthcoming)
• The North American West in the Twenty-First Century, Brenden W. Rensink, ed. (University of Nebraska Press, 2022)
• Essays on American Indian and Mormon History, Jane Hafen and Brenden W. Rensink, eds. (University of Utah Press, 2019)
• Reconstruction and Mormon America, Clyde A. Milner, II and Brian Q. Cannon, eds. (University of Oklahoma Press, 2019)
• The Earth Will Appear as the Garden of Eden: Essays on Mormon Environmental History, Jedediah S. Rogers and Matthew C. Godfrey, eds. (University of Utah Press, 2018)
• Immigrants in the Far West: Historical Identities and Experiences, Jessie L. Embry and Brian Q. Cannon, eds. (University of Utah Press, 2013)
• Oral History, Community, and Work in the American West, Jessie L. Embry, ed. (University of Arizona Press, 2013)
• Utah in the Twentieth Century, Brian Q. Cannon and Jessie L. Embry, eds. (Utah State University Press, 2009)

Assistant Profesor in U.S. History at Utah State University

Overview

The Department of History at Utah State University (USU) in Uintah Basin invites applications for a tenure-track, nine-month position at the rank of Assistant Professor in nineteenth or twentieth century United States history, with areas of expertise in Utah history, Indigenous history, religious history, environmental history, and/or history of the American West. The successful applicant will teach our lower-division surveys in American History, our History of Utah course, and upper-division courses in their area(s) of specialization. The department seeks a colleague who can show evidence of teaching excellence and research productivity. Teaching is the primary focus of this position, and the faculty member will be responsible for teaching six courses per year, including courses taught in different modalities (face-to-face, online, and connect). The anticipated start date is August 2025.The department seeks a highly motivated teacher and researcher to join a vibrant community of scholars at our Roosevelt campus.

Review of applications begins December 7, 2024, and continues until the position is filled.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate excellence in teaching and effectiveness in research 
• Teach one or more of our lower-division U.S. surveys (HIST 1700, HIST 2700 and HIST 2710) 
• Contribute to the department’s lower-division, upper-division (including HIST 3850: Utah History), and graduate curricula 
• Produce high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship 
• Contribute to service in the Department, College, and University 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: 

• A PhD in U.S. History or related field by July 2025 (ABD will be considered at time of application if degree is completed by July 2025) 
• Evidence of teaching excellence 
• Evidence of scholarly productivity 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to contribute to other units in the History Department, including the Public History emphasis, the Classics Program, the Religious Studies Program, or the Global Peacebuilding Certificate.  

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach: 

1. CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"
2. Two syllabi: 1) for any survey course in U.S. History, and 2) for any upper division course in indigenous, religious, environmental or regional/local history to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10"
3. The names and email addresses of three references (your references will be asked to upload a letter of recommendation if your candidacy advances to the next level).
4. A cover letter that speaks to your experience as a teacher and researcher (to be copied and pasted into a fillable field at the end of the application). 

The committee may request copies of course evaluations or other teaching materials if your candidacy advances to the interview stage. 

 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

College/Department Highlights

The History Department at Utah State includes dynamic teacher-scholars in History, Religious Studies, and Classics as well as undergraduate and master's level students interested in a global field of study. The faculty values high-quality research in keeping with its research mission, but it also places the highest importance on accessible and quality teaching. The department offers majors/minors in history, history teaching, and religious studies. It also offers minors in Latin, Greek, Classical Civilization, and Latin Teaching, and two masters’ program in History and Ancient Languages and Cultures. Faculty in the program are located at the main campus in Logan as well as at locations around the state as part of the university’s statewide mission. For more information on the department, see our website: http://history.usu.edu  

 

All faculty are part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, which plays an instrumental role in teaching critical thinking, knowledge-building skills and the ability to pose meaningful questions that advance understanding and knowledge. Students in our college confront the great questions and controversies, learn about the forces that have shaped our world, and develop the skills to tackle its most pressing challenges. Our graduates are creative problem-solvers with a passion for making a difference. The education they receive here prepares them to address the problems of today and to succeed wherever their career path takes them tomorrow. 

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

 

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

 

*updated 04/2024

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

If you have any questions, reach out to Amanda Katz.

Biographers International Organization (BIO) is very happy to announce the new Kitty Kelley Dissertation Fellowship in Biography that will provide $25,000 each year to a doctoral student who is writing a dissertation in English focused on the life of another person or upon the lives of two or more individuals. This generous fellowship is endowed by Kitty Kelley, a founding member BIO and long-time advocate for biography and biographers, as well as the bestselling author of multiple biographical works where she has displayed courage and deftness in writing unvarnished accounts of some of the most powerful figures in politics, media, and popular culture, including Oprah Winfrey, the Bush Family, the Royal Family, Nancy Reagan, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

 

Reflecting on the impact of this new fellowship, BIO Committee Chair Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina remarks, “BIO is delighted to offer this exciting opportunity for a Ph.D. student writing a biography as their dissertation. Kitty Kelley’s generosity in funding a biographical project at the dissertation level will go a long way to encourage the writing of biography at the final stages of academic training. We hope that the fellowship will inspire universities to endorse such projects, which combine the rigor of doctoral research with the art of storytelling.”

Kitty Kelley explains her decision to create this fellowship. “Biography is the art of telling a life story. By exploring the past, we illuminate the present, and enlarge the future. I hope this dissertation fellowship opens a wide world of ideas and imagination coupled with potential and purpose.” 

The Kitty Kelley Dissertation Fellowship in Biography will provide $25,000 in financial support so that a doctoral candidate may devote a year to completing a dissertation in the field of biography. A fellow is expected to pursue the dissertation project on a full-time basis during the funding period and must be writing a dissertation in English focused upon the life of another person or upon the lives of two or more individuals. It cannot be fictionalized nor should the focus be primarily autobiographical. It need not cover the entire life of its subject or subjects. Applicants must have completed all course work, passed all preliminary examinations and received approval for a dissertation proposal. Students who have already received a dissertation fellowship are not eligible. The fellowship is open to students in all fields and academic departments, provided that the dissertation is biographical in its methods and focus. 

For the fellowship starting September 1, 2025, the deadline to apply will be January 15, 2025, and the winner of the $25,000 scholarship will be announced no later than May 1, 2025. The request for applications is now open. For more information, please visit: https://biographersinternational.org/award/kitty-kelley-dissertation-fellowship-in-biography/

ABOUT BIO

Biographers International Organization (BIO) is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the art and craft of biography, cultivating a diverse community of biographers, encouraging public interest in biography, and providing educational and fellowship opportunities that support the work of biographers worldwide. For more information, visit: www.biographersinternational.org.

Research Fellowship in Texas History

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) offers each year the Research Fellowship in Texas History for the best research proposal utilizing collections of the State Archives in Austin or the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Liberty, Texas. Research topics should be significant to Texas history, with preference given to fresh areas of study and/or under-sourced archival collections. Applicants may contact ref@tsl.texas.gov for more information about collections. Apply by January 15, 2025. Find more information and the application form online here: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/arc/researchfellowship

Established in 1998, the J. Anthony Lukas Prize Project Awards recognize excellence in nonfiction that exemplifies the literary grace and commitment to serious research and social concern that characterized the work of the awards' Pulitzer Prize-winning namesake, J. Anthony Lukas, who died in 1997. Four awards are given: two J. Anthony Lukas Work-In-Progress Awards, the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize and the Mark Lynton History Prize.

J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Awards

Two J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Awards, in the amount of $25,000, are given annually to aid in the completion of significant works of nonfiction on topics of American political or social concern. Recognizing that a nonfiction book based on extensive research often overtaxes the resources available to its author, the project envisions the Awards as a way of closing the gap between the time and money an author has and the time and money that finishing a book requires.

 

J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize

The J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize, in the amount of $10,000, is given annually to a book-length work of narrative nonfiction on a topic of American political or social concern that exemplifies the literary grace, commitment to serious research, and original reporting, that characterized the distinguished work of the award's namesake.

Mark Lynton History Prize

The Mark Lynton History Prize, in the amount of $10,000, is awarded to a book-length work of history on any topic that best combines intellectual distinction with felicity of expression. 

Lynton Scholarship Program

The Lynton scholarship program annually provides two research grants of $5,000 apiece to outstanding students in the Book Seminar class at Columbia Journalism School. These grants help support the reporting of narrative non-fiction books in the tradition of J. Anthony Lukas. Since the Lynton scholarships were first awarded in 2005, many of the student recipients have gone on to produce acclaimed books on subjects ranging from the destruction of the Great Lakes to the underworld of pop music piracy to an early school desegregation case brought by a family of Chinese immigrants.

 

About J. Anthony Lukas

 

The winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award, J. Anthony Lukas published five epic books, each of which examined a critical fault line in America’s social and political landscape by examining individual lives caught up in the havoc of change.

A former foreign and national correspondent for The New York Times, Lukas tackled the country’s generational conflict in his first book “Don’t Shoot: We Are Your Children”; examined the impact of school desegregation in “Common Ground,” and told a sweeping tale of class conflict at the turn of the century in “Big Trouble,” completed just before his death in 1997.

His other books were “The Barnyard Epithet and Other Obscenities: Notes on the Chicago Conspiracy Trial” and “Nightmare: The Underside of the Nixon Years.”

Prof. Samuel G. Freedman on J. Anthony Lukas in Salon(link is external) (June 12, 1997)

Robert W. Snyder on Lukas’ “Common Ground” in CJR (link is external)(Sept./Oct. 2006)

About Mark Lynton

One of the three Lukas Prize Project Awards, the Mark Lynton History Prize, is named for the late Mark Lynton, a business executive and author of “Accidental Journey: A Cambridge Internee’s Memoir of World War II.” Lynton was an avid proponent of the writing of history, and the Lynton family has sponsored the Lukas Prize Project since its inception.

“I was born Max­ Otto Ludwig Loewenstein, in Stuttgart, Germany,” begins Mark Lynton’s autobiography, “Accidental Journey: A Cambridge Internee’s Memoir of World War II,” published in 1995 by The Overlook Press. A student at Cambridge University when WWII began, Lynton provides a witty account of his odyssey from internment at a Canadian detention camp to his return to England and, ultimately, enlistment in the British military, where he served for seven years. Assigned to the Pioneer Corps, Lynton later transferred to the Royal Tank Regiment, attaining the rank of captain. He completed his career with British Intelligence, interrogating German officers.

Born on April 16, 1920, Lynton moved to Berlin two years later when his father was named head of a major German car manufacturer. Raised by a Swiss nanny, Lynton was bilingual in French and German and was educated in Germany, France and England.

Lynton had a long career working for Citroen and was a senior executive at the firm Hunter Douglas in the Netherlands at the time of his death in 1997. His wife, Marion Lynton, and children, Lili and Michael, established the Mark Lynton History Prize as part of the Lukas Prize Project to honor Lynton, who was an avid reader of history. The Lynton family has generously underwritten the Lukas Prize Project since its inception in 1998.

The Lukas Prize Project is co-administered by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University.

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE DECEMBER 5, 2024

See more here.

The O’Connor Chair in the History of Hispanic Texas and the Southwest, Director of Center for Mexican American Studies

The Department of History in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at St. Mary’s University, ranked #1 by US News and World Report for Social Mobility in San Antonio and #1 for Best Value in the West, invites applications for the O’Connor Chair in the History of Hispanic Texas and the Southwest and the inaugural director of the university’s new Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS). This tenured appointment will be made at the level of associate professor or professor.

Supported by the O’Connor Endowment established in 1982, the holder of the O’Connor Chair in the History of Hispanic Texas and the Southwest teaches one course per semester on Mexican American and Latino history topics, engages in scholarship in these areas, and supports the History Department’s undergraduate History Program and graduate Public History Program. The O’Connor Chair is active in campus and community outreach, which includes organizing a lecture series.

The O’Connor Chair also will serve as director of a new Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS), providing intellectual and visionary leadership. CMAS serves as an academic home for student learning, faculty and student scholarship, and related campus and community programming focused on Mexican American Studies and, secondarily, Latin American and Latino/a/e Studies. It contributes to the University’s longstanding mission as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by supporting and advancing Mexican American Studies as a field of study. The role is an exciting opportunity to build interdisciplinary scholarship and programming across the four schools: the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; the Greehey School of Business; the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, and the School of Law. CMAS also supports our Hispanic Serving Institution’s diverse student population, more than half of whom identify as Hispanic or Latino and more than 40% as first-generation college students.

While serving as director of CMAS, the workload for the O’Connor Chair is distributed as follows:

• Scholarship (traditional and/or public-facing) and campus and community engagement associated with the O’Connor Chair and CMAS (50 percent)
• Teaching (a 1:1 teaching load each academic year), student mentorship, working with student research assistants, and advising in the History Department at the graduate and undergraduate levels (30 percent)
• Service, including providing intellectual leadership for the Center for Mexican American Studies and overseeing staff; managing the CMAS and O’Connor Chair budgets in collaboration with dean and department chair; active and collegial participation in the activities and service of the History Department (20 percent) 

Minimum qualifications:

• Ph.D. in History or a related field emphasizing historical scholarship 
• An established record of scholarship (traditional and/or public facing) in the field of Hispanic, Mexican American, and/or Latino/a/e history of Texas and the Southwest that merits rank of associate professor or professor at St. Mary’s University 
• An established record of teaching Mexican American and/or Latino/a/e history of Texas and the Southwest that merits rank of associate professor or professor at St. Mary’s University 
• Capacity through the O'Connor Chair and CMAS directorship to support the university's Catholic and Marianist educational mission 

Preferred qualifications: 

• Leadership experience relevant to the roles of the O’Connor Chair and Director of the Center for Mexican American Studies 
• Engagement with public history and/or local history methods and practices. 
• The ability to communicate with stakeholders in Spanish and English 

St. Mary's University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence: www.stmarytx.edu/about

. St. Mary's is the oldest Catholic university in the Southwest and continues to advocate the Marianist mission. St. Mary's enrolls approximately 3500 students in a diverse university with four schools, more than 40 academic programs including Ph.D. and J.D. programs, and numerous pre-professional programs. The successful candidate is expected to support and contribute to the University's Marianist educational mission.

San Antonio offers a wealth of archives, community organizations, historical sites, and museums, which offer opportunities for historical research and community engagement. The St. Mary’s University History Department prides itself on its partnerships with local historical institutions and active community networking and engagement. San Antonio’s rich historical legacy provides exciting classroom to community connections.

Applications can be found at http://stmarytx.applicantpro.com/jobs/ with the option to upload all supporting documents electronically. Along with the application, please include (1) a letter of application addressing the minimum and/or preferred qualifications listed above and (2) a curriculum vitae. Additional materials and references may be requested in subsequent rounds of the interview process. For questions, please contact Dr. Lindsey Wieck (lwieck@stmarytx.edu).

Review of applications will begin December 1, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. Any offer of employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a clear background check and submission of official transcripts.

St. Mary’s University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages all qualified candidates apply.