Among Brown University’s most prestigious honors for doctoral candidates is the J.M. Stuart Fellowship, open to Brown Ph.D. students in the Humanities or Social Sciences whose dissertation topic relates to some aspect of the early history or literature of the Americas and whose research and writing would benefit from privileged and sustained access to the resources of the John Carter Brown Library. In addition to the material resources, the Stuart Fellow benefits from being part of the community of international scholars in residence at the Library in any given year and from the opportunity to work closely with the curatorial staff of one of the World’s most renowned collections of early Americana.

The Stuart Fellow must reside in Providence for the entire term of the award and is expected to become an active member of the community of Library Fellows.  He or she is provided with work space in the Library and, as a condition of the gift that funds the Stuart Fellowship, must contribute one day a week (i.e., 8.5 hours/week on average) during the 9-month term of the award to a Library project, such as an exhibition, publication, or other mutually agreed upon service. As the funding is intended to provide time and resources to devote to research and writing of the dissertation, it is also understood that the successful candidate will not otherwise be employed, either inside or outside the University, during the term of the Stuart Fellowship.

The Stuart Fellowship carries a stipend of at least $20,500 for a nine-month term, beginning September 1.  Eligible candidates must have completed preliminary examinations. Although not required, preference is given to candidates whose topics show the promise of developing into a comparative study, i.e., that incorporates the use of sources from two or more of the following areas: African-American, Amerindian, Dutch, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Stuart candidates must be nominated by a department chair, but there is no limit to the number of candidates a department may present.  Letters of nomination should be sent to Ted Widmer, Director and Librarian, John Carter Brown Library, Box 1894, Brown University. Application instructions will be forwarded to the candidate upon receipt of a nomination letter.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE STUART FELLOWSHIP WILL NOT BE AWARDED FOR 2012-2013

Deadline for nominations for 2013-2014: Dec. 15, 2012
Applications due for 2013-2014:  Feb. 1, 2013
Notification of award for 2013-2014: Early Mar. 2013