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Hay Library Undergraduate Fellowship Program

The Hay Library Undergraduate Fellowship Program supports original research using special collections materials at the John Hay Library. Over eight weeks in the summer of 2021, a cohort of students will build research skills using primary sources to develop an original project. Projects can take the form of a traditional research paper or may be creative or digital in format, but all projects must make primary and substantive use of the rare books, manuscripts, artwork and/or other objects at the library. Projects do not have to be completed by the end of the summer; the fellowship can serve as a start for a senior thesis or can be a further exploration of work begun during a course. Fellows work primarily in the special collections reading room, with workshops on the history of the book, letterpress printing, and other topics that fit the fellows’ interests.

The program is open to all current Brown undergraduates; fellows may work in person on campus (pandemic-permitting) or remotely (materials will be made available digitally). Each fellow will be awarded $4,000.00 to cover housing and other expenses.

The application deadline is March 5, 2021. The application includes a 500-word project proposal and a recommendation letter from a faculty member familiar with the applicant's scholarship.

Access the application:
For more information, and to apply, visit https://library.brown.edu/hay/ugfellowship.php

Information for recommenders:
Each application should be accompanied by at least one recommendation letter from a faculty member familiar with the applicant's work. Recommenders should send their letters by email to [email protected] or by mail to Heather Cole, John Hay Library, Box A, 20 Prospect St., Providence, RI 02912.

More information on collections at the John Hay can be found here: https://library.brown.edu/create/concentrationfieldguide/.

Interested students are encouraged to set up a consultation with the program facilitator, Heather Cole, [email protected], to discuss project ideas.