IHRC Grant-in-Aid Program Deadline is June 1, 2009

May 13, 2009

The Immigration History Research Center (IHRC) offers grants of up to $500 to assist scholars traveling to conduct research at the IHRC. The deadline for applications for 2009-2010 grants is June 1, 2009.

The IHRC is an internationally known migration studies center with expansive archives documenting immigration to the United States, from the latter 19th century to current refugee migrations. Key areas of coverage include European and Near Eastern immigrants (1880-1930) and 20th-century refugees, such as Displaced Persons after World War II and Southeast Asian, African, and current movements. The Center has exceptional collections of fraternal organization records, personal files, and immigrant and refugee assistance organization materials, as well as ethnic print collections.

Grant-in-Aid Awards are intended to help defray expenses of visiting graduate students, professors and independent scholars from the U.S. and abroad consulting the Center’s archival and library collections. Grants are available through the generosity of donors to the IHRC’s ethnic and general funds, as well as the director’s research fund. Awards are made on a competitive basis and for research in a specific IHRC collection. IHRC sources to be consulted should be indicated in the application.

Prior to submitting an application, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the IHRC Website (http://ihrc.umn.edu/) and to contact IHRC collections staff (ihrc@umn.edu) for information about each collection and relevance to proposed work.

Although researchers are welcome to extend their stay in Minnesota for additional research at other locations, the IHRC grant requires a five-day residency at the Center. During the residency, the recipient will offer a research-in-progress talk and have opportunities to interact with members of the vibrant IHRC community at the University of Minnesota. Researchers receiving a grant-in-aid award will be required to acknowledge the IHRC and receipt of the grant in any resulting publication.

Application Deadline: June 1, 2009

Availability: Awards are available for travel to the IHRC at any time between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, for work in any collection.

Terms of Award: Individual grants of up to $500 to assist with travel and research-related expenses associated with a research residency at the IHRC of not less than one work week (5 business days). Applications requesting less than $500 will receive equal consideration.

Who May Apply? Graduate students, faculty, and independent scholars, in the U.S. or internationally, who live more than a day’s drive from the Twin Cities and who need to do research in the IHRC collections for which the grant-in-aid is sought.

Selection Criteria:
• Demonstrated connection between research needs and specific collections at the IHRC
• Language proficiency (for projects requiring sources in languages other than English)
• Preference for newer scholars (and graduate students), international scholars, and the use of the following collections: Czech/Slovak, Estonian, Finnish, Greek, Italian, Latvian, Polish, and Refugee-Related Materials

Application Materials:
• Proposal of no more than 2 pages describing the research project, the collections to be consulted, and estimated budget
• Current curriculum vitae
• Estimated dates of residency
• Names and contact information (including email) for two references

Send application materials by June 1, 2009, to Haven Hawley, Acting Director, ehh@umn.edu or to the following postal address:
Immigration History Research Center
University of Minnesota
311 Andersen Library / 222 – 21st Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.