Research Funding
The History Department has funds to support archival and field research in the United States and abroad. In recent years, History majors have utilized these funds to conduct research in China, Florida, England, Hungary, Singapore, and Texas. Three fellowships of varying award amounts are available to juniors and seniors: Hook, Tow, and Vapnek.
Lucyle Hook Travel Grants
The Lucyle Hook Travel Grants (endowed by an emerita Barnard faculty member) provide funding for travel related to research for the Barnard senior thesis. Candidates apply to the Faculty Committee on Honors, which typically awards four or five grants each year. The award amount varies, but normally ranges from $100-$500. Interested students should speak with Dean Runsdorf by early October of the senior year and obtain the Committee guidelines for application from him at that time. Decisions will be announced by mid-December. More information can be found on the Dean of Studies Website.
Tow Fellowship Travel Grants
Tow Fellowships support travel related to research for the senior thesis. Candidates apply to the Committee on Honors (CoH) in the spring of their junior year to seek support for travel that will take place during the summer between their junior and senior years. The awards generally range from $1,000-$4,000. Interested students should see Dean Runsdorf during the fall semester of their junior year. More information can be found on the Dean of Studies Website.
Bertha Vapnek Research Fellowship for Junior History Majors
This fellowship is intended for students currently in their junior year for thesis research conducted in the summer before their senior year. The student is required to work with a faculty member in the History department to develop a project that may be relevant to the student's intended senior thesis topic for the following year. Please note that the fellowship may meet part but not all of an awardee's request for funds, and funds may be distributed between two or more individuals.
Applications should include the following: 1. A brief description (two pages, maximum) of the proposed research project, which should describe both the significance of the project and the applicant's concrete plans for carrying it out; 2. A brief budget of projected expenses; 3. The name of a faculty member who has been consulted about the proposed project. Deadline for applications is March 26, 2019. Applications should be emailed to dko@barnard.edu
Undergraduate Research Fellowship in European Archives
If you are considering writing a senior thesis, you might be interested in the Senior Thesis Fellowship for European Archives.
Open to all history majors in CC, GS, and Barnard, the program provides fellowships of $4,500 for 4-6 weeks of research in European archives. It will culminate in a three-day workshop on thesis writing and research by Professor Charly Coleman and Professor Thomas Dodman in Reid Hall in Paris.
Archives in Europe do not just contain material for European history! In the past, students in the program have written theses on topics in South East Asian, Caribbean, and African as well as European history.
The program runs workshops over the spring for all students. On February 22 at 11am in Butler Library 308, subject specialists will discuss the best way to find archives and offer some tips and tactics for conducting research. On February 25 at 5pm in Fayerweather 411, graduate student Roslyn Dubler will discuss how to write a great prospectus for the application.
If you have any questions, if you want to know how to submit an application or if you are interested in the workshops please contact Roslyn Dubler at red2147@columbia, the graduate student attached to the program. Applications will be due on March 29 and successful applicants will hear back shortly thereafter. Applications can be found here!