An Opportunity for Student Scholars

The Gilder Lehrman Institute (www.gilderlehrman.org) welcomes applications from sophomore and junior history and American studies majors for the 2008 Gilder Lehrman History Scholars Program in New York City.

You can find out more about the program online at http://www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/student2.html.

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Gilder Lehrman 2008 History Scholars Program in New York City

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History invites college sophomores and juniors with a serious interest in American history, and academic excellence in the field, to apply for:

*15 History Scholarships to a five-week research program in New York City from June 29 to August 2, 2008; each student is awarded a fellowship worth $10,000 that includes tuition, books, field trips, travel to and from New York City, room and board, and a $2,200 stipend.

*Up to 50 places for runners-up, who will be named Finalists and invited to a one-week program in New York City from June 14 to June 21, 2008; each student is awarded a fellowship worth $1,500 that includes tuition, field trips, travel to and from New York City, and room and board.

History Scholars will:

• Conduct primary-source research to prepare historical materials for publication.  Each year’s project is designed by the program leaders to focus on a strength of the Gilder Lehrman Collection—the Founding Era, slavery and abolition, or the Civil War.  Previous classes have worked on early American abolitionist writings, Alexander Hamilton, Frederick Douglass, and Civil War soldiers’ letters.
  
• Participate in exclusive seminars with eminent historians to discuss historical issues and gain insight into history as a profession. Past sessions have been led by David Blight, Eric Foner, Carol Berkin, James McPherson, Steven Mintz, Christine Stansell, and Sean Wilentz, among others.
  
• Enjoy behind-the-scenes visits to archives of rare historical documents, printed books, and material culture, including the New-York Historical Society, the New York Public Library, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

History Scholar Finalists will be invited to participate in a one-week program, which aims to foster an interest in American history through field trips, discussions with professionals about careers for history majors, and lectures by leading scholars such as David Brion Davis, James McPherson, and Pauline Maier.

Eligibility: At the time of application (Spring 2008), students must be considered sophomores or juniors in an accredited college or university in the U.S. or Canada, should have completed at least one course in American history, and should expect to major in American history or American studies.

Applications must be postmarked by March 3, 2008, and include:

1. A signed cover letter (1-2 pages) describing your interest in and preparation for this program and providing the following information: name, college/university, campus and permanent mailing addresses, campus and permanent telephone numbers, e-mail address, and the names of your two recommenders.
2. An official college transcript and a resume or CV.
3. A sample of your historical writing. (This should be no more than 5 double-spaced pages and can be drawn from class assignments or independent work.)
4. Two letters of recommendation by faculty members, at least one of whom is a professor of American history.

In addition to the mailed application, go online at www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/student3.html to register your application in our database and ensure that we have correct contact information to notify you of your status. (Applicants without access to the Internet may skip this step.)

Send application materials to: 

History Scholars Program
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
601 West 110th Street, Suite 4M
New York, NY 10025

Faxed or e-mailed materials will not be accepted. All applicants will be automatically considered for both the five-week and one-week programs. No separate application is necessary.

Notifications will be mailed by April 2, 2008. For more information about applications, e-mail scholars@gilderlehrman.org or phone Justine Ahlstrom at 212-316-5280. For more information about the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and to see a list of previous scholars, visit www.gilderlehrman.org and www.gilderlehrman.org/teachers/student2.html.