Dooley Distinguished Research Fellows

The Dooley Distinguished Research Fellowships are intended to assist scholars in gaining access to and conducting extensive and intensive research specifically in the GHS Research Center collections.  Research Fellowships will support scholars from outside the Savannah area engaged in graduate-level, post-doctoral, and independent research. These Research Fellowships will be awarded through an application process. Applications are for on-site research in the collections of the Georgia Historical Society and are intended to assist with offsetting expenses while Research Fellows conduct research at GHS.

Research Fellows have access to the GHS Research Collections, including manuscripts, photographs, architectural drawings, rare and non-rare books, and thousands of maps, portraits, and artifacts

Up to $5,000 will be awarded each cycle with 1-5 Research Fellows in each award cycle.

Applications

Complete applications will consist of four parts:

  1. Online application form
  2. Project proposal
  3. Curriculum Vitae
  4. Letters of Recommendation (2, confidential) from faculty or other scholars familiar with the research project

Project proposals will include:

  1. Title of project
  2. Detailed description of project not to exceed 4 pages
  3. Specific materials of interest at GHS to be consulted
  4. Where research will lead to projects such as: dissertation, book, article, chapter, conference paper, documentary

Successful applications will include an in-depth explanation of how GHS collections are to be used and why they will be essential to the progress and completion of the research project.

Submission

Applications will be submitted online.

Eligibility

Dooley Distinguished Research Fellowships are open to scholars from outside the Savannah area who are doctoral candidates, recent Ph.D.s, college and university faculty at the assistant professor rank or lower, and independent researchers working in the field of American history.

Not eligible: Genealogy projects, church history projects, researchers-for-hire, undergraduates, master’s students, and graduate students not yet admitted to Ph.D. candidacy.

Deadline to Apply

Applications for 2021 Research Fellowships are now closed. Applications for class of 2024 fellowships will be accepted beginning October 1, 2023.

Outreach

Each Research Fellow is required to write a blog post of approximately 500 words to appear on the GHS website about his or her project and work completed at GHS by the end of the award period, which will be determined in consultation with each selected Fellow and vary accordingly. In addition, GHS may use content in other electronic and print publications or media. Each Research Fellow will acknowledge the Georgia Historical Society Research Center and the Dooley Distinguished Research Fellowship in her or his final product. Further, each Research Fellow will deposit a copy of their publication in the GHS Research Center.

Term of Fellowships

Research Fellows are expected to conduct research in the GHS Research Center during the period of their Fellowship. Research will be for a minimum of one week during the months of May and June of 2024 and the specific term of each fellowship will vary depending upon topic. Dates and length of research will be determined by GHS on an individual basis and in consultation with the Fellow where possible.*

*Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, plans are subject to change.