History fellowships at the Library

February 3, 2014 at 19:06
by News Editor
in Local history funding sources, Such was life

This year the State Library of Victoria is offering several fantastic research opportunities for people who propose thoughtful and innovative ways of using our collections. We are offering a range of fellowships, which are open to historians and scholars, as well as new and digital media artists, visual artists, musicians and composers, writers and creators, working either in collaboration or independently. Successful fellowship applicants receive a cash grant, access to expert librarians and a private study space at the State Library of Victoria.

The Berry Family Fellowship will be of particular interest to historians, as it offers the opportunity to explore an aspect of the social history of Melbourne or Victoria.

The recipient of the inaugural Centenary of WWI Fellowship will focus their research on Victorians at home or abroad, in the First World War (1914–1918) period or its immediate aftermath. Applicants for this fellowship should indicate which of the Library’s World War I collections they want to draw upon for their research, such as diaries, memoirs and correspondence, pamphlets, newspapers, photographs, postcards, posters, ephemera or books.

Historians are also encouraged to apply for SLV Creative Fellowships. Past recipients of these fellowships have researched topics as diverse as Royal Park and the Merri Creek, the 1839 Melbourne Mechanics Institution, Aboriginal resistance leaders, Victoria’s female taxi drivers, and Victorian women peace activists during World War I, as well as writing several biographies.

A key part of the application process is successfully demonstrating how you will make significant use of, or contribute to, the collections of the State Library of Victoria.

More information about the fellowships, including eligibility requirements, the application process, selection criteria and link to the online applications forms can be found on our website. An information session will be held on Monday 17 February at 6pm in the State Library’s Village Roadshow Theatrette, Entry 3, La Trobe Street, Melbourne (no bookings required). Fellowship applications are due in by 10pm on Friday 21 March 2014.