Library Awards and Fellowships: HORATIO ALGER FELLOWSHIP

Horatio Alger Research Fellowship for the Study of American Popular Culture, NIU Libraries -- APPLY HERE

The NIU Libraries, with funding provided by the Horatio Alger Society, offers a fellowship to scholars who wish to come to NIU to conduct research using the Libraries’ major holdings in American popular culture. These holdings include the nation’s preeminent collections related to Horatio Alger, Jr. and Edward Stratemeyer. The Albert Johannsen and Edward T. LeBlanc Collections of more than 50,000 dime novels, as well as the complementary Merriwell Collection, are also eligible for research under this fellowship. Other possible collections for examination include our comic books, science fiction and fantasy literature, Lovecraft Collection, and the American Popular Literature Collection. Scholars from multiple disciplines, such as English, American Studies, History of the Book, U.S. History, Communications, and Rhetoric might consider applying for this award. Our fictional materials provide insight into publishing of popular materials as well as the ideological points of view of writers and readers from the middle of the 19th century continuing through the 20th. Previous research topics include reader response, the plight of urban children, images of the American West in popular literature, widespread use of pseudonyms, and stereotypical portrayals. The fellowship provides up to $2,000 to a visiting scholar. Travel arrangements will be made by the recipient. They will submit a budget as part of the application. They will be reimbursed after the fellowship is completed.

Expectations:

• Fellows will present a talk for NIU, either in person or virtually, on the results of their research within 1 year of completing the fellowship.
• Fellows will be encouraged to deposit scholarship resulting from the fellowship into the Huskie Commons institutional repository
• Fellows will credit the Endowment and NIU Libraries in publications resulting from their research
• NIU Libraries will provide a workspace in the library
• Library faculty and staff will provide research assistance to the fellows

Eligibility: Faculty members, independent scholars, graduate students, and librarians currently based in or outside the United States are eligible to apply. NIU Libraries will provide a letter of invitation that the visiting scholar may use to apply for visa to travel to the United States. It is the responsibility of the scholar to obtain the visa, including paying for visa fees in advance.

Timeline: Applications are accepted January-April for the fellowship in the following June–May. Application deadline is April 30. Applicants will be informed of the decision by May 31. Fellows can work at NIU for up to 30 days.

To Apply: Complete and submit online form and email a current CV and two (2) letters of recommendation to rbsc@niu.edu no later than April 30, 2024. Applicants or interested parties can contact us at rbsc@niu.edu with further inquiries.