Fellowships
The ICJS fellowship program for domestic and international scholars promotes research of Jefferson’s life and times and the community at Monticello. Since its founding, the ICJS has hosted nearly 300 domestic and international scholars from the U.S. and 25 countries around the world, including Pulitzer-Prize winning historians Alan Taylor and Jack Rakove. The Center offers short-term fellowships that allow researchers and teachers to consult with Monticello scholars and librarians and to utilize the resources of the Jefferson Library and the University of Virginia libraries. Residential accommodation may be available on a limited basis. Priority is given to Jefferson-related projects using the Digital Archeological Archive of Comparative Slavery or Getting Word.
The International Center currently has three fellowship and grant programs available:
- Fellowships for DAACS-related projects
- Barringer Research Fellowships for Teachers of American History
- Joint McNeil Center for Early American Studies Fellowships. Applicants should contact the McNeil Center; details are available at their web site: http://www.mceas.org/.
A list of recent ICJS and Barringer Fellows is available.
Short-term fellowships and travel grants are underwritten by endowments established for this purpose by the Batten Foundation and Wachovia Corporation (formerly First Union National Bank of Virginia).
Discussion
ICJS fellowships are another way that we make sure scholarship continues to be a living, breathing thing at Monticello. It's a real treat when we learn about the research projects of our incoming fellows--they can range from the most focused, practical point of research to sweeping, big picture analyses of Jeffersonian thought. The mix of personalities is fascinating; sometimes all the fellows are quiet and other times they are much more social. We never know quite what we're going to get until they're here, which is half the fun. The other half is helping them with their research.
Monticello has a rich and diverse program for fellows and scholars at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies. Many who visit Monticello might not know about the ICJS, as it is not located on the Monticello mountaintop. For those who are interested in fellowships, this page provides links to more information on the fellowships, as well as contact information. And the fellowships are not just for scholars -- there is a fellowship for current history teachers.