Frederick B. Artz
Summer Research Grants Program

The Oberlin College Archives established the Frederick B. Artz Summer Research Grants Program in 1990. This research program, which is made possible by a grant from the Oberlin Historical and Improvement Organization, is intended to encourage and facilitate the publication of scholarly, humanistic studies based on archival and special collections sources at Oberlin College, with special emphasis on the history of the institution, Oberlin Community and liberal arts education. Studies of a local nature involving the resources of both archival and special collections departments are especially encouraged.

Researchers will be selected on the quality and significance of their research proposal, its relationship to the holdings of the Oberlin College Archives and Oberlin College Library, and on the potential for publication.

Frederick B. Artz Scholars and Thier Topics, 1990-2014

The Oberlin College Archives and the Special Collections Department

In addition to the records of the Oberlin College Archives, researchers will also be able to make use of the College Library's Special Collections Department, which houses works of a rare, valuable or fragile nature. Among the more important collections are the following: antislavery books and pamphlets (over 2,500 items); Oberliniana (printed materials relating to Oberlin College and town or written by Oberlin graduates, faculty or staff); pamphlets on women; Ohio Congregational Church records; history of printing (from incunables to modern fine press editions); Violin Society of America/Goodkind collection (over 2,500 books, journals and ephemera about the making and playing of stringed instruments and their makers and players); and nineteenth century travel and exploration.

Responsiblities

Award winners are required to make use of the collections at Oberlin during the summer (June 1 - August 30), at which time they must spend no less than three days conducting research in Oberlin. At the end of the research visit, a brief written report on how the funds were used and on individual publication plans is required.

Eligibility

Frederick B. Artz Summer Research Grant Awards at Oberlin College are open to graduate students, academic scholars and to qualified independent researchers. Applicants need not have an academic affiliation. The College Archives and Special Collections Departments welcome applicants from persons outside the United States.

Stipends

The maximum amount for an award is $1000.00. Reimbursements to award recipients are made based on the following categories: up to $600 for lodging and meals; up to $400 for transportation (automobile expense calculated by current per mileage rate offered by Oberlin College); and up to $100 for photocopies and digital scans. The Artz Application Review Committee determines the amount of each award (up to $1000.00) and specifies the dollar amount for each category.

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit a letter of interest and a completed application form by January 15th of the year in which support is requested. Announcements of Research Grant Awards will be mailed no later than April 1 of that grant year.

 Download Application PDF (160 KB)

  Download Application .doc (68 KB)

For more information about the Frederick B. Artz Summer Research Grant Program, please Contact Us.