Archives Research Award

Applications for the 2024-2025 Archives Research Award are now open! Please look below for further information and specifics about applying to the Archives Research Award. Applications are due November 1, 2023

The Archives division at The Ohio State University, made up of The Ohio State University Archives, Ohio Public Policy Archives, and the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program, is pleased to announce the Archives Research Award.

The award is up to $5,000 and may be used to defray travel expenses, living expenses, or research costs. Researchers may use collections in any of the three archives and are encouraged to consider topics that may span multiple collections. Applications with a focus on environmental science will be given greater weight.

Please contact Tamar Chute, University Archivist, with any questions at chute.6@osu.edu.

Possible collections to explore include:

• The Ohio State University Archives
  • School of Environment and Natural Resources
  • School of Earth Sciences
  • Center for Lake Erie Area Research
  • Faculty collections of related topics
• Ohio Public Policy Archives (OPPA)
  • Ralph Regula papers
  • John Glenn papers
  • Deborah Pryce papers
• Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Archival Program
  • John H. Mercer Papers
  • Sir George Hubert Wilkins Papers
  • Robert W. Gerdel Papers
  • Charles R. Bentley Papers
  • Alfred N. Fowler Papers

Application Process

Applicants must demonstrate a need to utilize our collections onsite to be eligible for the award.

Each applicant must provide a statement addressing the topic of their proposed study, not to exceed two pages.  Be sure to include the relevance of the Archives collections to your research, as well as the proposed outcome of the research. (Example: book or article publication, presentation at scholarly conference, thesis or dissertation research, etc.)

Each applicant must submit their curriculum vitae/resume, including name, title, contact information and education. This document should not exceed three pages. 

Each applicant must submit one letter of recommendation evaluating the proposed project.  The letter may be sent separately from the other materials, but applicants need to include the name, e-mail address and relationship of the person writing the letter to the applicant. 

All application materials should be submitted electronically to archives@osu.edu.

Criteria for Eligibility

The award is available to graduate students, faculty and independent scholars, with or without a current institutional affiliation.

We invite both foreign and domestic applicants to apply.

Applicant must be at least 18 years of age.

Applicant must live outside of the Columbus metropolitan area and more than 60 miles from the OSU Columbus campus.

Other Details

Recipients will share their work with the university community through an open presentation, blog post or other appropriate means within the 12 months of the fiscal year following the successful notification of the award. 

Any products of the research (publications, etc.) must acknowledge the Archives Research Award and any contributions by Archives faculty or staff.  A copy of any publication resulting from or informed by the research must be submitted to the archives.