AUSTIN, Texas—The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin has awarded 48 research fellowships for 2007-08. These fellowships support research projects requiring substantial use of the Center’s collections of manuscripts, rare books, film, photography, art and performing arts materials.
Scholars from 15 states and nine countries will use Ransom Center materials to research projects from "Elizabeth Bowen: Short Stories and Essays" to "The Cool Mask: Jazz, Noir, and Existentialism, 1940-1960" to "Hidden Talent: The Emergence of Hollywood Agents, 1928-1949."
"Support of scholarly research is one of the primary goals of the Ransom Center," said Director Thomas F. Staley. "With what has become one of the largest fellowship programs of its kind, we encourage scholars from around the world to make new discoveries about the writers and artists who have shaped our culture."
The fellowships range from one to four months in duration, with stipends of $3,000 per month. Separate travel stipends and dissertation fellowships were also awarded.
All fellows, with the exception of those selected for dissertation fellowships, are post-doctorates or possess an equivalent terminal degree or a substantial record of scholarly achievement.
The fellowship program has a special topic each year. This year’s topic is "In Times of War." Special consideration was given to research proposals that addressed and investigated the transatlantic cultural exchange of ideas, particularly those affected by times of war, and projects that inquire into the nature of the cultural and intellectual dialogue between Europe and the United States.
While research proposals did not have to relate to the special topic to be eligible for fellowship support, a number of fellowships will focus on this theme, with topics ranging from "Cold War Modernists" to "Russian Political Emigrants in Times of War."
The stipends are funded by individual donors and organizations, including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Hobby Family Foundation, the Dorot Foundation, American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies, South Central Modern Language Association and The University of Texas Office of Graduate Studies.
A full list of recipients, their affiliation and their research topics can be found online.
For more information contact: Alicia Dietrich, Harry Ransom Center, 512-232-3667; Jennifer Tisdale, Harry Ransom Center, 512-471-8949.
