[SIGCIS-Members] FW: 2015-2016 Lemelson Center Fellowships/Travel Grants, Smithsonian Institution

Thomas Haigh thaigh at computer.org
Wed Nov 12 09:36:10 PST 2014


[Forwarded from Eric Hintz at the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center --
hintze at si.edu. NMAH has a lot of material related to the history of
computing, much of which is largely untapped. Tom]

 

Research Opportunities at the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center

Apps Due: 1 Dec 2014

 

The Lemelson Center Fellowship Program and Travel to Collections Award
Program support projects that present creative approaches to the study of
invention and innovation in American society. These include, but are not
limited to, historical research and documentation projects resulting in
dissertations, publications, exhibitions, educational initiatives,
documentary films, or other multimedia products. 

 

The programs provide access to the expertise of the Institution's research
staff and the vast invention and technology collections of the National
Museum of American History (NMAH).  The NMAH Archives Center documents both
individuals and firms across a range of time periods and subject areas.
Representative collections include the Western Union Telegraph Company
Records, ca. 1840-1994 and the Earl S. Tupper Papers, documenting Tupper,
and his invention, Tupperware.  In addition, the NMAH Library offers long
runs of historical technology serials like Scientific American and American
Machinist, and the American Trade Literature collection, which includes
300,000 catalogs, technical manuals, and advertising brochures for some
30,000 firms, primarily from 1880-1945.  For a comprehensive catalog of
objects, manuscripts, images and research materials available at the NMAH
(and other Smithsonian units), see http://www.collections.si.edu/.

 

The Lemelson Center invites applications covering a broad spectrum of
research topics that resonate with its mission to foster a greater
understanding of invention and innovation, broadly defined.  However, the
Center especially encourages project proposals that will illuminate the role
of women inventors; inventors with disabilities; inventors from diverse
backgrounds; or any inventions and technologies associated with groups that
are traditionally under-represented in the historical record.  Pertinent
NMAH collections include the papers of Victor L. Ochoa, a Mexican-American
aeronautical inventor; the papers of Dr. Patricia Bath, an African-American
inventor of a patented cataracts treatment; the Safko International papers,
documenting assistive technologies built for the physically disabled; and
the HIV/AIDS and LGBT Reference Collections, which document innovative
public health programs and associated technologies.  

 

The Lemelson Center Fellowship Program annually awards 2 to 3 fellowships to
pre-doctoral graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and other
professionals who have completed advanced training.  Fellows are expected to
reside in the Washington, D.C. area, to participate in the Center's
activities, and to make a presentation of their work to colleagues at the
museum.  Fellowship tenure is based upon the applicants' stated needs (and
available funding) up to a maximum of ten weeks.  Stipends for 2015-2016
will be $630/week for pre-doctoral fellows and $925/week for post-doctoral
and professional fellows.  Applications are due December 1, 2014.  For
application procedures and additional information, see
http://invention.smithsonian.org/resources/research_fellowships.aspx.**
Researchers are encouraged to consult with the fellowship coordinator before
submitting a proposal - contact historian Eric S. Hintz, Ph.D. at +1
202-633-3734 or hintze at si.edu. 

 

The Lemelson Center Travel to Collections Award Program annually awards 2 to
3 short-term travel grants to encourage the use of its invention-related
collections.  Awards are $150 per day for a maximum of 10 business days and
may be used to cover transportation, living, and reproduction expenses; they
are intended only for applicants who reside or attend school beyond
commuting distance of the NMAH.  Applications are due December 1, 2014.  See
http://invention.smithsonian.org/resources/research_travel.aspx** for
application procedures and additional information.  Researchers are
encouraged to consult with the travel award coordinator before submitting a
proposal - contact archivist Alison Oswald at +1 202-633-3726 or
oswalda at si.edu.

 

**Note: We are renovating our website!  Please contact Eric or Alison if our
URLs have changed!!

 

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