Archives for Historical Research

The Friends of the Princeton University Library offer research grants annually to non-Princeton researchers from around the world to conduct research in PUL’s Special Collections. These awards are to offset travel and accommodation costs. The acceptance rate differs each year, but is generally about 20%.

While these are not open to members of the Princeton community, the following are some tips from staff who review the FPUL grant applications on what may help you develop an application for another institution or program:

• Be specific and focused, both in the narrative about your project and the materials you are interested in researching. 
• Unique or innovative research is often prioritized.
• Detail why institution X and the material is critical to your research. Also ensure that there is sufficient material at the institution to justify an extended research visit.
• Reach out to the curator or archivist to get more information on the collections. They may be assessing the applications as well and could give you helpful guidance for the process. 
• If you are already in the reading room, ask the librarian about funding opportunities. For PUL, at least, it’s ok to have already conducted research if you can justify why returning to do a deeper level of research is necessary.

Short-Term Grants

• One week to three months
• Travel and accommodations
• Open to all levels of researchers: faculty, students, independent researchers
• often subject-specific
• funded by the library, Friends, group, or an individual donor

Long-Term Grants

• Three months to a year
• Travel, accommodations, and salary
• Open to faculty, post-docs, grad students, and senior researchers
• Funded by government and organizational grants received by the library