Mellon Tribal Research Fellowships

Please fill out this section with the personal information of the individual who will be the primary point of contact for the fellowship. This may be an individual researcher or a representative of the researcher group. This person is known as the "primary applicant."

Questions 1 - 6: Name

The primary applicant's name, title, and pronouns (optional).

Question 7: Tribal Affiliation

Primary applicant's tribal enrollment or affiliation, if applicable. Applicants are not required to be enrolled tribal members, but must be working for or on behalf of a tribal nation. Please use this field to list your individual tribal affiliation, if any.

Question 8: Tribal and/or Institutional Position

Primary applicant's position with or relationship to the proposed project's affiliated tribal nation.

Question 9: CV or Resume

Please attach the primary applicant's CV or resume in PDF or Word document format.

Question 10: Are you applying individually or on behalf of a group?

If you are applying on behalf of a group, please give the other group members' names, professional positions, tribal affiliations if applicable, and contact emails.

Question 11: Preferred Contact Information

Preferred contact information for primary applicant.

Question 1: Project Title

Question 2: Tribal Nation

Please indicate which U.S. federally recognized tribal nation this project is affiliated with.

Question 3: Project Description

Upload your project description (up to 1500 words) as a PDF or Microsoft Word document. Your project description can be in narrative form and should provide information about:

1. What the proposed project is and how it came to be.
2. How the project proposed research relates to the projects or priorities of the tribal nation.
3. What work will be undertaken at the Newberry and how the Newberry collections support the project.

Question 4: Proposed Dates of Research Visit

Question 5: Amount Requested

Please indicate the amount requested, which can be up to $10,000.

Question 6: How will the funds be dispersed?

To primary applicant, to tribal nation, or other.

Question 7: Project Budget

Please indicate how the requested funds will be used. (For example: travel, lodging, food costs.)

Question 8: Materials you plan to consult at the Newberry

Please list some of the collection items or materials that you plan to consult at the Newberry. 

Note: It is more helpful if you can identify specific objects or groups of materials rather than full collection names, as some collections such as the Ayer Collection are extremely large and varied. If you need help identifying materials to be consulted, please reach out to our librarians at reference@newberry.org

Question 9: Letter of Support

Please upload a letter of support for this project. This letter must be provided by tribal governance or an official tribal organization (such as a cultural resource center or museum) of a U.S. federally recognized tribal nation.

Question 10: How did you hear about the Newberry's fellowship program?

Yes. Tribal enrollment is not required, as long as the project is being undertaken on behalf of a federally recognized tribal nation.

Yes. Applicants are not required to be Native, as long as the project is being undertaken on behalf of a federally recognized tribal nation.

Yes, as long as the project is being undertaken on behalf of the tribal nation.

No. Projects for the Mellon Tribal Research Fellowship must be affiliated with the tribal nation being researched. Applicants are required to provide a letter of support from tribal governance or an official tribal organization such as a cultural resource center or museum.

You may qualify for other Newberry fellowships.

No, this fellowship does not require a degree.

Yes, our staff would be happy to help! You can fill out this form or email reference@newberry.org. Please note that our reference librarians receive many requests, so it may take up to two weeks for you to receive a reply.

No; this fellowship is meant to support in-depth, focused research. For introductions to the Newberry's collections and staff, we welcome visits by tribal delegations and representatives. With support from the Mellon Foundation, the Newberry can offset the travel and lodging costs of these visits. We are also happy to travel to your community to meet with representatives and community members to share more about our collection and collaboration opportunities.

To schedule a visit, please contact us.

Mellon Tribal Research Fellowships can be held for any length of time between 2 weeks to 2 months. They taken any time between the June 1 of the awarding year and the August 31 of the following year. (For example, the current cycle of 2027-28 fellowships may be taken between June 2027 and August 2028.)

No. You must arrange your own housing during the fellowship period. Fellowship and McNickle Center staff are happy to offer suggestions and advice for securing accommodations.

The fellowship funding can be used to support any expenses of the research trip, including travel, accommodations, and meals.

No. This fellowship supports in-person research trips to the Newberry.

No. Funding is provided as a lump sum, rather than as expense reimbursement. Receipts are not necessary.

The Newberry building is ADA accessible. Some adaptive technology is available in reading rooms, such as magnifiers and adjustable tables. 

We understand that every individual’s access needs are different. Fellowships staff are very happy to answer any questions and provide more information. You can email us at research@newberry.org.

Please email the Department of Fellowships and Academic Programs: research@newberry.org