Scholar-in-Residence, Portage Route Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation

The Portage Route Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation invites applications from student scholars to its Scholar-In-Residence fellowship program designed to encourage use of the William P. Sherman Library and Archives in Great Falls, Montana.

A $3000 stipend will be granted to a student researcher who articulates a research topic suitable for extensive use of this special collection. The stipend is meant to defray expenses incurred in traveling to, and residing in, Great Falls, MT for three to four weeks. The Portage Route Chapter will assist the Scholar in finding cost-effective lodging. Desk space and internet connection will be provided by the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.

Research is expected to focus upon at least one of the following (or similar) areas:  Jefferson’s Corps of Discovery; the native peoples the Expedition met along their journey; efforts to establish and protect the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail; work of Lewis and Clark entities connecting the general public to the National Historic Trail through interpretation; commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, 2003 – 2006; and the organizational history of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation – about to celebrate its 50th anniversary. An applicant’s proposal should specifically address its relevance to the unique resources found in the Sherman Library’s collections.

The program is open to all U.S. citizens and to Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). Due to federal regulations, persons holding J-1 or F-1 exchange visitor or student visas are not eligible. Preference will be given to those applicants residing outside of the Great Falls area who would need to travel in order to conduct their research. Applicants must be considered a full-time student (enrolled both before and after the program), and must be at least an upper-level undergraduate.

Applications will be accepted through March 7, 2016. Award notifications will be made by March 31, 2016. The 2016 Scholar-In-Residence term of 3 to 4 weeks should begin approximately May 30, 2016 in order to participate in the 2015 Lewis and Clark Festival in Great Falls, June 18-20.

The Scholar-In-Residence will be expected to conduct research for at least 32 hours a week, and will give at least one public presentation on their research toward the end of residence in Great Falls. The Scholar will submit a short report describing the resources used during the residency. The Scholar will also submit a scholarly article, representing at least a portion of the research conducted at the Sherman Library, to We Proceeded On, the scholarly journal of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation within three months of the residency in order to receive the last half of the stipend.

For more information about the program, the Sherman Library, suggested topics, and application materials, please visit the Portage Route Chapter’s web page: www.corpsofdiscovery.org and click on the “Scholar” tab.

Contact Info:

Ella Mae Howard, Scholar-In-Residence Program Chair

Portage Route Chapter

PO Box 2424

Great Falls, MT 59403

(406)784-2282 or (406)727-2682

Email: ellahoward@q.com