Dissertation Fellowships
Long-term dissertation fellowships support one or two semesters of research in residence in the collections of the Library Company and those of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
We welcome applications from PhD students and candidates who would benefit from support for archival research rather than those who are in the final stages of writing.
Image: Detail of “Vincit qui se vincit” scrap from the title page of a scrapbook of Charles A. Poulson, ca. 1850s. (4)2526.F
Davida Tenenbaum Deutsch Dissertation Fellowship in Women’s History
Offered by the Davida Tenenbaum Deutsch Program in Women’s History, this one-semester fellowship supports dissertation research on any aspect of women’s history (broadly defined) documented in the Library Company’s collections.
The stipend is $16,000 for one semester. Fellows must reside in the Philadelphia area for the duration of their fellowship.
Program in Early American Economy and Society Dissertation Fellowship
The Program in Early American Economy and Society (PEAES) Dissertation Fellowship supports research in residence in early American political economy and society, broadly defined, from its colonial beginnings to the 1850s. Either a nine-month fellowship (September to May) or a one-semester fellowship may be awarded.
The stipend is $32,000 for the academic year or $16,000 for one semester. Fellows must reside in the Philadelphia area for the duration of their fellowship.
Mellon Scholars Program in African American History Dissertation Fellowship
Offered by the Program in African American History (PAAH), this fellowship supports research in African American history and culture (broadly defined) of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Either a nine-month fellowship (September to May) or a one-semester fellowship may be awarded.
The stipend is $32,000 for the academic year or $16,000 for one semester. Fellows must reside in the Philadelphia area for the duration of their fellowship.
Applications
Applications for the 2026-27 dissertation fellowships cycle will be accepted from September 1, 2025, until the submission deadline of January 16, 2026. Decisions will be announced no later than April 1, 2026.
Applicants may submit a single application to be considered for all long-term dissertation fellowships for which their projects are eligible. Applicants who do not receive a long-term dissertation fellowship award may choose to be considered for a short-term (one-month) award; there is no need to submit a separate application for a short-term fellowship.
For full application instructions, visit this page.
For more information
For general information about fellowships and application procedures, email fellowships@librarycompany.org.
See the Fellowships FAQ page for additional information and contact details.