About the Liberal Arts/Cushing Library Don Kelly Research Collection Fellowship

The Texas A&M University Libraries/Cushing Memorial Library and Archives and the College of Arts & Sciences are proud to support the Don Kelly Research Collection Fellowship. The fellowship covers all aspects of LGBTQIA+ Studies, from history through the visual arts.

The fellowship is for a period of 2 weeks to 2 months for work that is based on resources within the Don Kelly Research Collection of Gay Literature and Culture housed in the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives. Research topics can include, but are not limited to, the following areas, relative to the LGBTQIA+ communities: pulp fiction, literature, film, protest movements, culture, art, popular literature, serials, international, Andy Warhol, Beat Poets, artist books, race, and gender.

Fellowship stipend: $750/week, from $1,500 (2 weeks) up to $6,000 (2 months) for the duration of the fellowship. The amount is taxable.  Any expenses incurred beyond the amount of the fellowship are the responsibility of the Fellow.

Benefits of the Fellowship: The Cushing Memorial Library and Archives' Don Kelly collection contains the depth and breadth of topics related to the LGBTQIA+ communities, and is both national and international in scope. Fellows will conduct their research in the Kelsey Reading Room and supervised stacks privileges will be made available, along with photocopying and other imaging capabilities. The Library has a stellar reputation and is well-regarded by scholars throughout the world, all with a diverse range of expertise and interests. Please visit the Collecting Areas page of this website for further information about the collections.

Expected outcomes:

• Fellows who spend 4 weeks or more at the Cushing Library are required to give a public lecture or presentation at Texas A&M University, on their topic of research, to be delivered at the end of their stay, in agreement with the Fellowship Committee.
• A short report will be required from Fellows who spend less than 4 weeks at the Library.
• If additional products are created, Fellows should supply a copy of any publications resulting from their fellowship work: book, journal article, etc., for the Cushing Library’s holdings. Artists should provide digital copies of artwork or other evidence of work produced.
• These products will be housed in the Libraries’ Institutional Repository (OAKTrust).

Fellows are expected to acknowledge the Fellowship, in print publications and other products, using the following language: “This [publication, performance, etc.] was supported by the [year] Don Kelly Research Collection of Gay Literature and Culture Fellowship, co-sponsored by the Texas A&M University Libraries/Cushing Memorial Library and Archives and the Texas A&M College of Liberal Arts.”

Requirements and Application:

• Fellowships are open to scholars and artists, including independent scholars, whose research area focuses on LGBTQIA+ issues covered in the Don Kelly collection.
• Strong preference will be given to applicants who live at least 60 miles away from College Station. Texas A&M System employees are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be citizens of the United States or be U.S. lawful permanent residents.
• Texas A&M University rules require that visiting scholars who are on campus working for an extended period of time (2+ weeks) and are being paid by TAMU must go through a  background check.
• The applications are due January 6, 2023. Awardees will be notified by February 10, 2023. The 2023 Fellowship residencies will take place between June 1, 2023 and August 31, 2023.
• Fellowship Committee:
  
  • Professor Rebecca Hankins, Professor in the new Department of Global Languages and Cultures, School of Arts and Sciences
  • Dr. Francesca Marini, Associate Professor in the School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts
  • Dr. Kris May, Associate Editor, World Shakespeare Bibliography

How to Apply: 

• Please upload your application at  tx.ag/DonKellyApplication . Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Up-to-date résumé or CV, and at least two letters of reference.
• A concise and well-written 3-page proposal. The Don Kelly collection is only partially cataloged, but a preliminary list is available at:  http://www.librarything.com/profile/donkelly68 . Please discuss how the project is relevant to LGBTQIA+ studies or advocacy.
• With your application, please include a list of twenty to fifty titles that you will want to consult at the Cushing Library.
• When searching  LibraryThing, please keep in mind that the  LibraryThing listing was put together by Mr. Don Kelly. The tags he uses and the way he organizes items reflect his approach to the collection.

Applications will be judged on the basis of project significance and relevance.

For inquiries, please contact Jeremy Brett at jbrett@tamu.edu, Professor Rebecca Hankins at rhankins@tamu.edu, or Dr. Francesca Marini at  fmarini@tamu.edu.