Awards, grants, and fellowships

The Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship

The Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship from the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation provides funding (up to $5,000.00) to a “talented writer and/or illustrator of children’s books who wishes to use the Kerlan Collection for the furtherance of his or her artistic development.” 

This fellowship is intended to provide financial assistance for writers and illustrators who wish to use the original manuscripts, illustrations, and books of the Kerlan Collection in course of their professional development. Special consideration will be given to those who would find it difficult to finance a visit to the Kerlan Collection.

Applications must be postmarked by January 30 of year they wish to use the award. Winners will be notified in February and March. Study and written report must be completed during the calendar year. The short written report should document the experience of the researcher in the archive, as well as how they believe what they viewed will inform their own work, and may be posted in the department blog and/or newsletter.

Depending on tax treaty benefits, non-US taxpayer recipients may be subject to reporting and withholding requirements. 

Application should include the following:

• Cover letter that provides a project description, including how research in the Kerlan will further your work. The narrative should include reference to specific collections to be used and their relevance to the project.
• The applicant's curriculum vitae or resume
• One letter of recommendation from someone familiar with your literary and/or artistic work that you will invite to write in support of your application.
• A budget with estimates of related costs
• A sample of no more than three published or unpublished works. Do not send original art;
  send published or photocopied work.

A completed application should be mailed to:
Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship 
113 Andersen Library
222 21st Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455

Please contact [email protected] with questions.

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Marilyn Hollinshead Visiting Scholars Fellowship

Marilyn Hollinshead Visiting Scholars Fund for Travel to the Children's Literature Research Collections will be available for research study. Applicants may request up to $1,500 (Depending on tax treaty benefits, non-US taxpayer recipients may be subject to reporting and withholding requirements).

The application deadline is January 30 of the year they wish to use the award. Travel and a written report on the project must be completed and submitted before the end of the year.

Application should include the following:

• Cover letter that provides a detailed project description, placing the project in the context of its larger field of study and describing the anticipated result of the project (e.g. journal article, book, edited volume, etc.). The narrative should articulate the anticipated use of materials with reference to specific collections to be used and their relevance to the project.
• The applicant's curriculum vitae
• One letter of recommendation
• A budget with estimates of related costs

A completed application should be mailed to:
Marilyn Hollinshead Visiting Scholars Fellowship
113 Andersen Library
222 21st Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55455

Please contact [email protected] with questions.

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