The Outer Banks History Center (OBHC), a regional archives and special collections library located in Manteo, North Carolina, invites researchers interested in coastal North Carolina/maritime history to apply for its 2020 Summer Research Stipend. This stipend, sponsored by the Friends of the OBHC, offers $1,500 to offset travel expenses in support of a single intensive research visit during the summer of 2020.
Eligibility
Graduate or undergraduate students, faculty members, independent researchers, and anyone else pursuing academic research utilizing OBHC materials is welcome to apply. The award is not intended to be used for genealogical research. Funds may be used in support of a traditional scholarly research project, such as a book or paper, or to develop an instructional exercise or assignment designed to engage students with OBHC resources. Applicants must reside outside a 50-mile radius of the OBHC.
Criteria
Applications will be evaluated on the merit of the proposal, the applicant’s qualifications, and the feasibility of completion of the project utilizing existing resources at the OBHC. Proposed projects should be strongly supported by the OBHC’s collections. Applicants are encouraged to contact the OBHC prior to submitting their applications to determine whether relevant holdings to their topics of interest are available. Such questions may be directed to Samantha Crisp, OBHC Director, at samantha.crisp@ncdcr.gov.
The successful applicant should plan to spend at least one week on site doing research at the OBHC between May 1st and September 1st. Upon completion of the visit, the researcher will be asked to provide a final research report and contribute a blog post about their visit to the State Archives of North Carolina’s blog.
Collections
The OBHC is a regional archival facility administered by the State Archives of North Carolina. The mission of the OBHC is to collect, preserve, and provide public access to historical and documentary materials relating to coastal North Carolina, and to serve as an accessible, service-oriented center for historical research and inquiry. The OBHC’s holdings document eastern North Carolina’s local communities and organizations, families, individuals, maritime history and operations, natural history and coastal ecology, early European colonization, material and non-material culture, and social history. Collections can be searched using the State Archives Discover Online Catalog (DOC).
How to Apply
Please use this link to complete an online application. Applicants will be asked to provide a CV, a 1-2 page research statement, a research plan describing the relevance of OBHC collections to the project, and two letters of recommendation.
Please note: the application closes Friday, February 28th. Any questions may be directed to Samantha Crisp, Director of the Outer Banks History Center, at samantha.crisp@ncdcr.gov or 252-473-2655. More information can be obtained on the State Archives of North Carolina website.
