UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Eberly Family Special Collections Library at Penn State University Libraries has announced that the application period for 2025-26 research grants is now open. Applications from nontraditional researchers, students and others for whom the financial costs of research-based travel pose a significant obstacle are encouraged to apply. Awards are available to support travel and research expenses while utilizing the Eberly Family Special Collections Library at Penn State’s University Park campus.

Funds will be paid out in two installments: recipients receive $3,000 to support their research with a second installment of $1,000 provided after the presentation of their research talks. The application deadline is Dec. 10 and all applicants will be notified of their status on or before Jan 10, 2025. Any non-Penn State faculty member, graduate student or independent scholar with a research project that utilizes the Special Collections Library may apply, with preference given to applicants who live beyond a 100-mile radius of State College, Pennsylvania.

Awards are offered for a variety of research interests, from specific collections to broader subject areas.

Dorothy Foehr Huck Research Award

Support for researchers using any of the Eberly Family Special Collection Library’s collections — it offers the broadest support for research based in the collections. To learn more about our collection strengths and priorities, review the Collection Development Plan.

Helen F. Faust Women Writers Research Award

Support for researchers whose work focuses on women writers, and who would benefit from the use of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library’s collections, such as the Robin Becker literary papers.

V.P. Franklin African American History Research Award

Thanks to a generous gift from V.P. Franklin, Penn State alumnus (class of 1969) and esteemed scholar of African American history, a new award will be offered this year to support research in the growing Black History and Visual Culture collections. Applicants interested in exploring research topics drawing on materials from two recent notable archival acquisitions: the V.P. Franklin papers and the Guion S. Bluford papers are especially encouraged.

Mary Ann O'Brian Malkin Research Award

Support for researchers whose work focuses on the history of dance and dance notation, and who would benefit from using the Malkin collection of early dance, 1531-1804.

Albert M. Petska Eighth Air Force Archives Research Award

Support for researchers utilizing the Eighth Air Force archive, which documents both the fighter and bomber groups that served in Europe and Africa during World War II and the Eighth Air Force veterans organizations nationwide. It contains books, photographs, audio-visual materials, oversize graphic materials, artifacts, memorabilia, microfilm, and organizational records donated by veterans and their families.

William W. Scranton Research Award

Support for research in the personal papers of the late Gov. William W. Scranton covering his legacy as a Pennsylvania congressional representative (1961-1963), governor of Pennsylvania (1963-1967), chair of the Presidential Commission on Campus Unrest, presidential candidate (1964); and U.S. representative to the United Nations (1976-1977).

Information regarding eligibility, application requirements, grant timelines, and to apply for the grant opportunities can be found on the Research Grants webpage. Contact Special Collections Instruction, Outreach and Engagement Librarian Racine Amos at rla5306@psu.edu with questions or concerns.