The J. Franklin Jameson Fellowship in American History

The Franklin Jameson Fellowship in American History is offered annually by the Library of Congress and the American Historical Association (AHA) to support significant scholarly research for one semester in the collections of the Library of Congress by scholars at an early stage in their careers in history.

The fellowship is named in honor of J. Franklin Jameson, a founder of the Association, longtime managing editor of the American Historical Review, formerly Chief of the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, and the first incumbent of the Library's Chair of American History. It is designed to assist scholars early in their careers.

This fellowship is being offered again for the 2010–11 academic year. For more information regarding how to apply, deadlines and other important information please click this link to the AHA.

Research Grants from the American Historical Association (AHA)

The American Historical Association (AHA) has published a list of available research grants. Please note that only AHA members are eligible to apply for these grants, all of which are offered annually and are intended to further research in progress.

Preference is given to advanced doctoral students, non-tenured faculty, and unaffiliated scholars. Grants may be used for travel to a library or archive; microfiliming, photography, or photocopying; borrowing or access fees; and similar research expenses.

Applications are all due on February 15, 2010 for the following:

The Albert J. Beveridge Grant for Research in the Western Hemisphere are available to support research in the history of the Western hemisphere. Individual grants do not exceed $1,000.

The Michael Kraus Research Grant in colonial American history, with particular reference to the intercultural aspects of American and European relations, offers cash awards of up to $800.

The Littleton-Griswold Grant offers grants of up to $1,000 for resear4ch in U.S. legal history and the field of law and society.

The Bernadotte Schmitt Grants support research in the history of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Individual grants will not exceed $1,000

For more information click this link.

Thought of the Day: Andrew Carnegie

"Only in popular education can man erect the structure of an enduring civilization."

Andrew Carnegie

AHA Calls for Nominations: Nancy Lyman Roelker Award

The American Historical Association has published a ‘Calls for Nominations’ for the Nancy Lyman Roelker Award in the September 2009 edition of Perspectives on History.

This award was established to honor history teachers “who taught, guided, and inspired their students in a way that changed their lives. Mentoring is as important to the discipline of history as fine scholarship and good teaching. The ideal mentor is forthright, supportive, and constructively critical, committed to the student as a person, regardless of age or career goals.”

The Nancy Lyman Roelker Mentorship Award is given on a three-year cycle for graduate mentors, undergraduate mentors and secondary school teachers. The 2010 award is for secondary school mentors and carries a cash award.

Nominations should include:

1) A completed cover sheet and checklist.

2) A minimum of five letters supporting the nomination. These letters can be from students, former students, parents, colleagues, and others. There is no set proportion or formula for the “right” mixes of letters. Individuals organizing nominations should solicit a cross section as appropriate to address the essential elements noted above. Preferred maximum length of letters is two pages.

3) The nominee’s vita highlighting educational experience and student mentoring (publications and professional activities should be summarized in no more than 2 pages). The preferred maximum length of a c.v. is two-to-five pages.

Mail to: Roelker Mentorship Award, AHA, 400 A Street S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003.

Coversheet and checklist, all letters supporting the nomination, and vita must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2010.

The 2010 award will be announced at the January 6-9, 2011 AHA 125^th annual meeting in Boston.

The History Education Council of Hawaii recognizes that there are many qualified secondary-level history teachers and mentors and urges Hawaii educators to pursue this opportunity.

On This Day: Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation Issued

September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. This document was issued by Lincoln after the Battle of Antietam, threatening to free all slaves in the Confederate states if those states did not return to the Union by January 1, 1863. Legally, it was binding only in territory not under the control of Union forces.

The original hand-written copy of this document has been part of the New York State Library’s collections since 1865. The library has published an online exhibit that visitors anywhere can access here.

The online edition of the Atlantic Monthly features a transcript that visitors may access here.

The Memory Project of the Library of Congress features an online site with copies of the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation dated July 22, 1862, the preliminary version dated September 22, a photograph copy of the Emancipation Proclamation dated January 1, 1863, and a letter from President Lincoln to Albert G. Hodges, editor of the Frankfort, Kentucky Commonwealth, dated April 4, 1864.

Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now and the American Revolution

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has just released Issue 21, September 2009 of its online journal History Now.

"The story of the birth of our nation is a fascinating one—complex, surprising, difficult and triumphant. Although it is sometimes told in simplistic terms, this issue of History Now attempts to grapple with the ambiguities that define this critical moment in our past, and to offer thoughtful suggestions about how to teach the struggle for independence."

The journal also features classroom materials for teachers. Click here to see more. A series of video clips for classroom use are also featured.

Bill of Rights Day: September 25

The American Constitution includes a Bill of Rights comprising its first ten amendments. We call attention for the benefit of teachers, historians and students Bill of Rights Day celebrated each September 25th. It was on this day in 1789 that the Bill of Rights passed both houses of Congress. By December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights had been ratified by three-fourths of the states, thus making the Bill of Rights the law of the land.

Fundamental rights guarnteed under the state constitutions varied, and most Antifederalists appealed for greater legal protections of individual liberties. These included specific guarantees for jury trials, freedom of religion, prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment, support for freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

We call your attention to a number of online resources available for classroom and supplemental learning purposes.

The Charters of Freedom maintained by the National Archives includes exhibits and educational materials about the Bill of Rights.

In addition, Cornell University's Law School features an array of materials, including a transcript of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

A Hawaii-based online source called Know Yours Rights! features a listing of the Bills of Rights found in each of the state's constitutions and more.