The James P. Danky Fellowships

In honor of Jim Danky’s long service to print culture scholarship, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for the History of Print and Digital Culture, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Historical Society, is offering two short-term research fellowship awards for 2022-2023. The Danky Fellowships provide $1000 per individual for expenses while conducting research using the collections of the Wisconsin Historical Society (please see details of the collections).

As we are not able to anticipate how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will affect access to physical collections or travel during the academic year 2022-2023, we ask that those applying for the fellowship be open to either an in-person or distance research experience. In-person research is the assumed baseline mode, but may have to shift depending on timing and conditions.  

Grant money has traditionally been used for travel to the WHS, costs of copying pertinent archival resources, and living expenses while pursuing research. In the case of a distance research experience, the funds may be used for larger-scale digitization of materials. We invite fellowship recipients to present their work to our community in a format that will be determined in consultation with the recipient.

Preference will be given to:

• proposals undertaking research in print culture history
• research likely to lead to publication
• researchers early in their career
• researchers from outside Madison

Prior to applying it is strongly suggested that applicants contact the Wisconsin Historical Society (askarchives@wisconsinhistory.org or 608-264-6459) to discuss the relevancy of WHS collections to their projects. We encourage applicants to start this process early since the Wisconsin Historical Society staff may be able to identify potential collections of which you may not otherwise be aware. WHS staff are working at full capacity during the pandemic and will answer questions in as timely a manner as possible.

There is no application form. Applicants must submit the following:

1. A cover sheet with name, telephone, permanent address and e-mail, current employer/affiliation, title of project, and proposed dates of residency.
2. A letter of two single-spaced pages maximum describing the project and its relation to specifically cited collections at the society and to previous work on the same theme, and describing the projected outcome of the work, including publication plans. If residents of the Madison area are applying, they must explain their financial need for the stipend.
3. Curriculum vitae.
4. Two brief, confidential letters of reference. Graduate students must include their thesis advisor. Letters may be emailed to chpdc@ischool.wisc.edu by recommenders. 

Applications are due by May 1, 2022 for this fellowship cycle. The recipient will be notified by June 1. Please use your last name as the first word of all file names (for example: Name CV.doc) and email materials to: Jonathan Senchyne, Director, Center for the History of Print and Digital Culture: chpdc@ischool.wisc.edu.