Maine Historical Society, through the support of the P.D. Merrill Charitable Trust, is excited to announce the P.D. Merrill Research Fellowship’s 2026-2027 cycle. This fellowship provides independent scholars, Ph.D. candidates, and holders of the Ph.D. or equivalent an opportunity to explore the Society’s collections related to the business and economic history of Maine, New England, and/or the Canadian Maritimes.
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
The P.D. Merrill Research Fellowship awards one candidate a $3,000 stipend to undertake seventy-two (72) hours of research in the collections of the Maine Historical Society over the course of twelve months (performance period is June 1 to May 31).
Upon completion of their research residencies, Fellows are encouraged, but not required, to share the results of their research with the MHS community via digital or print publication and/or presentation, as is appropriate to their research project.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must be a Ph.D. candidate, a holder of the Ph.D. or equivalent, or an independent scholar.
An applicant’s project must relate to the business and economic history of Maine, New England, or the Canadian Maritimes, and demonstrate specific Maine Historical Society collections of interest.
Applicants must be United States citizens or already hold a J-1 visa or equivalent documents which allow them to accept the stipend. Foreign nationals must consult with MHS staff about eligibility before applying.
All research is conducted on-site at Maine Historical Society.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The application deadline for the 2026-2027 cycle is April 15, 2026.
In addition to the application form, please submit the following:
- A one-page cover letter briefly introducing yourself, your project, and why you are applying to the fellowship.
- A current CV (please, no more than three pages).
- One letter of reference from a professional colleague, advisor, professor, etc.
- A project proposal (approximately 1,000 words in length) which includes the following: a description of the project; a statement explaining the project’s historiographical significance; and an indication of the specific MHS collections you wish you consult or how MHS collections will further your research.
SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION
Please submit your application via email to research@mainehistory.org
When emailing, please include “PD Merrill Fellowship Application” in the email’s subject line.
Please send all documents/attachments as one email. Preferred file types include PDFs or WORD (docx). Do not send links to download application contents from shared platforms.
QUESTIONS? NEED ASSISTANCE?
Please reach out to research@mainehistory.org with questions about collections, the application process, or conducting research at Maine Historical Society.
Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to search all MHS library and collection catalogs in advance of applying, and are welcome to connect with library staff for assistance in preparing an application.
