AHA Grants and Fellowships

AHA Research Grants

Each year, the American Historical Association awards several research grants with the aim of advancing the study and exploration of history in a diverse number of subject areas. All grants are awarded in June and may be used anytime in the subsequent 15 months for expenses related to furthering research in progress. Grants may be used for travel to a library or archive; microfilming, photography, or photocopying; borrowing or access fees; and similar research expenses—a list of purposes that is meant to be merely illustrative, not exhaustive (other expenses, such as child care, can be included). The deadline for research grant applications is February 15.

Eligibility: Only AHA members are eligible to apply for AHA research grants. Preference will be given to advanced doctoral students, nontenured faculty, and unaffiliated scholars and to those with specific research needs such as the completion of a project or discrete segment thereof. Please note: Within a five-year period, no individual is eligible to receive more than a combined total of $1,500 from all AHA research grants.

For questions, please contact the Prize Administrator.

Albert J. Beveridge Grant

The Albert J. Beveridge Grant for Research in the Western Hemisphere supports research in the history of the United States, Canada, and Latin America; individual grants do not exceed $1,000. See the list of past recipients.

Michael Kraus Research Grant

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. See the list of past recipients.

Littleton-Griswold Grant

The Littleton-Griswold Grant offers grants of up to $1,000 for research in US legal history and in the general field of law and society, broadly defined. See the list of past recipients.

Bernadotte E. Schmitt Grant

The Bernadotte E. Schmitt Grant supports research in the history of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Individual grants will not exceed $1,500. See the list of past recipients.

Fellowships

Fellowships in Aerospace History

The Fellowships in Aerospace History, supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), annually fund research projects from six to nine months. Proposals of advanced research in history related to all aspects of aerospace, from the earliest human interest in flight to the present, are eligible, including cultural and intellectual history, economic history, history of law and public policy, and history of science, engineering, and management. The fellowships are open to applicants who hold a doctoral degree in history or a closely related field, or who are enrolled in and have completed all course work for a doctoral degree-granting program. Preference is given to applicants in early stages of their careers. NASA provides funds to the American Historical Association and to the History of Science Society to allow both associations to award fellowships. The stipend is $21,890 for each fellowship. Three fellowships are offered each academic year; applications will be entered into consideration for all three fellowships. See the list of past recipients.

Annual Meeting Grants

The AHA annual meeting is the largest gathering of historians from across the discipline, and it offers many opportunities to build a professional network, enhance teaching skills, learn about the latest research, and participate in discussions about issues affecting the discipline. The AHA offers the following grants and fellowships to help graduate students, early career, and un/underemployed historians to attend the annual meeting. Only members of the Association are eligible to apply.

Child Care Grants

The Association offers 10 grants of up to $250 to assist AHA members who have child-care costs during the meeting. The grants are intended to help offset the cost of child care, enabling attendees with dependent children to attend the meeting. History graduate students, early career historians, and contingent faculty are eligible; priority will go to those who are on the program.

AHA Council Annual Meeting Travel Grants

In 2015, the AHA Council established a fund to subsidize graduate student attendance at the AHA annual meeting and expanded the program to include un/underemployed historians in 2020. Applicants in any major or minor field of study, regardless of participation in the meeting program, will be considered. Grant amounts are recommended annually by the executive director based on the fund balance and range between $200–$400. Applications are accepted each fall. See the list of past recipients.

Jerry Bentley World History Travel Grants

The Jerry Bentley World History Travel Grants are awarded annually to support travel to the AHA annual meeting for graduate students who include world history among their major or minor fields of academic study. Grantees enrolled at a university in the state of Hawaii will receive twice the standard grant amount. Grant amounts are recommended annually by the executive director based on the fund balance and range between $200–$400. Applications are accepted each fall. See the list of past recipients.

Dorothy Rosenberg Phi Beta Kappa Annual Meeting Travel Grants

Established in 2013 at the bequest of Dorothy Rosenberg and in collaboration with the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the Dorothy Rosenberg Phi Beta Kappa Annual Meeting Travel Grants are awarded annually to help defray travel expenses incurred by graduate students attending the annual meeting. Graduate student applicants in any major or minor field, regardless of participation in the meeting program, will be considered. Successful applicants will be awarded travel subsidies of up to $400 each. See the list of past recipients.

National Institute of Social Sciences Annual Meeting Travel Grants

Established in 2019 by the members of the National Institute of Social Sciences, the National Institute of Social Sciences Annual Meeting Travel Grants are awarded to help defray travel expenses incurred by graduate students attending the AHA annual meeting. Graduate student applicants in any major or minor field of history will be considered. Successful applicants will be awarded travel subsidies of up to $400 each. Preference will be given to graduate students participating in the meeting program. Applications are accepted each fall. See the list of past recipients.

James G. Stofer Annual Meeting Travel Grants

Established in 2022, the James G. Stofer Fund provides grants to support the participation of community college and public high school teachers in AHA activities and programs. Community college and public high school faculty applicants, who are members of the Association, will be considered for the Stofer Annual Meeting Travel Grants, regardless of participation in the program. Successful applicants will be awarded travel subsidies of up to $400 each.

Special Grants

AHA-NEH SHARP Grants

The AHA’s Grants to Sustain and Advance the Work of Historical Organizations Program provides $2.5 million to support dozens of small history-related organizations adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants, ranging from $10,000 to $75,000, fund short-term projects that explore new ideas or build on experiments initiated during the pandemic—from virtual programming or online publications to using new technologies or expanding audiences and accessibility. We encourage proposals for both ambitious new initiatives as well as smaller projects that address problems that have arisen because of the pandemic.