MDAH is accepting applications for the 2025 Medgar and Myrlie Evers Research Fellowship. Offered in partnership with the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Institute, this annual fellowship awards a $5,000 stipend to one graduate student or a faculty member within the first five years of their academic career to conduct research using the Evers Papers and other archival collections at MDAH for two weeks during the summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Research Fellowship?
Offered in partnership by the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute and the Mississippi Department of Archives (MDAH) the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Research Fellowship supports scholarly research using the Medgar Wiley and Myrlie Beasley Evers Papers and related materials at MDAH. The fellowship seeks to nurture scholars at the beginning of their academic careers to increase their lifelong interest in history and promote continued academic and public appreciation of Medgar and Myrlie Evers’s life and works, the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi, and the struggle for human rights.
- Who is eligible?
The fellowship recipient must be a student enrolled in a graduate or doctoral program at an accredited college or university, or a faculty member within the first five years of their academic career.
- What does the fellowship include?
The fellowship recipient will receive:
- A $5,000 stipend
- 50 photocopies and 7 high-resolution scans of archival materials gratis
- A guided tour of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
- Entry to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and Museum of Mississippi History (2MM)
The fellow is expected to:
- Conduct research in the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Papers (Z/2231) at the William F. Winter Archives and History Building in Jackson, MS.
- Conduct research during May to September 2025 for a minimum of two weeks.
- Give a presentation on research findings at the conclusion of the stay.
- Submit a summary report on research findings.
- Which costs are eligible to use with the $5,000 stipend?
- Travel
- Accommodations
- Food
- Additional photocopies and scans of archival materials
- Other expenses during the recipient’s time researching at the archives
- Which costs are ineligible to use with the stipend?
- Computer equipment (hardware or software)
- Childcare
- Photo framing/matting
- How will the stipend be disbursed?
The stipend will be paid in two increments. The first payment will be given at the start of the fellow’s stay with the final payment given upon submission of the summary report.
- How do I apply?
Complete the online application here and include the following materials:
- Proposal (no more than five pages, typed, double-spaced)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Two Letters of Recommendation must be emailed from your academic advisors/professors to fellowships@mdah.ms.gov for your application to be considered
- Sample work (no more than 20 pages)
A downloadable PDF application is also available and may be submitted via email to fellowships@mdah.ms.gov.
- When is the deadline to apply?
March 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm CST.
- What should be included in my proposal?
Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Medgar Wiley and Myrlie Beasley Evers Papers (Z/2231). See selection criteria for more information.
- Describe the proposed research topic
- Explain the research methodology, including a brief description of preliminary research and a selected bibliography
- Use of MDAH holdings indicated by collection title, series number, and series title
- Intended research product(s) (examples include: a paper, thesis, dissertation, article, book, lecture, exhibit, broadcast, and/or website)
- Anticipated schedule (minimum two weeks during May to September 2025)
- Estimated expenses (travel, housing, other expenses)
- How do I use MDAH’s catalog to search the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Papers?
Applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Medgar Wiley and Myrlie Beasley Evers Papers (Z/2231) by visiting the catalog record and collection finding aid, including the box and folder list.
- When will the fellowship recipient be notified?
The recipient will be notified by April 4, 2025.
- What are the selection criteria?
A recipient is selected based on the following criteria:
Scholastic contribution:
- How will this proposed work contribute to the scholarly research on Medgar Evers, Myrlie Evers, and the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi and/or the nation?
- What is the potential of this applicant to contribute to new and unexplored understandings of Evers and the Civil Rights Movement?
- How will this proposed work contribute to scholarly research on human rights, and contribute new understandings of this overall topic?
- How will the product promote or encourage future study of the topic?
Proposed research topic, methodology, use of MDAH holdings, and research product(s):
- How will this research utilize the primary resources at MDAH? How appropriate is the Medgar Wiley & Myrlie Beasley Evers Papers and other MDAH holdings to this research?
- What is the proposed research methodology?
- How innovative is the proposed research?
- What is the overall quality and clarity of the proposal?
- Is the product appropriate to the research topic?
Anticipated schedule: Is the schedule reasonable and does it include adequate research time on-site during the two-week minimum stay?
Estimated expenses (travel, housing, and other): Are expenses reasonable and in accordance with the guidelines presented?
Curriculum vitae and Letter of recommendation from academic advisor.
- Will MDAH and/or organizations use the research findings?
The Medgar and Myrlie Evers Institute and MDAH may have the opportunity to utilize the product(s) if they are deemed appropriate and of benefit to the sponsoring parties.
- Who do I contact for more information?
For additional information and questions about the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Fellowship, email fellowships@mdah.ms.gov or call 601-576-6889.