National Stereoscopic Association Research Fellowship

About the Fellowship

The Prints & Photographs Division's National Stereoscopic Association Research Fellowship is made possible by a gift from the National Stereoscopic Association (NSA) for fellowship and lecture funding. The purpose of the award is to support research within the Prints & Photographs holdings of stereoscopic photography and the unparalleled photographic history collections at the Library of Congress--including over 15 million photographs, rare publications, manuscript materials, historic newspapers, and extensive subscription database access.

The Fellowship committee will award Fellowships annually to be used to cover travel to and from Washington, D.C., accommodations, and other research expenses to assist fellows in their ongoing scholarly research and writing projects on stereoscopic photography, or more broadly within the field of photographic history to the extent that research is connected in some manner to the Library's holdings on the format.

Eligibility and Guidelines

Graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, independent scholars, creators, and other researchers with a need for Fellowship support are encouraged to apply. Individuals who are not U.S. residents but who otherwise meet the above qualifications may apply and be considered for a Fellowship, contingent upon visa eligibility. The Library of Congress is not able to assist with granting a visa.

In the interest of increasing awareness and extending documentation of Library of Congress collections, Fellows are required to make use of the Library's collections, be in residence at the Library during the award period, and share information derived from their research through publication in Stereo World or on the Library's Picture This blog, a public lecture, presentation at the following National Stereoscopic Association Convention, or other event, either during their residency or within six months of completing their research at the Library. Each Fellow must also notify the selection committee if their work results in formal publication and provide a hard-copy or online access to the work.

Past awards have ranged from one to three weeks in duration.

To Apply

Completed applications are due on March 1st, 2025. The Fellowship must be completed between September 1st, 2025 and August 31st, 2026.

Application materials described below will be accepted only via email submission as PDF or Word document attachments to: stereofellow@loc.gov. The information requested in the cover sheet section can be completed on the linked application form or copied and pasted from below into the text of your email.

Application for the National Stereoscopic Association Research Fellowship - (Word, 17kb)

Additional Materials Required

1. An up-to-date resume or brief curriculum vita providing information as to education, degrees received, fellowships and honors, publications, positions held, and other pertinent information. __ (check if enclosed)
2. A one-page abstract (250 words maximum) that specifies how the proposed project is related to research on stereoscopic photography, or the field of photographic history more broadly; and identifies specifically which Library collections the applicant intends to utilize in research during the proposed period of residency at the Library of Congress. __ (check if enclosed)
3. A description of the proposed project (no longer than five pages) including (a) accomplishments to date, (b) a timetable for completion, (c) an itemized budget (including necessary travel and research expenses that should not include foreign travel), (d) plans for use of specific Library of Congress collections, (e) any visual materials that support the project proposal (no more than 5 images, inclusion in project description or separate JPEG attachments acceptable), and (e) other pertinent information, including plans for publication. __ (check if enclosed)

4. Two letters of recommendation.

   Names, affiliations, and addresses of 2 references from whom you have requested letters of recommendation:

   Letters of recommendation must be sent directly to the Fellowship committee, preferably emailed using institutional email address and/or including signature, to stereofellow@loc.gov or mailed to:

   Prints and Photographs Division
   Library of Congress
   101 Independence Ave., SE
   Washington, D.C. 20540-4730
   Attn: Micah Messenheimer, National Stereoscopic Association Research Fellowship

   Please give your recommenders copies of your proposal and ask them to comment on your strengths and weaknesses, the value of the proposed project, and your abilities to carry out the project as described.

5. Non-resident applicants must include a letter from their visa sponsor affirming their visa type and eligibility to accept monetary compensation for research through the National Stereoscopic Photography Research Fellowship for the term requested.

All materials must be received by March 1st, 2025, in order to be considered for the Fellowship. All materials received after this date will be held for the following year’s review period. Applications lacking any of these required components will automatically be eliminated from review.

Questions should be addressed to:

Micah Messenheimer
Phone: (202) 707-0591
Email: stereofellow@loc.gov