Hertlein-Whitehead Visiting Scholars Program

Eligibility | Obligations | Opportunities on Campus | How to Apply | Hours

About

The Hertlein-Whitehead Visiting Scholars Program was established in December 2011. It provides financial support to researchers unaffiliated with Pittsburg State University.   

A gift from Mary L. Whitehead funds the award. The endowment is named after members of the Hertlein and Whitehead families, who have deep roots in agriculture and labor history—two subject areas well represented in the Special Collections of Axe Library—in the state of Kansas. They have also made significant donations of print and manuscript materials to the holdings of Special Collections at Pittsburg State University.

Eligibility

The program is open to all scholars, from graduate students to retired professors and independent researchers, regardless of nationality. The award is primarily intended to help defray the costs of travel and living expenses for scholars from outside the region.

A stipend or stipends of $500, up to a maximum of $1500 per year, will be awarded. Recipients are responsible for making their own travel and housing arrangements, though information about local housing will be provided upon request.

The Special Collections staff will offer an orientation meeting and a tour of the campus and/or community if desired. Assistance in using the library’s collections will be available throughout the study period. The study period may be scheduled at any time during the year, excepting official university holidays.

Obligations

Visiting scholars are expected to conduct their research primarily in the Pittsburg State Special Collections and University Archives library.

Visiting scholars must reside within a short driving distance during the award period.

When a Hertlein-Whitehead Visiting Scholar publishes work resulting from the study period, the curator will appreciate acknowledgment of the award’s benefit as well as a copy of the publication(s) for our collection.

Within one year of the conclusion of the library visit, Hertlein-Whitehead Visiting Scholars should send a brief written report (one to two pages) to the Curator of Special Collections describing the extent of the research conducted and its value to the scholar’s overall project.

Opportunities on Campus

Visiting scholars may arrange with university departments or the library to offer a lecture or presentation on their research subject during the award period.

How to Apply

Applicants are asked to provide the following:

• Curriculum vitae
• A research proposal no more than two pages in length
• A brief budget of expected expenses denoting amount needed
• One example of a prior publication, senior thesis, or similar advanced writing sample.
• Send applications and letters to:

Sara DeCaro, Curator of Special Collections  
Pittsburg State University  
Axe Library  
1701 South Broadway  
Pittsburg, KS 66762  
USA