Walter E. Bezanson Archive Fellowship

About the Fellowship

The Melville Society, under the auspices of the Melville Society Cultural Project, offers an annual Walter E. Bezanson Fellowship to help a scholar undertake research on Herman Melville at the Melville Society Archive in the Research Library of the New Bedford Whaling Museum in New Bedford, Massachusetts. International scholars at dissertation stage are especially encouraged to apply. The fellowship, which carries a stipend of $1000, may be used to cover travel, meals, or other living expenses. Lodging in the vicinity of the Research Library may be available at a discounted rate for up to two weeks.

The Melville Society Archive contains over 3,000 volumes of scholarship and criticism related to the study of Melville, thanks to major contributions from Walter Bezanson, Harrison Hayford, and Merton M. Sealts, Jr.; many first, rare, and illustrated editions of Melville’s writings donated by the late Thomas Wendel; and Robert Madison’s collection of editions of the poets Melville read. Fellows also have access to the Research Library’s general holdings and the nearby New Bedford Free Public Library. Additional scholarly resources are available in the Boston area, particularly at Harvard University’s Houghton Library, about 75 minutes away by car.

Interested applicants should submit the following materials electronically: a letter of inquiry, describing the project and explaining how the Melville Society Archive will be used; an updated c.v.; and a letter of support from a department chair, mentor, or dissertation director. Please send materials to Professor Jennifer J. Baker (Department of English, New York University) at jbaker@nyu.edu.

The deadline for receipt of applications for any calendar year is November 30 of the previous year.

Walter E. Bezanson Archive Fellows

2023 Arturo Corujo (Spain)
[fellowship report]

2022 Christopher Rice (Canada)
[fellowship report]

2018 Elizabeth Heinz Swails (USA)
[fellowship report]

2017 Meaghan Fritz (USA)
[fellowship report]

2016 Meredith Farmer (USA)
[fellowship report]

2015 Bradley King (USA)
[fellowship report]

2014 Jaime Campomar (Argentina)
[fellowship report]

2013 Joseph Matthew Meyer (USA)
[fellowship report]

2013 Munia Bhaumik (USA)
[fellowship report]

2012 Pilar Martínez Benedí (Italy; originally from Spain)
[fellowship report]