Lilly Library

Established through a bequest by the estate of Johanna Lenz Mendel in 1998, the Mendel Visiting Fellowships are intended to support research in the collections of the Lilly Library by scholars residing outside the Bloomington area in subjects of particular interest to Johanna Lenz Mendel and Bernardo Mendel. These subjects include the history of the Spanish Colonial Empire; Latin American independence movements; European expansion in the Americas; voyages, travels and exploration; geography, navigation and cartography; German literature and history; and music, including sheet music. Candidates are encouraged to inquire about the appropriateness of a proposed topic before applying. Successful applicants will receive an award of up to $5,000 in support of travel, living, and/or research expenses. Awards must be used by December 20 of the calendar year following that in which the Fellowship is awarded.

There is no special application form. Applicants are asked to submit a brief research proposal, not to exceed three pages. The proposal should (a) emphasize the relationship of the Lilly Library’s collections to the project, (b) include the length and preferred dates of any visit(s) to the Lilly Library and (c) a budget specific to this research proposal which includes travel costs, living and research expenses, and any other source of financial support for this research trip. Applicants are also asked to submit a résumé and, for graduate students or other researchers whose résumés do not include a list of publications in their fields of research, two confidential letters of recommendation.

Application deadline: October 31, 2023

The Baker Street Irregulars Trust and the Lilly Library are now accepting applications for research fellowships for 2023.

The BSI Trust Research Fellowships support research on various aspects of Sherlockian studies that require consultation of the BSI Archive at the Lilly Library. Two fellowships, funded by the BSI Trust, are awarded annually, for a period of up to one month of research, with a stipend of up to $2,500.

These fellowships provide research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, college graduates, postdoctoral scholars, and independent researchers. Successful candidates are selected on the basis of the applicant’s qualifications, the significance or importance of the project, and the appropriateness of the proposed study to the BSI Archive. Fellowships must be used during the year which they are awarded.

The Baker Street Irregulars is a literary society dedicated to the study of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the Victorian world. Founded in 1934, the BSI is the oldest existing Sherlockian society in the world.

The Baker Street Irregulars Trust is part of the BSI and is the repository of the Irregulars’ collective memory. Established in 2003, the Trust’s mission is to collect, preserve, and provide access to historical documents, correspondence, papers, photos, recordings, ephemera, and memorabilia relating to the BSI and its members and friends. The Lilly Library at Indiana University houses the BSI Archive, which is open for public use.

Instructions for applying for this fellowship are on the BSI Trust Research Fellowship web page. Apply by October 31, 2023.