Highlights:
1. This Fellowship is open to scholars who have recently been or will shortly be awarded their doctorates in early modern or modern British history.
2. Appalachian State University has a traditional strength in British studies, largely owing to the unique resources in the Belk Library and Information Commons. For many years the Department of History was home to the prestigious journal of British studies, ALBION, and in 2008 the University appointed the first holder of a newly established endowed chair, the Roy Carroll Distinguished Professorship of British History. The Library's provision in British history is unusually strong, ranging from original documents and rare books to microfilms and secondary sources. The Special Collections include substantial holdings in British history and the Fellow will be expected to make extensive use of these materials, particularly the Rhinehart Collection.
3. The Bill and Maureen Rhinehart Collection on British History is a rare book collection made possible through gifts from the Rhineharts' personal library. There are currently over 400 items in the Collection, and more are added each year. The Collection includes material dating from the seventeenth century through to the late Victorian period, much of which can be found nowhere else in the United States. There is an online catalogue and also a published version, but these cover only part of the Collection and the catalogues are being updated. Further details are available at www.library.appstate.edu/collections. Special Collections staff at Appalachian State University will be pleased to answer questions: phone 828-262-4041, or email spcoll@appstate.edu.
4. In order to support this Fellowship, Appalachian State University will provide free housing, health insurance, a return air ticket (if required), and office space on campus. Advice and assistance on visa issues will be provided for non-US applicants. There will also be a maintenance grant of $5,000. Candidates for the Fellowship are encouraged to make bids to appropriate funding bodies to cover other costs.
5. There will be an opportunity for the Fellow to contribute to the life of the University and its community in various ways. The Fellow will be invited to teach one course in the Department of History, to participate in the University's international and other programs, and to present a research paper and a public lecture.
6. Applications should include the following items: (1) one-page CV; (2) 400-word outline of the research project to be carried out at Appalachian State University, with a statement explaining why access to the Special Collections and other material at Appalachian State University would be helpful; (3) letter of recommendation from the candidate's supervisor.
7. Please send applications to Dr Michael Turner, Department of History, Appalachian State University, Old Library Building, ASU Box 32072, Boone, NC 28608, USA. Informal inquiries about the Fellowship can be emailed to turnermj@appstate.edu (or alternatively, please call 828-262-8102). The closing date for applications is Friday December 4th, 2009. The successful candidate will be expected to take up the Fellowship at Appalachian State University in August 2010.
8. Appalachian State University has a strong commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and to maintaining working and learning environments that are free of all forms of discrimination.
