​Pforzheimer Fellowships

An opportunity for Harvard graduate students to learn about library careers, advance their own research skills, and get to know the library from the inside.

Harvard Library’s Pforzheimer Fellowships provide an opportunity for Harvard graduate students to learn about library careers, advance their own research skills, and get to know the library from the inside. Students choose from a list of library projects (see below) and submit an application. ​​Fellowships are awarded to five students every winter/spring and run during the summer.

Fellows are awarded up to $5,000 to complete a library project under the guidance and mentorship of a librarian or archivist.

 

How to Apply

Any graduate student who is enrolled at Harvard is encouraged to apply.

A small committee, chaired by Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor Ann Blair, selects fellows for the program with input from the Harvard Library.

  • Choose a Project: Review the proposed fellowship projects (see projects) and choose which you'd like to apply to work on. You may submit more than one application. 
  • Contact your References: You will be asked to include two references on your application. Your references should be two people you've worked with while at Harvard, one of which must be a Harvard faculty member. Your references must send their letters of support to Hannah Hack at  hannah_hack@harvard.edu.

Application Deadline

Applications have closed for the 2023 Pforzheimer Fellowships.

Fellowship dates

2024 Dates to be announced in the spring. 

Award

$5,000

Things to know

  • Fellows are assigned a mentor from the library and work on defined projects under the mentor's supervision. 
  • Fellows are expected to assume full responsibility for their projects.
  • Each fellow must submit a final report of this work describing and evaluating their experiences.

APPLY

Applications have closed for 2023. Dates and projects for 2024 to be announced in the spring semester.

Library Projects Summer 2023

Projects are created from across Harvard's libraries and range from digitizing materials to working on exhibits or taking a deep dive into a collection. Students can read through and find a project that's right for them.

2024 Projects To Be Announced in the spring semester.

 

About the fellowship

Librarianship in the 21st century engages with some of the liveliest areas of intellectual activity, yet most graduate students have little idea of the exciting professional opportunities available in libraries.​

Student looking at ipad with digital item displayed

During these fellowships, the Pforzheimer Fellows are assigned a mentor from the library and work on Harvard Library projects under the mentor's supervision. While getting to know librarians and librarianship firsthand, they will be expected to assume responsibility for their projects. Each Pforzheimer Fellow will be awarded up to $5,000 to complete the project.

At the end of the project, the fellows will be asked to submit a final report of this work describing and evaluating their experiences. Fellows will also participate in discussions with each other about their experiences.

These fellowships are in honor of Carl H. Pforzheimer III for his generous contributions to Harvard and its libraries.

Past Fellows

Summer 2023 Fellows

  • Brett Donohoe: Documenting the War in Ukraine with Internet-based primary sources
  • Morgan Forde: connecting the Gutman Collections to the Black Teacher Archive
  • Masoud Ariankhoo: Indigenous Studies of Near East, Middle East and North Africa
  • Angélica María Sánchez Barona: The Legacy of Slavery in Houghton Library's Collection

Learn more about the 2023 Pforzheimer Fellows' projects.

Spring 2022 Fellows

  • Donald Brown: Harvard and HBCUs
  • Gangsim Eom: Urban Segregation
  • Julia Harris: ACT UP Collection
  • Johannes Makar: Finding Aids for Middle East Collections
  • Kabl Wilkerson: Indigenous Peoples and Native American Exhibit

Learn more about the 2022 Pforzheimer Fellows'  projects.

Spring 2021 Fellows

Contact

Practical questions concerning the application process should be addressed to Hannah Hack at hannah_hack@harvard.edu.

More general, academic questions concerning the program may be addressed to Professor Ann Blair at amblair@fas.harvard.edu.

Unabridged

A Master Class in Library Research for GSAS Students, offered every January