Mellon Foundation Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI) Archives Training Fellowship
Forecasted
Mellon Foundation Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI) Archives Training Fellowship trains scholars and information professionals to care for Indigenous archives and supports independent project work.
Funder: American Philosophical Society
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $50,000 annually plus benefits for 24 months; $5,000 travel/research fund and $750 relocation support
Summary: Residential training in caring for Native American and Indigenous archival collections, with time for an independent project.
Key Information: Full-time residence in Philadelphia is required; the fellowship cannot be held alongside another fellowship or grant.
Description
The American Philosophical Society’s Library & Museum offers this two-year Archives Training Fellowship through the Mellon Foundation-supported Native American Scholars Initiative. Based at the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR) in Philadelphia, it helps information professionals and scholars develop collections-care skills and best practices for Native American and Indigenous materials in archives, libraries, and museums.
The Fellow spends 80% of their time contributing to CNAIR’s work promoting access to archival collections relating to Indigenous peoples and languages of the Americas, and 20% pursuing a proposed independent project. Training may include processing, digitization, metadata, resource development, exhibition planning, and reference. Responsibilities reflect the Fellow’s interests and CNAIR’s priorities, including a significant, sustained CNAIR project undertaken alongside archivists, curators, and other staff.
