Utah State University Special Collections and Archives is excited to announce a research fellowship to support academic and independent scholars engaged in scholarly writing, publications, media and art projects related to outdoor recreation and the outdoor industry. Topics related to diversity and sustainability in the outdoors are particularly encouraged.
Fellowship stipends are a maximum of $1,500 and are intended to offset the cost of visiting USU's Merrill-Cazier Library in Logan, Utah to conduct on-site research in the Outdoor Recreation Archive. The research period may range from several days to several weeks depending on the project.
Applicants may request funding up to the full amount of $1,500. The Selection Committee will determine the amount of the award based on a range of factors including the specific research topic, its relevance to the Outdoor Recreation Archive, the amount of time required to consult the materials, distance traveled, and need.
Please visit our About Page for more information about the Outdoor Recreation Archive and the materials it contains. Questions about the application process should be directed to Clint Pumphrey at clint.pumphrey@usu.edu or (435) 797-0891.
Check out some of our past research fellows and their projects ↓
2023
Katie Hargrave and Meredith Lynn
Assistant Professor of Art, University of Tennessee Chattanooga and Assistant Professor, Florida State University, respectively
Art installation entitled “A straight line: history, design, and use”
Listen to the podcastAvery Trufelman
Creator of 'Articles of Interest', a podcast about what we wear
Art installation entitled “A straight line: history, desA multi-part podcast series about outdoor fashion
Listen to the podcast
2022
Dr. Rachel Gross
Assistant Professor of History at Colorado University Denver
A multi-disciplinary art installation exploring the inclusion, participation, and representation of people of color outdoors
Listen to the podcastStine Danielle
Candidate for Masters of Fine Arts, Photography, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Two articles, including 'The Gender Politics of Do-It-Yourself: Frostline Kits and the American Outdoor Equipment Boom of the 1970s' and 'Boxing in the Outdoors: Cabela's, REI, and the Growth of Specialty Retailers'
Listen to the podcast
Apply
Deadlines
Applicants are invited for research visits between January 2024 and August 2024. The application deadline is December 1, 2023 and applicants will be notified of results by December 15, 2023.
Eligibility
Faculty, graduate students, and independent scholars who are interested in conducting primary source-based research at the Outdoor Recreation Archive are invited to apply.
Highlander Podcast
Each fellow is required to complete an interview for the USU Outdoor Product Design and Development's Highlander Podcast by the end of the award period. The topic of the interview will be the work they completed using the Outdoor Recreation Archive.
Sponsorships
A generous contribution from REI is funding a 2024 Outdoor Recreation Archive Research Fellowship.
Application
A complete application consists of three parts: the application form, a project proposal, and a curriculum vitae. The project proposal is to include a general description or abstract of the research project, its title and format, and the applicant's contact details. Applicants should also list specific material(s) they intend to consult during the desired dates of the fellowship. Successful applications will also explain how collections of the Outdoor Recreation Archive are essential to the successful completion of the research project. Complete applications (including all three parts) must be submitted as one PDF document and transmitted as an e-mail attachment to clint.pumphrey@usu.edu.