Deadline: September 2, 2022
Bibliographical Society Of America (BSA) New Scholars Program 2022 – US citizens and residents
The Bibliographical Society of America’s New Scholars Program promotes the work of scholars new to bibliography, broadly defined to include the creation, production, publication, distribution, reception, transmission, and subsequent history of all textual artifacts. This includes manuscript, print, and digital media, from clay and stone to laptops and iPads.
Thanks to a recent donation to BSA in honor of Jacob Blanck (1906-1974), the New Scholars Program now provides named support for bibliographical and book historical scholarship focusing on printed works of writers of the United States and their publishers, in addition to the program’s Malkin and Pantzer awards.
The New Scholars award is $1,000, with a $500 travel stipend. Three awards are made each year as part of a two-pronged program:
- New Scholars present fifteen-minute talks on their current, unpublished bibliographical research during a program preceding the Society’s Annual Meeting, held each January.
- Expanded versions of New Scholars’ papers are submitted to the editor of The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America (PBSA) for publication, subject to peer review.
The committee strongly encourages applications from those who have not previously published, lectured, or taught on bibliographical subjects. Bibliographical scholarship pursuing new methods and new approaches, including applications from candidates applying bibliographical theory and principles to diverse materials and media, is welcome. Guided by the Society’s Equity Action Plan, the committee also welcomes submissions that embrace diverse, multicultural perspectives.
The Awards
- The Jacob Blanck New Scholar Award honors Jacob Blanck (1906–1974), editor of the Bibliography of American Literature. This award recognizes research in American bibliography, and is funded annually by an anonymous donor.
- The Malkin New Scholar Award honors Mary Ann O’Brian Malkin (1913–2005), a book collector and longtime contributor to the Antiquarian Bookman/AB Bookman’s Weekly who pursued bibliographical interests in dance, Americana, and the booktrade. This award is funded in part by gifts from Anna Lou Ashby and Mary Ann O’Brian Malkin.
- The Pantzer New Scholar Award honors Katherine F. Pantzer (1913–2005), best known for her work on the revised Short-Title Catalogue of Books Printed in England, Scotland & Ireland, and for English Books Printed Abroad, 1475–1640. This award is funded in part by the Pantzer Bequest.
New Scholars applications are evaluated based on their eligibility, overall completeness, and quality, as well as the strength of letters of recommendation. Instructions provided in the BSA’s New Scholars application form are intended to help applicants prepare a competitive submission.
New Scholars receive:
- an honorarium of $1,000;
- complimentary membership in the Society for one year;
- a $500 travel stipend to attend BSA’s Annual Meeting to deliver their presentations. New Scholars may apply in one of the next two subsequent years for a stipend of the same amount to attend a second annual meeting.
Awardees will receive award packages with instructions on the forms required for payment.
The Society thanks George Ong and an anonymous donor for their generous support of the New Scholars Program.
Eligibility for the Bibliographical Society Of America (BSA) New Scholars Program 2022
In 2020–21, the New Scholars award is limited to US citizens and residents. The committee encourages applications from all who are new to bibliography, including junior (i.e., untenured) academics, graduate students at the dissertation level, members of the book trade, librarians, curators, collectors, and others of any race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class status.BSA seeks to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity within the field and encourages work that offers new research on previously under- or misrepresented groups or individuals. As stated above, the committee strongly encourages applications from those who have not previously published, lectured, or taught on bibliographical subjects.
How To Apply for the Bibliographical Society Of America (BSA) New Scholars Program 2022
BSA uses Kaleidoscope to manage applications to our programs, and all candidates and recommenders are required to submit materials through that website. The application form requires:
- A letter of application describing the applicant’s background in bibliography, as well as a short abstract for their proposed paper and a brief overview of their 15-minute talk;
- A curriculum vitae;
- A letter of recommendation.
Applications should propose papers and talks covering new work that has not been accepted for publication elsewhere either in the form of a book chapter (or portion thereof) or article.
Applicants will be prompted to supply the name and email address for a recommender, who will provide a confidential letter of recommendation. Recommenders should be an advisor or colleague who is familiar with the project, and who can speak to how the project will make a contribution to the field of bibliography. Doctoral candidates should request a recommendation from their dissertation director.
Mail-in applications and letters of recommendation are not accepted. If the application form is inaccessible for any reason, please contact BSA Executive Director Erin McGuirl at [email protected] and she will work to accommodate your needs.
