The call for proposals for the 2025 Center for Missouri Studies fellowships has been extended through October 8, 2024. Applications may be sent to The State Historical Society of Missouri, 605 Elm Street, Columbia, MO 65201 or contact@shsmo.org; or an online application may be completed at https://shsmo.org/awards/center-fellowship. Each fellowship carries a stipend of $5,000 for a project that results in the completion of an 8,000 to 10,000-word scholarly essay on one of the two topics listed below. The competition is open to both academic and independent scholars.
Topics for 2025 Center for Missouri Studies Fellowships:
- Route 66 in Missouri. In commemoration of the Mother Road’s centennial in 2026, proposals are requested for a study of the legendary highway’s impact on Missouri and Missourians. Any aspect of the history of Route 66 in Missouri will be considered; possible areas of inquiry include but are not limited to Missouri’s political, economic, cultural, or environmental history as it relates to the highway. Originality and significance will be prioritized in evaluating the proposals.
- Missouri Migrations. Proposals are sought for a study of a population movement within Missouri and how it affected the history of the state. Examples of such migration trends include the movement of Black Missourians from the countryside to towns and cities during the Civil War and its aftermath; of rural and small-town Missourians to urban centers during the twentieth century; of whites from the central cities to the suburbs during the post–World War II era; or of farmers out of northern Missouri during the 1980s Farm Crisis, to name a few. Local case studies and regional or statewide analyses will both be considered.
The fellowship awards will be announced in December. The chosen projects will be considered for publication in the Missouri Historical Review, the quarterly journal of the State Historical Society of Missouri. Fellowship recipients are also invited to make a public presentation of their work.
Further information regarding the fellowships and how to apply for them is available online at shsmo.org.