The Center for Missouri Studies Fellowship, offered by the State Historical Society of Missouri, is an exceptional opportunity for historians, researchers, and anyone passionate about Missouri’s past to engage in meaningful, in-depth historical exploration. Far more than a typical research grant, this fellowship provides the support and resources needed to uncover and share the compelling stories that have shaped the Show-Me State. Whether your interests lie in Civil War correspondence, African American activism, Indigenous heritage, or the environmental evolution of the Missouri River, this fellowship offers a unique pathway to transform your passion into published scholarship that contributes to the broader understanding of Missouri’s dynamic history.
🧐 What Is the Center for Missouri Studies Fellowship?
Run by the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO), this fellowship is part of a broader mission to promote research and understanding of Missouri’s rich, diverse history. The goal? To support scholars who want to dive into unique stories from Missouri’s past and bring them to life through fresh, original research.
What’s particularly cool about this opportunity is that it’s not just for tenured professors. Graduate students, early-career researchers, and independent scholars are all welcome to apply. If you’ve got a great idea and the drive to dig deep, this fellowship is for you.
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📝 What Do You Get?
This isn’t just a résumé booster—it’s a fully supported research opportunity. Here’s what selected fellows receive:
- 💰 $5,000 stipend to support your work
- 📚 Access to SHSMO archives, one of the most comprehensive historical collections in the Midwest
- 📰 A path to publication in The Missouri Historical Review, a well-regarded academic journal
- 🎤 Opportunities to present your research through SHSMO events and outreach
You’ll be supported throughout your project, and by the end, your work will contribute meaningfully to Missouri’s historical narrative.
🔍 What Kinds of Topics Are a Good Fit?
Almost anything related to Missouri history is fair game. Here are just a few examples of the types of research past fellows have tackled:
- The lives of enslaved Missourians and the fight for freedom
- Women’s activism in the suffrage and temperance movements
- The jazz scene in Kansas City and its cultural legacy
- Native American communities and land struggles
- The Great Flood of 1993 and environmental change
- Civil War battles and home front experiences
Whether your angle is social, political, cultural, or environmental, the key is originality and depth.
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🧑🎓 Who Should Apply?
If you’re asking yourself, “Is this for me?” — the answer is probably yes, if you’re:
- A graduate student working on a thesis or dissertation related to Missouri
- An independent scholar with a unique historical focus
- A university faculty member researching Missouri topics
- A public historian or writer passionate about state history
You don’t need to be a Missouri resident either. What matters is that your research shines a light on the state’s past in a meaningful way.
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📆 Important Dates & How to Apply
Mark your calendars! The application deadline is September 2, 2025. That gives you a few months to pull together a compelling proposal and supporting materials.
Here’s what you’ll need to apply:
- ✅ Project proposal (3–5 pages) that outlines your topic, sources, and goals
- 📄 CV or résumé
- ✍️ Writing sample to show your research skills
- 📬 Two letters of recommendation from folks who know your work
Once selected, fellows typically have up to a year to complete their research and submit a finished article for potential publication.
💬 Why This Fellowship Matters
Missouri’s history is not just a collection of old documents—it’s a living, breathing story of people, movements, struggles, and triumphs. The Center for Missouri Studies Fellowship helps ensure those stories continue to be told, preserved, and shared.
It’s also a fantastic way for researchers to connect with one of the most robust archives in the country, collaborate with fellow scholars, and contribute to meaningful conversations about identity, justice, and change in the Midwest.
Plus, let’s be honest—it feels amazing to be supported for the work you love to do.
🚀 Final Thoughts: Don’t Miss Out
If you’ve got a research idea burning in the back of your mind, now’s the time to go for it. Whether you’re working on a book, an academic paper, or even a museum exhibit, the Center for Missouri Studies Fellowship can give you the support and structure to take your project to the next level.
Just remember: applications are due September 2, 2025. That gives you just enough time to brainstorm, draft, and polish a compelling submission.
So dig into those archives, chase that idea you’ve been thinking about for years, and bring Missouri’s history to life.
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