Visiting Scholar Fellowships

• Stipends of varying amounts for residency up to one month. The award amount will not exceed $2,500 per individual.
• Open to PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students from any discipline, and independent scholars.

Note: Applicants do not need to mention specific fellowships in their applications. However, we do offer several specialized fellowships, which include (but are not limited to):

Research focusing on Women in the American West, such as:

• Eva Scott Fenyes
• Idah Meacham Strobridge and the Artemisia Bindery
• Frances Kavanaugh and Women in Early Motion Pictures
• Dale Evans
• Sharlot Mabridth Hall
• Mary Hunter Austin

Research focusing on Newmark Family Collection

Research focusing on Health Tourism in the Southwest

Research focusing on History of Enslavement in the Southwest

Los Angeles Westerners Fellowship at the Autry Museum

• $4,000 stipend
• Open to PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and independent scholars.
• Topics relating to historical events or people and those that separate fact from myth preferred.
• Fellows will speak about their research at the July meeting of the Los Angeles Westerners (July 8, 2026). If not local, fellows should plan to be in residence at least two weeks prior to the July Westerners meeting.

The Los Angeles Westerners Fellowship is supported by the Los Angeles Corral of Westerners, part of Westerners International, a group whose mission is to encourage and promote interest and research in the history of the American West. The Los Angeles Corral is one of the oldest, largest, and most active of the 70+ Westerners International chapters around the world. Founded in 1946, they sponsor monthly lectures on the history, anthropology, and cultural geography of the American West (Visitors always welcome). For more information, please see their website http://www.lawesterners.org

• Consideration for all fellowships requires only a single application
• Scholars and projects will be matched with the appropriate fellowship by the Fellowship Committee

Visiting Scholar and Westerners Fellows are expected to:

• Be in residence weekdays and complete their research on or before the last weekday of September.

  Note: In most situations, Fellows are expected to spend at least 10 working days in the library per month. A “working day” is defined as any day the library is open for use. General hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. The library is closed on weekends and most federal holidays. Fellows do NOT need to begin fellowships on the first of a calendar month.

• Submit a brief written report (two pages maximum) within two weeks of departure on research completed and resources used.
• Participate in an informal staff seminar while in residence and/or write a brief article for a museum publication on research conducted.

A complete application consists of:

• A cover letter indicating mailing address, e-mail address, daytime phone, title of proposed project, and preferred dates of residence.
• A two-to-three-page double-spaced project description clearly indicating the relevance of the collections of the Libraries and Archives of the Autry Museum. You may search the Libraries and Archives holdings via the Library Catalog, the Online Archive of California, and the digital database Collections Online.
• A one-page CV.
• A budget that includes round trip airfare, lodging, and food.
• Two confidential letters of reference; one or both should address your presentation skills.

Applications must be sent via e-mail to fellowships@theautry.org .

Letters of recommendation must be sent directly from the recommenders to fellowships@theautry.org.

Questions? Please contact Cheryl Miller, Director, Library and Archives, at cmiller@theautry.org or 323-495-4234