The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Library and the Department of History are pleased to announce a Research Travel Grant to support scholars conducting research in any of the Library’s collections.

The University Library is one of the largest research libraries in the U.S., holding more than 15 million volumes and 24 million other items and materials in all formats, languages, and subjects. Special collections include the papers of literary figures such as Marcel Proust, H.G. Wells, Carl Sandburg and Gwendolyn Brooks, extensive collections of Slavic and East European materials and of materials documenting the history of science, technology, international agricultural programs, and librarianship, the premier collection on international amateur sports and the Olympics, and a unique collection of sub-Saharan African research materials. Travel grant recipients will also have access to the Library’s digital collections (including journal subscriptions and licensed databases) during their stay.

For more information about the Library’s collections, see: https://www.library.illinois.edu/collections/special-collections

Travel grant awards typically range from $1,000 to $2,500 per recipient. Funds may be applied toward round-trip travel, and accommodations and expenses in Urbana-Champaign, IL.

Eligibility:  Scholars at the graduate and post-doctoral levels who wish to conduct research at the University of Illinois Library are invited to apply. Non-U.S. residents are eligible, but should bear in mind that obtaining appropriate visas will be the awardee’s own responsibility (we can provide an official letter of invitation). All applicants should be aware that federal Export Control laws now require us to screen visitors’ names before sponsoring their travel to the University of Illinois. The University is generally required to withhold federal taxes on any award made to a non-U.S. resident. Awards to U.S. residents may also be taxable.

Obligations: Travel grant applicants must identify a faculty member in a relevant academic department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who is interested in acting as sponsor or collaborator. Travel grant recipients should plan to participate in the intellectual life of the University of Illinois by presenting their work publicly to the campus community and/or meeting informally with faculty and students during their stay.

Travel grant recipients must reside continuously on campus or within a short driving distance during the award period (a minimum of 5 working days).

If a travel grant recipient publishes work resulting from the research visit, the Library appreciates acknowledgment of the grant’s benefit as well as copies of the publication(s) for our collection.

Deadlines and award periods: Applications will be accepted until October 3, 2025 for grants for travel between November 1, 2025 and December 31, 2026.

Application: Please apply online at https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/1523379143 (use any valid email address to activate the form, and please note that we will only consider applications submitted via this form). The application requires:

  • Current CV and contact information
  • Brief description of materials or collections to be consulted
  • Project proposal (no more than three pages) which clearly highlights how the work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library is part of the scholar’s ongoing or future research
  • Name of the faculty member in a relevant academic department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who will write a letter of recommendation. Letters should be submitted via this form (requires University of Illinois login): https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/680422357
  • Proposed dates of travel
  • Estimated travel costs

Questions about the Research Travel Grant should be directed to hpnl@library.illinois.edu

Contact Information

History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library

Contact Email

hpnl@library.illinois.edu

URL

https://www.library.illinois.edu/hpnl/blog/call-for-applications-2025-2026-rese…