The David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Research Travel Grant Program.
Research travel grants of up to $1,500 are offered by the following Centers, subject areas, and collection holdings:
- Archive of Documentary Arts General Grant
- Archive of Documentary Arts Sidney Gamble Travel Grant
- Doris Duke Foundation Travel Grant
- Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick Travel Grant
- Harry H. Harkins, Jr. T’73 Travel Grant
- History of Medicine Collections
- Human Rights Archive
- John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History
- John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
- Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture (Mary Lily Research Grants)
Eligibility: Projects must align with the guidelines for selected travel grant(s) regarding topic and collection usage. We encourage applications from students at any level of education; faculty and teachers; visual and performing artists; writers; filmmakers; public historians; and independent researchers. Applicants must reside beyond a 100-mile radius of Durham, N.C., and may not be current Duke students or employees. Awards are paid as reimbursement after completion of the research visit(s).
Deadline: Applications will be accepted through Friday, February 27, 2026, 8:00 PM EST. Recipients will be notified of decisions during the week of April 13, 2026. Grants will be awarded for travel during May 2026 – June 2027.
Learn more: An online information session will be held Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 2-3 pm EST. This program will review application requirements, offer tips for creating a successful application, and include an opportunity for attendees to ask questions. This information session will be recorded and posted online afterwards. You can register for the session here.
For assistance determining the eligibility of your project, please contact AskRL@duke.edu with the subject line “Travel Grants.”