The Friends of the Princeton University Library (FPUL) offer annual short-term research grants to support scholars working with Princeton’s Special Collections. These grants are designed to facilitate access to rare books, manuscripts, archives, and other unique materials housed across the University Library, including the Mudd Manuscript Library, the Marquand Library of Art and Archaeology, and the East Asian Library. The program encourages innovative research that leverages these distinctive resources to advance scholarship across disciplines.
Funding and Duration
FPUL Research Grants provide funding of up to $6,000, with additional support for travel expenses related to visiting Princeton. Grants typically last between two and four weeks, although the duration can vary depending on the nature of the research project. The grant period runs from May of the award year through April of the following year. Applications are generally accepted between October and January, with award notifications issued in April.
Specialized Grant Opportunities
In addition to standard FPUL grants, the library offers the Will Noel Innovative Cultural Heritage Research Grant. This specialized award is aimed at cultural heritage professionals interested in using advanced imaging technologies to study rare and unique materials. Tools available include multispectral imaging, Reflectance-Transformation Imaging (RTI), photogrammetry, and other high-resolution imaging systems. The Will Noel Grant is intended to support projects that uncover hidden or subtle information in archival and material culture collections. Applicants may not apply for both the FPUL Research Grant and the Will Noel Grant in the same cycle.
Application Process
Applicants must create an account on the grant application portal and complete an online form, including a detailed project narrative of up to 1,000 words explaining the reliance on Princeton’s collections. A current CV or résumé must be submitted alongside the proposal, and two letters of recommendation are required. Referees are invited automatically through the system. The completed application should be submitted once all components are in place.
Eligibility and Evaluation
The grants are open to doctoral students, early-career and senior faculty, and independent scholars worldwide. Current Princeton affiliates are not eligible. Applications are reviewed by a committee of faculty, library staff, and members of the Friends of the Princeton University Library. Selection criteria focus on the scholarly significance of the project, the originality of the research, the applicant’s qualifications, and the degree to which the project depends on the library’s special holdings. Projects that primarily rely on materials that have already been digitized or microfilmed are less competitive.
Grant Use and Considerations
FPUL grants are intended specifically for research in special collections and archival holdings. They do not provide general fellowship status, employment, or access to circulating collections. International applicants should note that visa sponsorship is not provided and awards may be subject to tax withholding. Grant recipients are responsible for arranging their travel and accommodations, and are strongly encouraged to secure travel insurance.
Post-Award Requirements
Recipients are expected to submit a brief report on their research, generally 400–600 words, which may be published on the library’s website. Digitization requests during the research period are limited and prioritized for undigitized materials, with a typical maximum of 300 pages per project.
Logistics
Grant recipients are provided with on-site resources including access to the library’s wireless network and research facilities. Awards are disbursed following the recipient’s visit and completion of required documentation. While the library does not provide additional privileges such as borrowing or gym access, recipients benefit from direct engagement with the library’s curatorial and technical staff, as well as the opportunity to examine materials that are rarely accessible elsewhere.
Past Awardees
FPUL Research Grants have supported a wide range of projects, including studies of 20th-century feminist correspondence, the analysis of Ethiopic codices, and the examination of early modern illustrated books. These projects demonstrate the program’s commitment to advancing scholarship through engagement with Princeton’s unique collections, fostering both intellectual exploration and innovation in research methodologies.
The FPUL Research Grants continue to provide an invaluable opportunity for scholars to conduct focused, in-depth study while contributing to the broader academic understanding of rare and distinctive collections.
