Beer History Studies Fellowship at Newberry Library

The Beer Culture Center and the Newberry Library are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking fellowship. The first of its kind, the Beer History Studies Fellowship is an opportunity open to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) MA students, PhD candidates, or post doctoral scholars engaged in a project focused on beer history and culture research. By financially and academically supporting this student, the ultimate goal is to help diversify the academic field of beer history studies and the adjacent beer industry in a new and dynamic way.

This fellowship is available to BIPOC scholars from any accredited university who has a specific need for research in the Newberry Library collection. The fellow is required to be in residence at the Newberry in Chicago during the one-month term of the award and will be provided a $3,000 scholarship for the tenure.

 

October 1, 2024: Fellowship announced

January 3, 2025: Application deadline

April 1, 2025: Fellow announced

June 1, 2025: Fellow begins term

 

This pioneering initiative is a partnership between the Beer Culture Center, the world’s first cultural organization dedicated to beer studies and the Newberry Library, a major center of research since 1887.

The Newberry’s rich collections and long history of welcoming fellows for research make this an ideal partnership. Scholars of beer history can find specific items, such as The Western Brewer, but many other collections can offer clues about how beer has shaped human relations for centuries. Researchers will find papers on Chicago and the Midwest, genealogy, labor, travel and exploration, performing arts, religion, and one of the largest public collections of postcards in the United States. Visit the Newberry Library website to learn more about their core collection and about all of their short-term fellowships.

The Beer Culture Center is driven by a deep-rooted belief that beer is more than just a beverage. It is a dynamic cultural force with the ability to bring people together and the power to make change. As the world’s first non-profit dedicated to sharing stories of how beer has shaped humanity, past and present, the center has become the national entity and cultural authority focused on this effort.