Applicant Profile and Process

We hope to have a fascinating mix of professionals participating in this Institute.  For that reason, we welcome a wide variety of qualifications.  We especially courage applications from social studies teachers who wish to enrich their history, civics, and social studies curricula with this in-depth study of New England ’s role in the slave trade and the perpetuation of slavery.   Much of the material in this Institute will lend itself most easily to middle and high school curricula, but elementary school teachers may make a compelling case for their participation.  We urge any teacher who is deeply intrigued by this topic, no matter what their specialization, to apply. 

Application information is included in this letter.  Completed applications should be postmarked no later than March 2, 2009, and should be addressed as follows:

Marie Parys

NEH Grant Coordinator

Rhode Island Historical Society

110 Benevolent Street

Providence , RI 02906

Perhaps the most important part of the application is the essay that must be submitted as part of the complete application.  This essay should include any personal or academic information that is relevant; your reasons for applying to this particular Institute; your specific personal and intellectual interest in the topic; your qualifications to do the work of the Institute and make a contribution to it; what you hope to accomplish by participation, including any individual research and writing projects that are relevant to it; and the relationship between the topic of this Institute and your own teaching. 

Each application must include two letters of reference.  Please ask each of your referees to sign his or her name across the seal on the back of the envelope containing the letter, and enclose the letters with your application.  Our Institute staff will review all applications in March and will inform you of the committee’s decision on April 1. 

Again, if you have further questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with us. For questions about the subject matter and scope of the Institute, email or call Morgan Grefe or Joanne Melish. Morgan Grefe can be most easily reached by e-mail at mgrefe@rihs.org; her office phone number is 401-331-8575 ex. 53.  Joanne Melish’s email is jmelish@uky.edu, and her office phone number is 859-257-1014.  For questions about accommodations, costs, etc., please email Marie Parys at mparys@rihs.org or phone her at 401-331-8575 ex. 39. We look forward to hearing from you.

You can find the NEH application information at the following link:

            http://www.neh.gov/online/education/participants