Undergraduate Archival Research Project Prize
Northwestern University Libraries and the Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections & University Archives announces the inaugural Undergraduate Archival Research Project Prize, a $1500 cash prize awarded to the best scholarly work using primary sources that presents a significant and well-researched analysis on a historical topic. The project will be judged on its originality, methodological rigor, and contribution to its related field of study based on the unique insights gleaned from archival sources.
Research Project Submission Eligibility
- Submitter must be a current Northwestern University undergraduate at any class level and in any discipline (humanities, sciences, social sciences) with valid NetID
- Submitter must complete submission form below
- Submission must include a 200-500 word cover letter describing the applicant's research process and the extent to which they engaged with selected materials to develop their project
- Submission must include a PDF of the project (must be complete and include a bibliography)
- Project topic is open but research query must be historical in nature and significantly answered and informed by primary source research
- Any type of primary source research (including research with sources online or those found in databases) is considered eligible for this year’s submission; does not have to use McCormick- or Northwestern-held collections for this inaugural year.
- Project length must be between 800-2000 words, not including bibliography
Prize
A single cash prize will be awarded in the amount of $1500 to the winning submission.
Please note: Prizes and award payments are taxable income to US residents. Taxability of prize and award payments for non-residents is dependent on country of tax residency. See more.
Timeline
- Deadline for submissions is May 16, 2025 11:59PM Central
- Students can contact specialcollections@northwestern.edu by May 2, 2025 if they seek an in-person consultation about their work and eligibility
- $1500 prize awarded in July/August 2025
Questions?
Questions can be directed to specialcollections@northwestern.edu. Please contact specialcollections@northwestern.edu by May 2, 2025 to request a consultation.
Submission Form