These programs are open to all graduate students in the Department of History.  Race, color, national origin, shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, sex, or other protected characteristics are not considered for selection or participation.

R.W. Davis Travel Grants

The graduate program supports graduate research and conference participation through R.W. Davis Travel Grants. Awarded on a competitive basis and subject to the limits of department resources, this funding allows students to present papers at academic conferences. The award is named for Professor Emeritus Richard W. Davis in recognition of his decades of service to Washington University's doctoral program in history.

The department will fund reimbursable travel expenses up to $1,300 for a student who is presenting a paper at a conference in North America, and up to $1,800 for presenting at a conference overseas. The department strongly prefers that these be national conferences of major professional organizations, though specialized conferences bearing directly on the student’s research expertise (or other professional development) are also appropriate; regional conferences and graduate student conferences may be funded at a lower rate. This funding is available for presenting a paper at one conference in any given academic year. Support may be available for travel expenses to present a paper at a second conference, depending on the limits of departmental resources.

Students may apply for a Davis Travel Grant during the academic year by submitting a one-page proposal outlining the rationale for their conference plans to the graduate committee. 

The award is named for Professor Emeritus Richard W. Davis in recognition of his decades of service to Washington University's doctoral program in history.
 

The Lisa Gubser-Blakeley Prize

Lisa Gubser came to Washington University with a BA from Carleton College in 1989 to study early-modern English history with Derek Hirst.  Distinguishing herself as a student of enormous promise, she produced an exceptional dissertation prospectus and set of portfolio papers that brought her a prestigious NEH Dissertation Fellowship in 1992.

That same year she helped a fellow graduate student, Derek Blakeley, recover from a brain hemorrhage.  They married in 1993, but tragically Lisa herself passed away before the year was out.  Drawing on resources contributed by her friends, classmates, and professors, the Lisa Gubser-Blakeley Memorial Prize celebrates the promise and excellence of Lisa's work by recognizing the best seminar or portfolio paper written by a history doctoral student during the academic year with an award of $200.
 

Professional Travel Grant

The History Department supports graduate students’ professional development through participation in appropriate conferences, where they may learn of the latest research in their field and make contact with scholars at other institutions. This funding is awarded on a competitive basis and subject to the limits of department resources.

The department will fund reimbursable travel expenses up to $800 for a student who is participating in a conference for professional development purposes. The department strongly prefers that these be national conferences of major professional organizations, though specialized conferences bearing directly on the student’s research expertise (or other professional development) are also appropriate.

Students may apply for this professional development travel support by submitting to the Director of Graduate Studies a one-page proposal outlining the rationale for their conference plans, along with a budget detailing their reimbursable expenses (conference registration fee, travel, lodging, and meals)

Goldschmidt Research Study Grants

The History Department supports graduate research and professional development by providing Goldschmidt Graduate Research Grants for research-related activities that contribute to the student’s intellectual and academic development. These activities may include such things as travel to archives, participation in training workshops on methods not available at Washington University, and subscription to databases not available through Olin Library. Goldschmidt Graduate Research Grants are awarded on a competitive basis and subject to the limits of department resources.

Students may apply for Goldschmidt Graduate Research Grants by submitting to the Director of Graduate Studies a two-page proposal outlining the rationale for their research plans, along with a budget detailing their reimbursable expenses (travel, supplies, lodging and meals). The proposal should explain and justify the student’s research plans in terms of their overall progress in the program. The key to a successful proposal is a concrete and specific budget that is justified clearly in the accompanying narrative. Awards usually range between $500 and $3000. Maximum award is $3,500.

The primary advisor should also submit to the DGS a letter of support.

All students who receive research funding must also submit a brief written report to the DGS about what was accomplished with the funding. This report is due within two months of completing their funded research. Application review starts January 1st for funding that would begin June 1st of that year and run through May 31st of the following year.

Goldschmidt Language Study Grants

The History Department supports graduate research by providing funds for summer programs that offer intensive instruction in languages essential to a student’s professional development. This may involve acquisition of a new research language, improvement of an existing one, or, for students who are not native speakers of English, immersive instruction designed to bring their English-language skills to near-native levels. Students newly admitted to the doctoral program may apply to pursue intensive language instruction during the summer prior to beginning their course work.

Requests for Goldschmidt Language Study Grants should include a brief explanation of how the language program in question will contribute to the student’s professional development and the success of their dissertation. The primary advisor should also submit to the DGS a letter of support.

Continuing students should submit their requests to the Director of Graduate Studies by March 15.  

Entering students should submit their requests to the Director of Graduate Studies by May 15.