Fellowships & Awards

John Keenlyside Special Collections Research Fellowship

The John Keenlyside Special Collections Research Fellowship provides an opportunity for researchers to undertake research that requires substantial on-site use of material held in Bruce Peel Special Collections. The fellowship aims to promote innovative research and creative engagement with our collections. The $2,000 CAD award supports scholars who might otherwise be unable to travel to see the material in person.

In the development of their applications, we recommend that applicants familiarize themselves with the rare books and archival materials held in Bruce Peel Special Collections. We recommend reviewing the Research Collections and Exhibitions webpages, which provide descriptions of key holding areas. Use the Library catalogue and Peel finding aids to search our collections.

Eligibility

We invite all scholars, students, and community researchers living outside the greater Edmonton area to apply. We welcome applications from scholars using traditional archival and bibliographic methods, as well as those pursuing creative, interdisciplinary, or non-traditional research approaches.

Terms of the fellowship

Each fellow is expected to spend a minimum of two weeks conducting on-site research, and all research must be completed between June 1, 2026 and April 30, 2027.

At the end of their residency, recipients are expected to write a short report of their work for publication on the Bruce Peel Special Collections website. They may be invited to give a public presentation about their work, either via our workshop series, an online lecture, or a blog post. It’s expected that the Fellowship be acknowledged in published works and presentations resulting from research conducted during the fellowship.

Award

The $2,000 CAD fellowship is awarded yearly to up to two recipients. Half of the award will be disbursed up front, and the other half upon completion of the final report.

Application

Successful applications will demonstrate originality, feasibility, and how the research specifically utilizes the unique holdings at Bruce Peel Special Collections to contribute to local and global scholarly conversations.

Application form. Applications are due Sunday, February 15, 2026.

Adjudication

Fellowship applications are reviewed by a selection committee for originality and feasibility, with particular focus on how the research specifically utilizes the unique holdings at Bruce Peel Special Collections and contributes to the broader scholarly conversation.

The Fellowship applications are considered by a selection committee and reviewed based on originality, feasibility, a clear connection to the unique resources available at Bruce Peel Special Collections, and the extent to which the research will contribute to the local and global scholarly conversation.

Timeline

• Feb 15, 2026: Applications due.
• April 1, 2026: Fellowship awarded and notifications sent out.
• June 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027: Research is completed.