Application Deadline–November 1, 2025
The African American Intellectual History Society (AAIHS) is pleased to announce the 2026 C.L.R. James Research Fellowship to support research towards the completion of a dissertation or publication of a book. Named after Afro-Trinidadian theorist C.L.R. James, the research fellowships are intended to promote research in Black intellectual history by graduate students, independent scholars, and faculty members at any rank.
Two fellowships of $2000 will be awarded this year to help cover the costs of domestic or international travel necessary to conduct research. Recipients of this year’s award may use the funds for any research-related expense (i.e. to purchase books or other files needed for research projects). The award will be announced formally at the AAIHS Conference. Membership in AAIHS is required. Current AAIHS board members are not eligible.
All application materials should be received by November 1, 2025 (by 11:59pm EST). Please send the following documents in a single PDF document: short c.v. (no more than 3 pages), 3-5 page project proposal (double-spaced), budget, and arrange to have one letter of recommendation sent to awards@aaihs.org as an email attachment in Microsoft Word or PDF.
Applicants will be notified in Spring 2026. Funds must be used by December 30, 2026. Recipients will be required to submit a detailed report to AAIHS. Graduate student applicants must have passed their qualifying exams.
2025 Fellowship Committee Members
*All submissions and questions about the CLR James Research Fellowship should be sent to awards@aaihs.org.
Chair: Dr. Paul Joseph López
Assistant Professor and Director of Africana Studies
Bryn Mawr College
Dr. Sabrina Evans
Assistant Professor of English
Howard University
Dr. Melanie Chambliss
Assistant Professor of History
University of Rochester
Previous Recipients
2025
- Jordan Ealey, University of Rochester
- Dante A. Whittaker Jr., New York University
2024
- Ashley Everson, Brown University
- Norma Watson, Penn State University
2023
- Matt Randolph, Stanford University
- Yolanda Mackey, Penn State University
2022
- Danielle Phillips-Cunningham, Texas Woman’s University
- Sophia Monegro, University of Texas at Austin
2021
- Aleia M. Brown, University of Maryland, College Park
- Felicia Denaud, Brown University
2020
- Maegan Miller, Graduate Center, CUNY
- Zifeng Liu, Cornell University
2019
- Charisse Burden-Stelly, Carleton College
- Alysia Mann Carey, University of Chicago
2018
- Richard D. Benson II, Spelman College
- Christina C. Davidson, Duke University
- Naomi Extra, Rutgers University-Newark
2017
- Crystal Eddins, Michigan State University
- Garrett Felber, University of Michigan
- Brian Lefresne, University of Guelph
- Merve Fejzula, University of Cambridge