Stella Blum Student Research Grant

Purpose The Stella Blum Student Research Grant is intended to assist the research of a current undergraduate or graduate student who is a member of the Costume Society of America and working in the field of North American costume. Description This $2,000 Grant is awarded to the student to provide financial assistance with research (see below for details of allowable and non-allowable expenses); an additional travel component of up to $500 is awarded as a stipend to allow the recipient to present the completed research at a National Symposium. The Grant is named for Stella Blum, a costume curator, educator, writer, scholar and founding member and Fellow of CSA. Affiliated with The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute since 1940, she became curator in 1975. This Grant was established after her death in 1985 and was first awarded in 1987. Eligibility Applicants must meet the following requirements: be a student matriculating, at the time of the funded research, in a degree program at an accredited institution. researching a project in the field of North American costume be a member of the Costume Society of America Allowable expenses include the following: transportation to and from a research site (away from home or school) living expenses at research site (away from home or school) supplies such as photographic reproductions, books, paper, and computer disks postage and telephone services such as computer searches and graphics Non-allowable expenses include the following: living expenses while at home or school tuition and materials for course-work overhead or indirect costs to any institution salary equipment such as cameras and tape recorders transportation to regional or national meetings of CSA expenses incurred prior to the date of the written notification of the award, including costs of preparing the application Application Deadline Completed applications must be postmarked by May 1. Application Procedure Download the application package and instructions Applications should include the following: cover sheet (on form provided - original and 6 copies) brief abstract (no more that 50 words) of the proposal full proposal as outlined below (original and 6 copies) budget (on form provided - original and 6 copies) proof of current student enrollment transcripts from all relevant academic work (originals should be sent directly to the grant chair) recommendations from two people familiar with the applicant's academic record, preferably faculty members, including one from the research project supervisor (on form provided, to be sent separately by advisors) letters of permission from any research site, museum or library, that the applicant intends to visit for research The proposal (double-spaced and no more than 1,000 words) should include the following: introduction to research project, its background and significance purposes and goals of the research; specific objectives of work to be accomplished; what questions will be answered qualifications of researcher; familiarity with subject; course-work completed and related courses to be taken during the project; previous research experience; how the project will benefit the student at this point in his/her academic career and in the long run methodology; structure of research design; name of research supervisor; project schedule application/scholarly presentation of results, and the value of this information to the field of costume research select bibliography and related resources Send completed applications and support material to: Ann Wass, Committee Chair CSA Stella Blum Student Research Grant 5903 60th Avenue Riverdale, MD 20737 Selection Criteria Applications will be judged by: significance of topic contribution to the field of costume feasibility time frame/work plan/ time table methodology bibliography budget applicant's qualifications Grant Schedule Applicants will be notified of results by August 1st. Both the Grant recipient and project advisor must sign the Grant Letter of Agreement; when this is received, a check for half the funds will be sent. The recipient will begin the research by September and complete the project within one year. Upon completion of the project and after receipt of a summary of the research and an expense report, the remainder of the funds will be paid. The recipient will present research results at a National Symposium (a travel allowance of up to $500 will be paid upon completion of travel and submission of an expense report) and will submit a short report or a more comprehensive article for publication in Dress.