The Audre Lorde Travel Grant for Summer 2025

The Spelman Archives is pleased to offer two travel awards of $2,500.00 each for two

currently enrolled PhD students to research in the Audre Lorde Papers during Summer

2025. This award will support research and public engagement with Lorde’s papers and

expand scholarship centering the lives and work of Black queer women.

About the Spelman Archives:

The primary mission of the Spelman Archives is to collect, preserve, organize, and make

available for research historically significant documents and other materials which reflect

the College’s origins and development as well as the activities of its constituents and

affiliates. As the official repository of the College, the greater part of the Archives’

collection consists of administrative records, departmental and program records,

publications, photographs and other material relating to the history and administration of

the College from its founding to the present. A component of the Women’s Resource and

Research Center, the Archives also centers research by and about women of the African

Diaspora, including the collections of noted Black feminists Audre Lorde, Toni Cade

Bambara, and Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole. Please see the Spelman Archives page to learn more

about the Audre Lorde papers and to view the finding aid:

https://www.spelman.edu/about/archives/collections/audre-lorde-papers.html

Eligibility

Currently enrolled PhD students whose work would benefit from researching in the Aude

Lorde Papers. The selection is not limited to a particular discipline or academic

concentration. Special consideration will be given to applicants traveling from more than

50 miles outside of Atlanta.

Applicant requirements

The awardee must make an in-person research visit to use the Audre Lorde papers

between June 2025 and August 2025. The visit can range from one week to four weeks. The

awardee must submit a brief 2–3-page report outlining their research experience and use

of the archives and give a virtual presentation during the Fall semester (September 2025 –

December 2025) discussing their research.

Application Components

• Curriculum vitae/resume

• Description of project (500 words maximum) - Please name the document “Last

Name_First Name_Project Proposal.pdf”

• A brief budget of anticipated expenses: Please name the document

“LastName_FirstName_Budget.pdf”

• Proposed dates of research

• A letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor that addresses applicant’s

academic status, research project, and anticipated final product

Important dates

January 13, 2025: Call for Applications

March 1, 2025: Deadline to receive applications

April 15, 2025: Notification of award receipt

June 2025 – August 2025: Visit to the Spelman Archives

Fall 2025: Virtual Presentation by Visiting Scholar (to be scheduled)

December 12, 2025: Deadline for submission of research report

Submission Directions

The deadline to receive applications is March 1, 2025. Please email the complete

application to Holly Smith at hsmith12@spelman.edu. Please title the email “Audre Lorde

Travel Award- (First Name, Last Name)”.