Call for Applications /// Charles E Peterson Fellowship - Support research and writing by a graduate student for SAH Archipedia, the Society’s online architectural resource
- s-architecture
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CHARLES E PETERSON FELLOWSHIP
Support research and writing by a graduate student for SAH Archipedia, the Society’s online architectural resource. Applications open annually in October.
In a joint program with the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, the Society of Architectural Historians is pleased to offer an annual fellowship that will support the participation of a graduate student in the research and writing of content for SAH Archipedia, the Society’s online architectural resource. This is a unique publication opportunity for graduate students. Proposed content must be related to some aspect of American architecture and/or urbanism prior to 1860, which may include Indigenous, Spanish Colonial, and/or African American topics. This fellowship was established in 2008 in honor of Charles E. Peterson, FAIA, founder of the Historic American Buildings Survey. The prize will be presented at the Society’s annual conference in April and will be announced in the SAH Newsletter following the conference.
The Award
The committee will award the fellowship by February 28, 2026. The fellowship grant of $2,500 will be contingent upon the recipient’s completion of the project, which is expected to require approximately 150 hours of work. A portion of the award ($500) will be paid in early June to cover the recipient’s immediate expenses. The balance of the award ($2,000) will be payable upon completion of the project. The completed project must be submitted to SAH by August 31, 2026.
Application Criteria
The fellowship is intended for students currently enrolled in graduate programs in art or architectural history, architectural design, urban planning, historic preservation, landscape architecture, American studies, or related disciplines. Preference will be given to SAH members. The successful applicant does not need to reside in Philadelphia, although the Athenaeum will be glad to have the fellowship recipient use its collections. Applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of BUS/SAH Archipedia editors and authors. You do not have to be a member of SAH to apply for this fellowship, but membership is encouraged.
Application Details and Deadline
Applicants must submit the following through the SAH Portal:
Cover letter discussing their research interests and professional goals
CV or resumé
Proposed content (1 page). This must be related to some aspect of American architecture and/or urbanism prior to 1860, although you should bring the building/site history up to the present. Please be sure to consult SAH Archipedia to ensure the proposed content is not already published. Proposals may include one or more of the following:
Updating and/or expanding existing building entries. For example, expanding plantation entries to include analysis of slave quarters and the plantation landscape.
New building entries (approximately 250-750 words), with a brief statement about the significance of each.
A thematic essay (1,000-2,000 words) that contextualizes a set of existing and/or new entries.
Brief writing sample (5–10 pages)
Recommendation from an advisor or principal professor submitted using the online recommendation form
For examples of work by past Peterson fellows, please see the following: Buildings of Connecticut; Gulf Coast Tribes; Schools for the Deaf, 1817–1865.
Applications for the 2026 award are due at 11:59 p.m. CST on December 31, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Ann Gilkerson, Managing Editor of SAH Archipedia at AGilkerson@sah.org.
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