The National Association of Scholars is now welcoming applications for the 2020 Fraser Barron Memorial Scholarship in Renaissance & Western History. The scholarship supports scholarly research in these fields, especially by subsidizing travel funds. The Scholarship may go to professors, graduate students, or, in exceptional circumstances, undergraduates. We especially encourage graduate students and recent Ph.D. recipients (2015 and later) to apply.

The purpose of the Fraser Barron Memorial Scholarship is to further the serious study of the Renaissance within the context of Western History as a whole. Many threshold questions deserve new exploration—what exactly was the “Renaissance” and where did it occur? When and how did it begin and end? Who were the most influential artists, and what accounted for their leadership? What were the variations in Renaissance experience as between countries or regions and art forms? Did the Renaissance create a prism through which the West has viewed art for 600 – 700 years? How did the Renaissance affect the development of cultural traditions – as well as social, religious, economic and political institutions – in the West? What are the chief priorities for preservation and conservation efforts? How is Renaissance art related to truth? What is the status of the Renaissance within the contemporary educational system?

Eligibility is restricted to U.S. citizens – without regard to race, sex, religion, or ethnic background – who have achieved strong undergraduate degrees (as determined by the NAS), or, in exceptional cases, to undergraduate upperclassmen whose academic achievement is consistent with high standards of graduate study.

In 2020, the Scholarship will be $2,500. It should be used no later than Fall 2020. We generally disburse funds after receiving receipts for major expenses, such as airline tickets or hotels.

NAS usually arranges for recipients to give a talk on their research during the 2020-2021 school year; although this depends on our own funding. Applicants should express their willingness to write and give such a talk; if it occurs, travel expenses will be paid by the NAS.

Please submit by December 15, 2019, a one-page description of how you would use the funds; a curriculum vita, including contact information; and three scholarly references. Send your application to David Randall, [email protected]. Final decisions will be made by January 15, 2020.

Please forward this email to anyone you believe might qualify and be interested in receiving this scholarship. If you'd like to recommend someone, please reach out to [email protected].