About the Stipend
We want more faculty and students to use the rich resources available at the Swenson Center. This stipend offers a faculty member (of any rank) time, resources, and a modest stipend ($600) to explore materials available at the Center. Our hope is that you will then incorporate these resources into your courses or personal research projects.
Center staff will provide you with assistance to conduct one week of in-depth research at the Center. Staff will offer continued support for creating class projects. We hope this partnership will help foster original research and information literacy skills in students.
Collections
Our collections contain library and archival materials including maps, photographs, music recordings, sheet music, newspapers, microfilm, and more. To learn more, see Library/Archives and Research Topics.
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Depending on your area of research, resources may be in the Swedish language. However, most of our more recent records are in English.
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Timeline
May 15: Deadline for applications annually
June 15: Applicants will be notified of the decision
Report
Within 1 month of your visit, you will provide a brief report that outlines your visit to the Center, what you found, and how you plan to use these findings in your teaching or research.
This report will be published in DigitalCommons. It may also be published in our journal Swedish American Genealogist and/or on our website.
To Apply
1) Identify collection materials you'd like to explore
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2) Write a proposal (1 to 2 pages)
Include:
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Specific collection materials you are interested in examining
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Description of the course/class project these materials might support or a description of your personal research project
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Proposed dates for research (can be approximate).
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3) Submit proposal and your CV to Swenson Center via email
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Applications will be evaluated on the basis of their potential to engage students with the Center's resources. Applications for projects that support a faculty member's individual research will be considered, but priority is given to those that will impact students.
Past Recipients
2022
Dr. Michael Scarlett
Associate Professor, Education Department
Developing a Historical Inquiry for Middle School Students
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2021
Dr. Lena Hann
Assistant Professor, Public Health Program
“Whole Person Health” in the Swedish-American Experience
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2019
Dr. Brian Leech
Associate Professor of History
The Environmental History of Swedish America
Dr. Oleski Miranda Navarro
Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish
Latin America and the Swedish diaspora: the case of Cuba and Argentina
2018
Dr. Kimberly La Palm
Assistant Professor of Scandinavian Studies
Finding Teaching Inspiration at the Swenson Center
2017
Dr. Forrest Stonedahl
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
CSC Software Development class creates "Swedish Immigrant Trail" video game
2016
Katie Hanson
Assistant Professor of English and Education
Exploring the Collection of Swedish-American Children's Literature
2015
Dr. Christopher Strunk
Assistant Professor of Geography
Influence of Swedish immigrants on the historical geography of Moline