A key function of the National Archives is to promote archival research in Australia and encourage scholarly use of the National Archives collection.

Frederick Watson Fellowships commemorate the life and work of Dr Frederick Watson. The fellowships are designed to help established scholars complete an innovative and quality research project that:

• is significant for Australian audiences
• makes substantial use of our collection

The current fellow, Dr Mickey Dewar, is freelance historian and museums policy consultant based in Darwin. Former fellows have researched various parts of the collection.

Applications for the 2008 Frederick Watson Fellowship are now open. Entries close 27 June 2008.

Successful applicants will have scholarly credentials, preferably with a doctorate related to their intended area of research.

Fellowships are not awarded to support current postgraduate studies. The Fellowship can be granted to international applicants provided their research focus is the National Archives of Australia collection.

Scholars who are still establishing a profile in their chosen career should consider applying for the Margaret George Award.

Prospective applicants should contact Derina McLaughlin before lodging their application to discuss the scope of their research project, their intended use of the Archives' collection and their audience.

• The Archives' extensive collection must be the core focus of research projects undertaken by successful Fellows.
• Fellowships will be tenurable at any office of the National Archives.
• A Fellowship may be awarded on either a full-time or a part-time basis, depending on the situation and requirements of the successful Fellow.
• It is envisaged that a full-time Fellowship would be for a maximum of three months and a part-time Fellowship for no more than 12 months.
• Successful Fellows may undertake their Fellowship at any time from the date of award until 30 June of the following year. Awards cannot be deferred.

The National Archives will provide a grant of up to $15,000 for the following:

• living subsidy during the period of the tenure
• airfares within Australia to the office in which the Fellowship is undertaken
• copying costs and special software needs
• consumables

The amount of the grant will be at the discretion of the judging panel.

The National Archives will also provide:

• office accommodation in the reading room, with access to the office at all times that staff are allowed access to the building
• access to an Archives staff member who will act as a first point of contact for the Fellow, assist with access to records and systems and provide advice on records in the Archives collection

The Archives provides public access to records in its collection over 30 years old. The awarding of a Fellowship does not entitle Fellows to any special or privileged access.

Fellows will be required to:

• present at least one public lecture and one seminar to Archives staff, invited guests, and members of the public, in the office at which the Fellow is tenured. Further presentations may be negotiated.
• be available for publicity purposes including interviews with the media in order to promote the results of their research and the benefits of having access to the Archives' collection
• publish the results of their research within three years of the completion of the Fellowship. Publication may take the form of a book, journal articles or website content.
• acknowledge the support of the National Archives of Australia in any publication resulting from the research
• provide a complimentary copy of any such publication to the National Archives
• be prepared to act as mentor to a fellow in a subsequent year
• prepare a report at the conclusion of the Fellowship

Applications for the 2008 Fellowship close on 27 June 2008.

Fellowships will be advertised in the first half of the 2008 calendar year:

• in various historical journals and websites
• prominently on the National Archives' website
• through university research services offices

Each application must include the following.

1. Information about you:

• a cover sheet (445kb pdf) that identifies your:
  • name
  • home address, phone number, email
  • business address, phone number, email
  • current employment details
  • highest educational qualification
  • current research interests
• a curriculum vitae
• details of other research awards previously held or similar noteworthy achievements
• details of professional seminars/conference papers/public lectures presented
• a list of published works

2. A detailed research proposal that clearly:

• provides a comprehensive outline of the proposed topic of research, including a list of records in the Archives' collection that would be researched, with sufficient detail to show that the Archives' collection is the core source of materials being researched
• indicates the anticipated outcomes and significance of the proposed research
• indicates audiences for the intended research
• indicates how the results of the proposed research will be published (book, journal and/or website) and how these results will promote the Archives and its collection
• estimates the time needed to complete the research
• indicates whether it would be part-time or full-time research
• indicates at which office of the Archives the Fellowship would be undertaken
• indicates the dates during which the Fellowship would be undertaken
• indicates whether other offices of the Archives would need to be visited (including an estimate of how long the visit would last and what it would entail)
• contains an indicative budget of travel, accommodation, research, copying and software expenses
• details any special equipment/software needs

3. References from two academic referees that should address the following selection criteria:

• the applicant’s qualifications, ability and experience
• the quality of the applicant’s previous research and publications
• the applicant’s demonstrated capacity to complete research projects within a reasonable time frame
• the applicant’s awareness of relevant available sources in the Archives' collection and an assessment of whether these sources are likely to support the research proposed
• the feasibility of the project in terms of available resources and time or other constraints
• whether the project will make a substantial contribution to knowledge in the field
• how the project will bring the Archives' collection to wider public notice, and
• contact details (telephone, fax number and email address)

In 2007 the National Archives is encouraging applications that will increase knowledge of the photographic, film, music and audio materials held in its collection. Historical research on other formats will receive equal consideration. It is important to note that more than one fellowship may be granted.

In assessing each application the Archives will take into account the applicant’s:

• qualifications
• research experience and the quality of that research
• record of completing research projects within a given time frame and publishing the results of that research, as confirmed by referees

In addition, the Archives will consider the research projects nominated by each applicant, and:

• how each project will make use of the Archives' collection
• how the results of the research will be published and how those results will promote an awareness of the Archives and its collection
• how each project will make a substantial contribution to knowledge in the field

It is desirable that:

• the applicant has made significant achievements of a high calibre in a chosen field of specialisation, and
• the project is likely to result in publication of major articles, a book, website, exhibition, film or event that would publicise the Archives' collection

Applications should be sent to the following address by 27 June 2008:

Frederick Watson Fellowship
National Archives of Australia
PO Box 7425
Canberra Business Centre ACT 2610
Australia

For further information about the Fellowship or to discuss your application, please contact Derina McLaughlin at the National Archives of Australia in Canberra:

Phone: +61 2 6212 3600

Fax: +61 2 6212 3699

Email: derina.mclaughlin@naa.gov.au