Quotes from Past Fellows

"The best part was the interdisciplinarity. The further along we get in our careers, too often the narrower we become in our focus... What I appreciated about this fellowships was that while we had the common ground of studying the African diaspora, we came from very different disciplines. Many of the insights I received were from, say, literary scholars, who engaged with sources and narrative in ways that I hadn’t. I am a fan of getting out of one’s comfort zone. The fellows allowed me to do that, in a very supportive way. It was also wonderful to be able to go back to my original training in African diaspora studies (especially 20th-century black radicalism and black internationalism), since most slavery scholars do not have training in these areas."
Yuko Miki
Scholar-in-Residence 2017-2018

"Given that I am an independent, public scholar who is not currently employed by a university, workshopping and engaging with professors was a rare and special opportunity. I valued their insight, careful critique, and support. Having an office at the Schomburg, access to the archives, and the weekly symposia required by the fellowship were critical to the growth and success of my project. I am so grateful to have had this experience."
Candacy Taylor
Scholar-in-Residence 2016-2017

"The feedback and constructive criticism received during the seminars was extremely valuable and as a result has pushed my work in new directions. Moreover, I benefited from the exposure to works in different disciplines and areas of study beyond my particular expertise."
Chad Williams
Scholar-in-Residence 2006-2007, NEH

"The archival resources at the Schomburg are without parallel for anyone doing research in black culture. The collections offer breadth and depth, not an easy balance to achieve. The staff, particularly the librarians in the Manuscript collections, are knowledgeable, gracious, and exceedingly helpful. Their expertise saved me what would have been wasted hours of unnecessary legwork."
Valerie Babb
Scholar-in-Residence 2005-2006, NEH

"As a Scholar-in-Residence at the Schomburg Center, I had a unique opportunity to make progress on my book, using the vast resources of the library. The program's seminars and colloquia enabled animated conversations across such varied disciplines as history, music, sociology, law, literature, and philosophy. More specifically, the seminar helped me make valuable decisions about my own disciplinary boundaries, helping me to combine the methods of historical inquiry and literary analysis."
Yogita Goyal
Scholar-in-Residence 2003-2004, NEH

"I was unprepared but pleasantly surprised by the level of intense academic exchange and interaction that took place amongst the Schomburg Fellows. As a result of these exchanges in and outside the seminars and lectures, I gained new knowledge and methodologies relevant and helpful in redesigning my work. These exchanges were really one of the high points of my tenure as a fellow.”
George Priestley
Scholar-in-Residence 2002-2003, Schomburg Center

"My development as a scholar was undoubtedly enriched by the Schomburg’s intellectually stimulating environment. Much of this enrichment was due to the Center’s geographic location in Harlem, a culturally dynamic, historically rich community. Throughout my fellowship tenure, I came in contact with scholars, both inside and outside the fellowship program, who were working on important issues in African-American and African Diaspora Studies.”
Frank Andre Guridy
Scholar-in-Residence 2002-2003, NEH

"I found the support system incredibly useful and key to helping me find the sources that were central to the project. Everyone that I spoke with (in all areas of the Center) were efficient, diligent, and answered my question or found someone who could. One of the many great moments I had came when a reference librarian followed up on one of my inquiries, when it seemed as if there was no information, and told me about an archive, or rather a set of papers, that I did not know of. While the archives was in another state, the material I found there filled in some major gaps in my research.”
Cheryl D. Hicks
Scholar-in-Residence 2003-2004, Schomburg Center/Newhouse