NYPL Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellowship Program

Applications Open - Apply Now! - Deadline: June 30, 2026

The New York Public Library is pleased to offer the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellowship Program to support advanced research at the Library’s flagship Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. This fellowship is open to Ph.D. candidates, post-doctoral scholars, professionals, and independent researchers with projects that would significantly benefit from research conducted onsite at the Schwarzman Building. Projects requiring access to original materials including manuscripts, archives, books, photographs, prints, maps, newspapers, and journals will be given preference, but all worthy projects will be considered. Applicants studying the humanities as well as those working in the visual, auditory/performing, and literary arts are welcome to apply. Projects focused on science, technology, psychology, public policy, education, and other areas are also eligible, but only if the proposed project is centered on humanities-related methodologies.

Established with the generous support of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation, the Fellowship Program has supported 26 Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellows over the last five years and will support one additional fellow in 2027 for four continuous months with a stipend of $24,000. 

Questions about this fellowship may be directed to fellowships@nypl.org. 

Read more about current and former Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellows at NYPL (2021-Present).

Key Dates

• Application deadline:  June 30, 2026
• Applicant notification:  August 31, 2026
• Award period: Four month term, to be taken between January - May, 2027

Eligibility

The Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellowship is open to individuals with the legal right to work in the United States. NYPL does not sponsor employment visas for these fellowships. Former recipients of this fellowship are not eligible to apply again.

NYPL Resources

Applicants should have a clear understanding of relevant NYPL resources before applying and are encouraged to explore the NYPL Research Catalog, Archives and Manuscripts Portal, and Research Guides for more information on collections and resources accessible at the Schwarzman Building. Questions regarding collections or additional holdings should be directed to staff in the relevant research division(s). Staff cannot provide feedback on individual applications or project proposals.

Application Instructions

To apply for a Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellowship, visit the NYPL Fellowship Portal. For assistance with the application process, email fellowships@nypl.org. 

A complete application must include:

• An application completed in the NYPL Fellowship Portal
• A project proposal of 1250-2500 words (see guidelines below)
• An updated CV
• A sample of the applicant’s research (e.g. article or book chapter) 
• A professional letter of recommendation

Project Proposal

Successful project proposals will articulate how in-person access to the Library’s holdings is essential to the progress and completion of the research project. In order for an application to be considered, the project proposal must include the following: 

• Abstract of the project’s major themes, questions, and arguments
• Significance of the project 
• Specific Library collections and holdings to be consulted during the fellowship
• Project plan, including a timeline of your work with the Library’s collections during the fellowship term and a description of the proposed methodological approach
• Expected short- and long-term outcomes (e.g. book, article, blog, digital humanities project, art installation, performance, etc.) 
• Personal statement (included in your project proposal) answering:
  • What impact would this fellowship have on your project and/or career? 
  • What is the likelihood of successfully completing your project without this fellowship?   
  • Do you belong to a historically underrepresented community?

Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of expert Library staff, who will consider the following criteria: 

• Need for research holdings accessible at NYPL’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
• Uniqueness of materials to be accessed and innovative uses of material
• Quality of the project plan as it relates to the size and scope of the collections to be accessed 
• Impact this grant might have on the applicant’s project or career 

It is the intention of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation and the Library for the Fellowship Program to include support for historically under-resourced and underrepresented communities.

Fellowship Terms

Fellows will have sustained access to world-class collections in quiet shared study rooms within the Library’s Vartan Gregorian Center for Research in the Humanities and are encouraged to connect with the Library’s expert librarians, subject specialists, and curators for consultation or guidance. The Library will provide an orientation to collections and services as well as opportunities to connect with NYPL’s broader scholarly community for engagement with peers and the public. 

As part of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation’s commitment to expanding knowledge in the humanities more broadly, and to provide Fellows with public platforms for their scholarship and research, each Fellow will be required to participate in at least two activities to share their project, work, or expertise in a public forum.