Presbyterian Historical Society reading room. All images provided by PHS.
The Presbyterian Historical Society is pleased to award four Research Fellowship grants for 2024.
Luca Azuma, a Ph.D. student at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill); Dr. Elesha Coffman, Associate Professor of History at Baylor University; Dr. Emily Conroy-Krutz, Associate Professor at Michigan State University; and Dr. Alderi Souza de Matos, Official Historian for the Presbyterian Church of Brazil and Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Andrew Jumper Presbyterian Graduate Center, Mackenzie Presbyterian University (São Paulo, Brazil), are this year’s grant recipients.
PHS’s Research Fellowship program awards travel grants of $2,500 for scholars, students and independent researchers who demonstrate a need to work in the society’s collection for a minimum of one week and whose normal place of residence is farther than 75 miles from Philadelphia.
The four grant recipients are pursuing a variety of research topics. Azuma was awarded a fellowship for the project "Upon a Rainbow Cross: a History of LGBTQ+ Christianity in North America," while Coffman is writing about "Making Religion News." Alderi is studying "Brazilian Presbyterian history," and Conroy-Krutz is researching for her project "Around the World with the Browns."
Clockwise from top left: Dr. Alderi Souza de Matos, image courtesy of Andrew Jumper Presbyterian Graduate Center; Dr. Emily Conroy-Krutz, image courtesy of her webpage; Luca Azuma, image courtesy of his LinkedIn profile; and Dr. Elesha Coffman, image courtesy of Baylor University.
Clockwise from top left: Dr. Alderi Souza de Matos, image courtesy of Andrew Jumper Presbyterian Graduate Center; Dr. Emily Conroy-Krutz, image courtesy of her webpage; Luca Azuma, image courtesy of his LinkedIn profile; and Dr. Elesha Coffman, image courtesy of Baylor University.
PHS’s Director of Programs and Services, Natalie Shilstut, shared that this year, "We received a number of excellent applications, which made the review committee’s decision difficult. The research topics represented by this year’s fellows is outstanding, ranging from an exploration of the relationship between missionary work and U.S. politics; an investigation into how religious journalism has changed over time and has been perceived by American media consumers; a history of LGTBQ+ theological debates in the United States; and a study of the changing relationship between the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. and the Brazilian Presbyterian Church. We look forward to welcoming these fellows to PHS later this year.”
The four 2024 fellowships are funded through donations PHS received on Giving Tuesday 2023.
Reference Archivist Charlene Peacock expressed excitement at the opportunity to welcome this year’s fellows into the Reading Room. "PHS fellows make intensive use of our holdings and it is always fascinating to see where their inquiries lead," Peacock shared. "Their research brings new understanding to the voices in our collection and helps situate Presbyterian history within broader national and world history. I can’t wait to welcome this year’s research fellows to our reading room!"
PHS is accepting applications for next year’s research fellowships through February 3, 2025. Hear from previous fellows and learn about the grant application process.