Overview
The Chicago Public Library (CPL) is pleased to offer microgrants for its Renaissance Project to support short-term research in its African American archival collections for the creation of new scholarship and storytelling about Black history and culture." A total of 10 microgrants of $4,000.00 each will be awarded for 2026.
Funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, these microgrants will assist in covering the costs related to conducting research in the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection at Woodson Regional Library and Special Collections at the Harold Washington Library Center. The Harsh Research Collection, the largest archival collection of African American history in the Midwest, documents the Black experience related to civil rights, African independence, education, music, theater, labor, publishing, aviation, the Great Migration, and the Black Chicago Renaissance. The Special Collections at Harold Washington Library has archival materials that pertain to African Americans in the performing arts, the civil rights movement, social justice, and civic life, and houses the political papers of Harold Washington, Chicago’s first Black mayor.
We invite interested individuals to apply for these grants, aimed at supporting non-traditional scholars. They are open to students, educators, independent scholars/researchers, community leaders, journalists, and artists (visual, performing and literary) that would greatly benefit from researching within CPL’s collections. Projects nearing the final stages (between April 2026 - March 2027), for which access to these collections is essential to their completion, will be given priority consideration.
Please conduct a search in CPL’s finding aids to become familiar with archival holdings at the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection and Special Collections at Harold Washington Library.
Timeline
- Application Information Session: Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 2pm CST
- Application deadline: Friday, January 7, 2026
- Notification: Monday, March 2, 2026
- Orientation/Research Planning Workshop: Monday, March 16, 2026
- In-person Research Visits to Collections: April 1 - August 31, 2026
- Presentation/Report Planning Workshop: Thursday, October 1, 2026
- Project Presentation Sessions (TBD): Between Nov. 3 - Dec 15, 2026
- Deadline for final project summary report: Wednesday, March 31, 2027
Eligibility
- Chicago residents, as well as other US-based applicants
- Undergraduate students working on a BA thesis or other special project
- Graduate students completing a thesis, dissertation, or coursework
- Non-tenure track and adjunct faculty working on publications or developing teaching materials
- Researchers working for community-based, policymaking, media or news organizations, activists, or other cultural heritage-based institutions
- Independent scholars, public historians, genealogists, authors, poets/or creative writers, journalists, visual or performing artists
Applicants can apply for grants in the following research categories:
- Arts & Humanities
- Social/Political Movements
- Chicago History
- Genealogy
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
Amount of award: $4,000.00
These funds should be used for qualified research and project related expenses that include:
- travel
- lodging (if outside of the greater Chicago area)
- reproductions
- research related equipment
- supplies/materials related to publications, public presentations or exhibitions.
The research grants will be paid in two installments, with the final payment given upon submission of a summary report.
All funding recipients agree to complete a public presentation, in-person or virtually at a CPL location, and provide a final summary report on their project within 12 months of having first received funds, to be eligible for the final payment. These presentations, designed to inform CPL branch audiences across the city of Chicago, will be recorded and made available in perpetuity in the Archives and Special Collections Division’s collections.
Selection Criteria
Grant recipients will be selected by a committee consisting of CPL Staff, external artists, scholars and researchers using the following criteria:
- Qualifications/eligibility of the applicant.
- Relevance of research to CPL’s archival collections
- Feasibility/likelihood that the project will be completed successfully within the proposed timeframe.
- The provisions for making the results of the project available to scholars and to the public at large.
- Able to conduct research at CPL’s archives between April 1 - August 31, 2026.
Applicants must complete the application form that includes:
- A Bio (<200 words)
- A Project Proposal: (<500 words)
- CV or résumé
- A Projected Budget/Expense sheet
- A Letter of Support
- Faculty:
- Provide a letter of support from the department chair.
- Graduate/undergraduate students:
- Provide a letter from an academic or dissertation advisor.
- Community-based or independent researcher:
- Provide a letter of support from supervisor/executive team member.
- Creatives/cultural workers/performers:
- Provide a letter of support from a collaborating community partnering institution or venue, affirming the importance of this project to its mission and strategic plan, and project impact on its communities.
- Independent scholars, creative writers, authors:
- Provide a letter of support from a publication, press, or collaborating community partnering institution or venue.
- Faculty:
Short-term Research Visits
- The timeframe for research visits is 1-4 week(s) between April 1– August 31, 2026.
- Proposed research dates with alternative dates must be included with the grant application.
- The proposed research dates will be reviewed by the program and discussed with grant recipients before the mutually agreed upon research visit dates are approved. If there is a conflict pertaining to the finalized dates, the Renaissance Project reserves the right to rescind the offer.
Additional Information
- Those selected are required to attend an online orientation.
- Grants may not be deferred.
Apply here: 2026 CPL Renaissance Project Research Grant Application
Questions? Email Dr. Traci Lombré, Renaissance Project Program Coordinator, at tlombre@cplrenaissanceproject.org.