Internships and Scholarships

The History Department recognizes Undergraduate History majors for their academic performance, knowledge of history, and community service through a variety of awards and scholarships.  Some awards require an essay or application to be considered, while others are based on academic performance.  Please refer to each listing for details on eligibility.

Questions regarding any of the awards or scholarships should be emailed to history@udel.edu.

William Purnell "Old Home" Essay Prize

Award Amount: $400

Awarded for the best undergraduate essay submitted to the History Department on the history of Delaware or the Eastern Shore.  Essays should be submitted with student ID# and email address only and delivered to the History Department at 236 Munroe Hall.

Submission Deadline: March 28, 2019

Alumni Undergraduate Essay Prize

Award Amount: up to $1,000

Awarded for the best essay(s) on a non-US history topic.  Up to two (2) essays may be chosen.  Total award amount determined by number of essays selected.  Submit essays with student ID# and email address only to the History Department at 236 Munroe Hall.

Submission Deadline: March 28, 2019

Thomas J. Craven Essay Prize

Award Amount: up to $1,800

Awarded for the best essay(s) on Delaware history or the "constitutional or political phases of American history in the U.S. national period."  Multiple winning essays may be chosen.  Total award amount determined by number of essays selected.  Submit essays with student ID# and email address only to the History Department at 236 Munroe Hall.

Submission Deadline: March 28, 2019

Joseph Donald Craven Essay Prize

Award Amount: $1,000

The Joseph Donald Craven Prize is awarded each year for the best essay submitted on what changes should be made in the Constitution of the United States and/or the economic system of the United States to further the interest of democracy and make the government more responsive to the will of the people.  Essays do not need to be long: 1,000 – 2,000 words is suggested.  The winner receives a $1,000 cash prize.  All Political Science, International Relations and History majors are encouraged to submit entries.  You may send your essay as an attachment in an email to Ms. McDermitt at mcdermit@udel.edu.

Submission Deadline: April 5, 2019

William E. Meakin Memorial Award

Award Amount: up to $2,400

Awarded to a junior or senior history major who meets the scholarship criteria of academic performance and a distinguished record of community service.  A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to apply.  Up to four (4) winners may be chosen.  Total award amount determined by number of winners selected.  Application and supporting documents should be delivered to the History Department at 236 Munroe Hall.

Meakin Application

Submission Deadline: April 12, 2019

Alumni Undergraduate Awards in History

Award Amount: $600

Awarded to undergraduate history majors for excellence in academics.  Three (3) winners from each of the defined levels will receive this monetary award.

Senior – projected to graduate in Spring or Summer 2019

Junior – completing third year at UD but not graduating in Spring or Summer 2019

Sophomore – completing 2nd year at UD and at least one (1) FULL year on the Newark campus.

Eve Holst Clift Award

Award Amount: $1,800

Awarded to a graduating history major for outstanding academic performance.  In choosing between candidates of roughly equal qualifications, preference is given to students specializing in fields other than American History.

William H. Williams Scholarship in American History, 1607-1865

Award Amount: up to $2,000

Awarded to undergraduate history majors demonstrating outstanding scholarship in the field of American History from 1607 to 1865.  Multiple winners may be chosen.  Total award determined by number of winners selected.  Award is distributed as a scholarship unless presented to a graduating senior, in which case award will be given as a monetary prize.

Arts & Humanities Scholarships

Award Amounts: approx. $200 to $500

Recipients must meet the scholarship criteria of academic performance and financial need as determined by department faculty and the Office of Student Financial Services.  Preference given to Delaware residents.

Berwyn Fragner Memorial Scholarships

Award Amounts: approx. $200 to $500

Awarded to undergraduate history majors meeting the scholarship criteria of academic performance and financial need as determined by department faculty and the Office of Student Financial Services.

Internships offer History students the opportunity to acquire practical experience in history-related fields and learn about the kinds of careers for which a major in History offers excellent preparation.

History 464 Internship in History for academic credit

The Department offers HIST 464 as a regular course. In recent years, students have completed internships at such locations as UD’s Center for Historic Architecture and Design, W. L. Gore and Associates Corporate Archives, the Hagley Museum and Library, the New Castle Historical Society, and the Newlin Grist Mill in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania.  Most HIST464 internship placements are developed by students, themselves, or by students in consultation with HIST’s Undergraduate Studies Chair or other History Department professors.  Students interested in internship placements, should feel free to contact Professor Jesus Cruz at jesus@udel.edu, or the History Department administrative office at 302-831-2371 for further information.

On an occasional basis, the Department also offers HIST 464 as a regular course, with enrollment by consent of its instructor. When HIST 464 is offered as a course, the instructor places students in internships but also holds some class sessions on campus.

The E. Lyman Stewart Internships 

These are competitively awarded, $3500 stipends given to sophomore, junior or senior History majors for internships at local historical societies, museums, libraries, archives, or historic sites. You do not have to be seeking a career in museums or public history to apply for these internships. In recent years, students have completed Stewart Internships at such locations as the Delaware Historical Society, the Hagley Museum and Library, and the George Read II House & Gardens in Historic New Castle.

This summer, three paid internships for undergraduate majors in the Department of History are being offered at three Delaware museums and historical societies.  The stipend for each of these internships is $3,500 for 225 hours of work, to be scheduled with the host museum.  You will be paid through the university and will keep track of your hours through the UDTime.

Please contact Ms. Meg Hutchins at mhutch@udel.edu for more information on the Stewart Internships.  Please fill out our online form to apply. Application submissions are due no later than March 10, 2019. Interview night will be held March 22, 2019.

Smithsonian Institution Fellowship and Internship Programs

Programs are numerous and constantly changing. For more information, go to https://www.smithsonianofi.com/ or call the Smithsonian Office of Fellowships and Internships at 202-633-7070.

Additional Resources

Students may also seek internship opportunities through the Career Services Center.  If completed in conjunction with UNIV 364, the internship fulfills the DLE requirement.

For further information about internships, please contact your History advisor in the History Department Office.

Looking for more public history opportunities?  Subscribe to the Museum Studies Program at the University of Delaware’s newsletter MuseWeekly which features professional opportunities such as conferences, workshops, internships, fellowships, and jobs.

Please read the UDaily Article about Exciting History Internships.