Margaret Anne Byrd Huffman Grant

Archives of Appalachia

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Margaret Anne Byrd Huffman Archives of Appalachia Endowment Grant

The Margaret Anne Byrd Huffman Archives of Appalachia Endowment Grant is an annual grant awarded by the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services and the Archives of Appalachia at East Tennessee State University.

All ETSU employees (faculty or staff) and students may apply for funding of up to $2,000 to support projects that utilize materials from the Archives of Appalachia and contribute to a better understanding of the Appalachian region.

The 2025 application is now closed.  Please check back in early 2026 for information on applying for next year's grant.

An example of the 2025 application is available here.  Information on previous grant recipients is also available.

  • APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
    • Both the "Project Proposal" and the "Project Significance" sections have strict character limits of 1750 characters (including spaces).  We highly recommend that you draft your content in a word processor and do a formal character count before pasting into the application, as submissions that exceed the character limit will automatically be rejected from the system.
    • The "Project Proposal" section should include a clear rationale for the project, including a well-defined set of objectives and outcomes; and a specific timeframe for completing the project.
    • The "Project Significance" section should include an explanation of how this project will contribute to a better understanding of the Appalachian region; and (if applicable) how this project will facilitate digital access to the Archives’ collections.
    • You will be required to list specific collections from the Archives of Appalachia that will be central to the project. You can access a comprehensive catalog of our collections at archives.etsu.edu.
    • You will be required to provide an itemized budget (up to $2,000) that includes a detailed, item-level, annotated list of expected expenses, explaining how the funds will be used (supplies, publication costs, conference registration, equipment purchase, etc.).  Please be specific.
    • All applicants are required to upload a current CV.
    • Student applicants are also required to upload a copy of their transcripts (unofficial transcripts will be accepted).
  • ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS
    • The applicant must either be a current ETSU employee (staff person or faculty: tenure-track, lecturer, or adjunct) or full-time ETSU student (undergraduate or graduate).
    • Student applicants must meet all requirements for regular admission to ETSU and must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
    • Selected recipients may continue to apply for future grants providing they continue to meet the criteria.
  • DETAILS AND REQUIREMENTS
    • Grants can be used to support any aspect of the proposed project. Examples include, but are not limited to:
      • exhibit, performance, or publication costs for original research or creative works that draw upon materials from the Archives of Appalachia;
      • summer living expenses required for conducting on-site research with materials at the Archives of Appalachia;
      • hiring student workers or research assistants;
      • purchasing equipment or supplies necessary for the project;
      • registration fees or travel expenses for conferences where materials from the Archives will be a part of the presentation.
    • Applications must include a detailed, item-level budget describing how the funds will be used in the project.
    • Grant funds awarded in 2025 must be spent by May 1, 2026.
    • Recipients of the 2025 grants must submit a final report to the Director of the Archives of Appalachia by June 1, 2026. The report should detail:
      • the original aims and objectives of the research project at the time of the award;
      • the extent to which these objectives have been achieved;
      • the principal outcomes of the project and how it contributed to a better understanding of the Appalachian region;
      • a full account of how the awarded funds were spent and how the grant contributed to the overall project.
    • Any research paper, project, or publication that is funded in whole or in part by the Huffman Grant must include an acknowledgment of that fact.
    • A copy of any publication that is funded in whole or in part by the Huffman Grant must be deposited with the Archives of Appalachia.
  • SELECTION CRITERIA

    The Huffman Grant Committee will consider the following criteria in awarding grants:

    • The project must utilize materials from the Archives of Appalachia.
    • The project must contribute to a better understanding of the Appalachian region.
    • Preference will be given to projects that facilitate digital access to the Archives’ collections.
    • Documented financial need to complete a project may be considered in the selection of the recipient.

QUESTIONS?
Dr. Jeremy A. Smith
Director of the Archives of Appalachia
smithja14@etsu.edu
423.439.5339