The Stacy Lloyd III Fellowship for Bibliographic Study is the Oak Spring Garden Foundation’s most prestigious award for early-career researchers in the humanities. This annual fellowship supports one outstanding scholar whose work intersects with the history, art, and culture of plants, gardens, and landscapes. The fellowship is designed to foster significant scholarly development by providing time, resources, and access to OSGF’s unique archival and botanical collections.
The award includes a $10,000 unrestricted individual grant and a required 2–5 week residency at the Oak Spring estate in Upperville, Virginia. During their residency, the selected Fellow will engage in independent research while having access to OSGF’s rare book library of more than 19,000 items, including botanical illustrations and manuscripts. The residency is scheduled to coincide with other interdisciplinary residents, allowing for optional group meals, activities, and site tours, although the Fellow is encouraged to spend time in quiet, focused scholarship. At the end of their stay, Fellows are invited, though not required, to deliver a 20–30-minute presentation on their research to OSGF staff and other residents.
The Fellowship is especially suited for early-career researchers who are currently completing or have recently completed a terminal degree (within the past five years). Candidates must demonstrate exceptional promise and an ability to articulate how OSGF’s library and resources will support their research. Fellows must also be capable of working independently, with strong communication skills and a clear alignment between their project and OSGF’s mission to advance scholarship on the natural world and its importance to human well-being.
Applications open on February 14, 2025, and close on May 31, 2025. The application process includes submission of a resume (maximum two pages), two short essays (one about the applicant’s current research and one connecting their work to OSGF’s mission), and up to 10 pages of relevant writing samples or links demonstrating the applicant’s scholarly output. All applicants will be considered through a rigorous multi-stage review conducted by OSGF staff, residency alumni, and expert jurors.
Fellows will be housed in shared accommodations with private bedrooms and bathrooms, and a shared living/kitchen area. Travel to Dulles International Airport is the Fellow’s responsibility, but ground transportation to OSGF is provided. The grant may be used for travel, research materials, or any other purpose related to the Fellow’s academic work. Selected arrival dates for 2026 align with other OSGF programs and include: March 2, April 14 (3-week maximum stay), June 1, July 13, August 13 (3-week maximum), and September 21.
