CSA Travel Research Grant


The CSA Travel Research Grant is an annual award of up to $2,100 intended to assist an individual (non-student) member of the Costume Society of America to travel and conduct research at a collection (private or public), library, archive, museum, or other site relevant to further an ongoing research project.


First awarded in 1996, the grant is designed to further an ongoing research project and is not limited to academic study or those with academic affiliation. Recipients are encouraged to present their research to CSA members at either a regional meeting or the CSA National Symposium and to submit a short research report to Dress. This grant does not permit an “overhead” or “operational cut” that many colleges and universities typically take from grant funds they receive.

  • Eligibility

    Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:


    • Have been a member of CSA for at least the preceding two years;
    • Provide proof that the work on the project is already underway;
    • Have confirmed that the collection or site they propose to visit will grant them a research appointment, and that the material to be consulted will be available.

    **Note:  If the research proposal involves human subjects and/or interviews, appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval must be submitted before the initial grant payment is made.**

  • Application Procedure

    A complete application should be uploaded as one (1) pdf document under 100MB using this online submission form and include the following in listed order:


    • A cover page including applicant's contact information
    • Project Proposal (1000 words) including:
    1. Brief project description detailing the material to be studied and name(s) of site(s) to be visited;
    2. Summary of work accomplished to date;
    3. Description of how the research will impact the broad field of costume and the audience that will benefit;
    4. Reasoning for visiting the designated site(s) and appropriateness of research sources;
    5. Methodology of the research plan;
    6. Statement of applicant’s qualifications, including familiarity with subject and previous experience;
    7. Time frame, work plan, and feasibility of accomplishing work;
    8. Budget narrative and costs;
    9. Bibliography (not included in word count).
    • Letter or email from the site granting a research visit and availability of material.
    • Applicant’s CV (2 pages maximum)
  • Grant Schedule and Terms

    Application deadline has been extended to November 1, 2023.  Applicants will be notified of results by January 31, 2024.  A check for $1,000 will be available by the date of the Annual Symposium, where the winner will be announced. The recipient must complete travel and use these funds by March 1, 2025.


    To receive the remaining $1,100, awardee(s) must submit to the National Office:


    • A brief report of activities (1 page),
    • An expense report with receipts (scanned images in pdf format).

    Recipients are encouraged to present or publish their research.  Recipient must publicly acknowledge CSA in all lectures, publications, publicity pertaining to the award.

Contact the Committee Chair

Susan Hannel, for more information.

Contact Susan Hannel

Recipients

2022

Mei Mei Rado

Los Angeles County Museum of Art


Los Angeles, CA

2021

Arti Sandhu

University of Cincinnati


Cincinnati, OH

2020

Monica Sklar

University of Georgia


Athens, GA

2019

Patricia Hunt-Hurst

University of Georgia


Athens, GA

2018

Michaela Hansen

Los Angeles County Museum of Art


Los Angeles, CA

2017

Dana Goodin

New York, NY


and


Jennifer Mower

Mt. Pleasant, MI

2016

Kendra Van Cleave


Alameda, California

2015

Anne Bissonnette


Edmonton, AB, Canada

2014

Christina Johnson


Los Angeles, CA

2013

No grant awarded

2012

Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell


Glendale, CA

2011

2010

No grant awarded

2009

Joseph H. Hancock II


Norristown, PA

2008

Terry Satsuki Milhaupt


New York, NY

2005

Carol Colburn


Cedar Falls, IA

2004

Naeda B. Robinson

Carmel, CA


Myra Walker

Denton, TX

2003

Jane Farrell-Beck

Ames, IA


Karen Herbaugh

Lowell, MA

2001

Sandra Orellana


Carson, CA

2000

Naeda B. Robinson


Carmel, CA

1999

Linda Arthur


Honolulu, HI

1997

Miranda Howard Haddock


Kalamazoo, MI

1996

Melinda Watt


New York, NY

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