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Category: Garden History & Design

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Purpose

To encourage the study of garden history and design and, if possible, aid in cataloging The Garden Club of America Collection in the Archives of American Gardens (AAG) at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

Level of Education

For graduate students 

Eligibility

For graduate candidates in museum studies, public history, or information studies with courses in collections management for archives or museums. Requires a very high attention to detail and excellent organizational skills, excellent writing abilities and communication skills, knowledge of DACS, MARC, and EAD standards, previous experience working with photographic or visual materials preferred. Eligibility is open to U.S. Citizens and permanent residents who are enrolled in a U.S. - based institution. Due to IRS restrictions, GCA is unable to fund awards for international applicants.

Provisions

Annually funds one or more students at up to $6000 each for a ten-week internship available year-round at the AAG or the equivalent at another institution.

Selection

The AAG staff will recommend candidates to a liaison of the GHD Committee and GCA Scholarship Committee for approval.

History

Since its founding, The Garden Club of America has supported the recording and study of gardens and landscape design. GCA was one of the prime sponsors of early garden photography and in 1919 formed the Slide Committee to document not only the gardens of members but also historic gardens of the past and present. From 1920 to 1935, GCA commissioned over 2000 glass lantern slides, many hand-colored by the artist Edward van Altena. These and other images became the backbone of the GCA-sponsored reference, Gardens of Colony and State, written by Alice G. B. Lockwood and first published in 1930. The slides also formed the beginning of an extensive collection of garden images that were donated to the Smithsonian Institution in 1987 to create the Archive of American Gardens. Today the Garden History & Design Committee of the GCA supports the study and recording of landscape history and contemporary garden design by continuing to contribute images to the AAG. Committee members also generated a fund to provide internships which, in 1997, was transferred to the Scholarship Committee.

To Apply

Applicants interested in applying for an internship at the Smithsonian's Archive of American Gardens (AAG) must file an online application with the Smithsonian that also requires two letters of recommendation, college transcript(s) and essay describing background, interest in field, career goals and chosen project. Completed application, essay, academic records, and two letters of recommendation should be submitted online through at Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment System. PLEASE NOTE: ONLY ONE GCA SCHOLARSHIP, FELLOWSHIP OR AWARD MAY BE APPLIED FOR ANNUALLY.

Fund

The GCA Scholarship in Garden History and Design Fund is managed by the GCA.

Deadlines

Summer: February 1

Contact

The Garden Club of America, attn: Scholarship Applications, 14 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022-1006. Phone: 212-753-8287 / email: scholarshipapplications@gcamerica.org

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