As part of our project, we are pleased to offer two Cosin Fellowships to enable high-quality research into any aspect of Bishop John Cosin’s life or the library he established on Palace Green, Durham, in 1669 and/or that make extensive use of the archives, manuscripts and books that are associated with Cosin and his library.
The aim of the Cosin’s Library Project is to deepen our knowledge and understanding of John Cosin and his library, including (but not limited to) our understanding of his book collecting, his contributions to religious scholarship and debates, his activities in and around Durham after the Restoration, or the history of Cosin’s library from 1672 onwards.
We expect the successful research proposals to support that aim. Fellows will therefore be required to contribute a research output for an academic or non-academic audience as a condition of their acceptance of the award. Imaginative proposals for wider dissemination of their research will be welcomed.
Both Durham University and Arts Council England must be acknowledged in any resulting output from the fellowship.
What we offer
The two successful Fellows will receive a bursary of £1,800 each towards travel, accommodation, and subsistence whilst undertaking research in Durham. They will have access to the archives and special collections at Palace Green Library (part of Durham University Library and Collections) and Ushaw College.
Please note that we cannot guarantee access to collections held by other institutions. Access arrangements continue to be subject to UK government Covid-19 guidelines.
The expected model for each fellowship is one month full-time. However, we are open to enquiries and proposals for alternative models, for example part-time over a longer period (before the end of February 2022 and with the same funding).
Who can apply?
The fellowships are open to scholars at any stage of their academic career and from any discipline, provided there is evidence of a sustained interest in the intellectual, cultural, religious, or political history of seventeenth-century Britain and France, or a relevant aspect of the history of the book or the history of libraries.
Before applying, please check your eligibility to enter or work in the United Kingdom, particularly since the country is no longer a member of the European Union. We are unable to provide support for visas. The successful fellows will be expected to make their own arrangements for travel and accommodation.
Requirements and how to apply
If you are interested in applying for one of the fellowships, please send us the following:
- A research proposal (max. 1500 words) containing
- Your research question, summary outline of your project, and how this connects to your wider research interests
- A list of items held at Durham relevant to your research question
- An explanation of how your research relates to the aim of the overall project as outlined above
- A proposal for the dissemination of your research
- CV (max. 3 pages)
- Preferred dates for taking up the fellowship
Enquiries and proposals should be directed to Dr Danielle Westerhof, Rare Book Collections Manager and Project Manager for the Cosin’s Library Project, at [email protected]
The deadline for proposals is midnight BST 27 September 2021.
To find out more
More information can be found on the pages of the Cosin’s Library Project and Durham University’s Archives and Special Collections. The extent of the collections associated with Cosin’s Library, including digitised material, is covered by the following collection descriptions:
A general search for our holdings, including those of Ushaw College and Durham Cathedral collections, can be done via our online catalogue.
The Fellowships are supported by Durham University’s Dr A.I. Doyle Fund as part of a wider Arts Council England funded project.