The Legacy Fund Fellowship for LGBTQIA Central Ohio History seeks 2026 summer research fellows

The team that curated the Illuminate exhibit, including two 2025 summer research fellows, poses for a photo next to the opening panel at the Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation's 25th anniversary event at Stonewall Columbus in November 2025.

The Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation and Ohio Humanities in collaboration with the Local History and Genealogy Department at the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) seeks to support a public history research fellow to help address the gaps in LGBTQIA history in Central Ohio.

This position is supported by the Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation, a unique endowment fund created by and for the Central Ohio LGBTQIA community, and private philanthropic dollars.

The aim of the initiative is to extend our knowledge and awareness of under-studied aspects of this history, such as during the mid-20th century, among all peoples present in the region, and in outlying towns and communities beyond the urban core. As such, we are particularly interested in researchers who have a deep curiosity about the history of LGBTQIA people in Central Ohio and are skilled historical researchers.

Project description: Over the past 25 years, the LGBTQIA community has won significant civil rights victories thanks to activism and support from groups like The Legacy Fund of The Columbus Foundation. As Central Ohio continues to grow and change, it is vital that we continue invest in the cultural and local history infrastructure to ensure that this history is not forgotten, lost or erased. We believe that a deeper awareness of local LGBTQIA history can have a dramatic impact on our understanding of Central Ohio’s history. In our first year, we developed a traveling exhibit about the history of the LGBTQIA community in Central Ohio, supported two Fellows, developed a one-stop digital stop resource for exploring that history, and expanded archival collections.

Fellows should select at least one of the following outcomes for their Fellowship period:

  • Travelling Pop-Up Exhibit Panel: As a culmination to the research, CML, Ohio Humanities, and the fellow will aim to add one additional pop-up banner to the exhibit developed in 2025, that is currently travelling to sites throughout Central Ohio.
  • Journal Publication Opportunity: The fellow may have an opportunity to submit their work for consideration for publication in Rust Belt Studies: A Journal Emplaced Humanities, a new initiative of the Rust Belt Humanities Lab at Ursuline College, Ohio Humanities, and Midstory.
  • Lecture/In-Person Presentation: The fellow may have an opportunity to share the results of their research at The Legacy Fund’s annual fundraising event, and/or another public event organized by The Legacy Fund or the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

Qualifications:

  • Excellent writing, research, and communication skills;
  • Familiarity with Central Ohio history and culture;
  • Experience with public history communication tools (exhibits, lectures, or essays);
  • Ability to research independently;
  • Ability to work collaboratively in an environment with diverse perspectives;
  • Commitment to meeting established deadlines;
  • Availability to meet electronically and in person with OH and CML staff;
  • Preferred education: A degree in History; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Folklore Studies, Archive and Library Science; or related humanities and social science disciplines.
  • Minimum experience: Extensive and verifiable experience carrying out public history research, writing.

Position details: The Fellowship will begin immediately upon the identification of a successful candidate. The candidate will complete 320 hours of work during summer 2026. As a paid fellowship of Ohio Humanities, candidates may expect to receive an honorarium of $5,000 (flat rate); benefits are not available for this position. The Fellow may have access to a small budget for research-related activities.

To apply: send a cover letter outlining qualifications, curriculum vita or resume, and a short writing sample to Programs, Grants, and Operations Director David Merkowitz, PhD at dmerkowitz@ohiohumanities.org by April 7, 2026. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt.

Click here to download the position description.

About Ohio Humanities:
Ohio Humanities is a statewide nonprofit organization that connects people with ideas and one another through the humanities. Through grants, programs, and partnerships, Ohio Humanities supports cultural organizations and communities in all 88 counties. For over 50 years, we have served Ohio’s public humanities sector as the state-based partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.