The Andrew W. Mellon Society of Fellows in Critical Bibliography (SoFCB) is a community of scholars working to advance the study of texts, images, and artifacts as material objects. Fellows work across many disciplines, study a wide range of time periods and geographies, and occupy diverse roles and career stages within the academy. The Society is a program of Rare Book School, and is non-residential: fellows remain based at their home institutions.

Junior and Senior Fellows form a thriving community of scholars working across disciplines to advance the study of texts, images, and artifacts as material objects. They pursue research involving a wide array of objects, including printed books, illuminated manuscripts, coins and medals, carved stones, moveable books, digitized newspapers, and photographic archives.

Junior Fellows

Each year through 2025, ten Junior Fellows will be selected to join the Andrew W. Mellon Society of Fellows in Critical Bibliography (SoFCB) through an open application process. After completing two years in good standing as Junior Fellows, participants will have the option to become Senior Fellows.

The Junior Fellows Program includes:

  • Two Rare Book School courses.
  • Seminars on critical bibliography.
  • Symposia on critical bibliography: Fellows will each be assigned $500 for use in hosting symposia on topics relating to critical bibliography.
  • Bibliographical field school: Fellows have the option of attending a three-day “bibliographical field school,” a targeted visit to major special collections, antiquarian bookstores, conservation labs, auction houses, and private collections in New York City.

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