William L. Thompson Collections Fellowship Emerging Museum Professionals and Graduate Students

Overview

The William L. Thompson Collections Fellowship for Emerging Museum Professionals and Graduate Students is a short-term residential fellowship with The Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation that is designed for emerging museum professionals and graduate students with an interest in a career focusing on collections and material culture within historic house museums.

This fellowship opportunity will take place at Millford (Sumter County, SC) from May 3-8, 2026.

Up to four positions will be funded for Spring 2026.

This fellowship is a program of the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation (formerly Classical American Homes Preservation Trust). Applicants who are emerging museum professionals are expected to be currently working in a collections-related museum position. Graduate student applicants will typically be completing a degree in art history, American studies, material culture, museum studies, public history, or a related field and should have completed at least one year of graduate study.

Up to four positions will be funded for the Spring 2025 opportunity.

• Fellows will participate in a week-long residency at Millford, located in rural Sumter County, South Carolina.
• Work with the Jenrette Foundation’s Curator & Director of Collections, Grant Quertermous, and other staff on projects including the documentation and care of collection objects and the installation of additional objects and works of art.
• Undertake an individual project related to professional or research interests utilizing Millford’s collection.
• Engage in workshops, professional mentoring opportunities, and visits to other historic sites in the region.
• Time will be allotted each day for Fellows to complete work on their individual projects.
• Prepare a brief report (no longer than 10 pages) summarizing the project due one week after the completion of the Fellowship.

• Emerging museum professionals: completed a degree within the last five years and currently working in a collections-related museum position.
• Graduate students: typically pursuing a degree in art history, American studies, material culture, museum studies, public history, or a related field and have completed at least one year of graduate study.

• Stipend of $2,000
  , with financial support to reimburse travel to and from Millford and meals during the week.
• On-site lodging provided.
• Travel support to attend several Jenrette Foundation events held in New York City during Americana Week in late January 2027.
• Possibility of additional workshops and mentoring opportunities; visits to other historic sites in the region.

Participants will be expected to travel to Sumter County, South Carolina and be on-site at Millford from May 3-8, 2026.