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

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The William L. Thompson Collections Fellowship for Emerging Museum Professionals and Graduate Students is a short-term residential fellowship 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 is a program of the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation (formerly Classical American Homes Preservation Trust). The dates for the Spring 2026 session are May 3-8, 2026. 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.

Considered one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in North America, Millford contains a significant collection of original furnishings that were commissioned from New York cabinetmakers Duncan Phyfe & Son between 1839 and 1842.

This fellowship is named in memory of William L. Thompson, the longtime partner of our founder, Richard H. Jenrette. Thompson was instrumental in the restoration, furnishing, and landscaping of each of the Jenrette Foundation's properties, and he played an important role in building our significant collection of American decorative arts and fine art.

While at Millford, Fellows will work with the Jenrette Foundation's Curator & Director of Collections, Grant Quertermous, and other members of the professional staff on a variety of projects, including the documentation and care of collection objects, installation of additional objects and works of art. Fellowship participants will also undertake an individual project related to their own professional or research interests utilizing Millford's significant collection.

Additional benefits of the Fellowship will include workshops, professional mentoring opportunities, and visits to other historic sites in the region.

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.

* For this Fellowship, an emerging museum professional is defined to be someone who has completed a degree within the last five years and is currently working for a museum in a collections-related position.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest and current CV via email to Grant Quertermous, Curator & Director of Collections: gquertermous

A stipend of $2,000 for the week plus support for travel and meals; on-site lodging included.

03/02/2026