The American Antiquarian Society has awarded Jarvis Young, assistant professor of English, with a 2025-26 Kate B. and Hall J. Peterson Fellowship, which supports "scholarly research and writing . . . in any field of American history and culture through 1900."

The award's stipend of $2,000 funds a one- to two-month residency, during which the fellow conducts as much research as possible at the AAS library in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Each fellow's research must be completed between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026.

Young learned about the program when he was approached by an AAS representative at a conference last September.

"I had posed a question during a panel session about the essays and sermons of a late 18th-century abolitionist and preacher, Lemuel Haynes," Young said.

"The representative expressed to me that [AAS] had recently received a collection of papers and manuscripts of Haynes' work."

The representative also encouraged Young to apply for a fellowship.

Young reached out to a few faculty mentors at his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University, to request their feedback on his application materials. Then, after about a month of revisions, he submitted his application.

Shortly after spring break, he was notified that not only was he receiving a fellowship but his application had garnered high praise from the selection committee.

Young plans to conduct archival research on the life and writings of Haynes at the AAS library from mid-July to early August. The work will support his development of future publications, including a draft of the first chapter of his book project and perhaps an article version of the chapter.

Asked how excited he was to have received the award, Young replied that he was "absolutely elated" — especially after having heard from colleagues how difficult and competitive the AAS fellowship application process was.

"I therefore feel extremely blessed and am grateful to God," Young said, "to have an opportunity to do research at an institution that I have admired for years."