Testimonials for the Bavarian Library of Congress Fellowship
The Bavarian American Academy, the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, and the Bavarian State Chancellery award one graduate research fellowship for five to six months. On this page, you find a selection of fellow statements about past experiences with the program.
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David Irion, 2023
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Being able to work at what is probably the largest and most important library in the world is the dream of every scientist. As a Bavarian Library of Congress Fellow, I was able to fulfil this dream for four months. My stay at the John W. Kluge Centre not only gave me access to the library and its own and other external archives. With my own workspace, privileged ac-cess to the collections, academic supervision, and networking opportunities with exceptional colleagues from around the world, I found a unique environment that made an eminently im-portant contribution to the progress of my dissertation project.
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Kathleen Siemermann, 2022
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
My stay at the Library of Congress gave me access to the diverse resources of the largest library in the world. Not only was I able to consult research literature that is difficult or impossible to access in Germany, but I also had access to numerous collections of the Library of Congress. Personal Papers in the Manuscript Division were important for my research, as were collections from the Rare Book and Special Collection Department. The excellent research conditions at the Kluge Center were accompanied by a motivating working atmosphere. The international team with scientists from five continents and in different career positions inspired each other. The academic life and university landscape of Washington D.C. greatly enriched my work. The months there were one of the most intense and wonderful times of my life and helped me to develop both personally and academically.
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Jana Aresin, 2021
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
The fellowship gave me the opportunity to spend four months at the John W. Kluge Center. It allowed me to conduct indispensable archival research for my dissertation and connect to fellow researchers. My stay at the Library of Congress gave me access to a large collection of magazines and was essential for the continuation of my dissertation project. The organisation, from visa application to ensuring access to the collections was fast and efficient and everyone at the Center was incredibly helpful. Access to the vast collection of secondary literature also significantly eased and enhanced my writing process.
