Walter P. Reuther Library Scholarships
The Sam Fishman Travel Grant
The Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs provides awards
up to $1,000 to support travel to the Reuther Library to access archival records related to the American labor movement. The award is named in honor of Sam Fishman, a former UAW and Michigan AFL-CIO leader. Widely considered to be a labor intellectual and a dynamic leader, Fishman began his career in the union movement when he was 12 years old, and during 50 years as a trade unionist, worked as a UAW union steward, advisor to UAW President Walter
Reuther, Leonard Woodcock, and Doug Fraser. He later became president of the Michigan AFL-CIO before passing away in 1986 at the age of 62.
Recipients are selected through an annual competitive application process and awards may only be used to reimburse actual expenses. As part of their research visits, awardees are invited to speak about their work at an informal event at the Reuther Library, be interviewed for our podcast series "Tales from the Reuther Library," or submit a proposal for the North American Labor History Conference held on the Wayne State University campus in the fall. Recipients are required to submit a two-page research report and expense report within one month of the conclusion of their research visit, and must complete their research within one year.
The 2025 application round is now open. Applications are due Friday, February 28th. Please see the linked application form at the bottom of the page for more details.
For further information, please contact:
Katrina Rouan, Chair
Sam Fishman Travel Grant Selection Committee
Walter P. Reuther Library
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan 48202
katrina.rouan@wayne.edu
Ronald Raven Annual Award
The Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs Ronald Raven Award provides opportunity for students to gain practical archival experience with the oversight of a professional archivist. The award consists of $2,500 to go toward tuition, fees, or other educational expenses and an internship of 135 hours at the Walter P. Reuther Library.
This award is sponsored by Wayne State University alumnus Ronald Raven, a former graduate student intern in the Labor History Archives in the early 1970s. Raven earned a certificate in Archives Administration from the Wayne State University Department of History.
Students must be full or part-time graduate students enrolled in the Department of History, or with a background in history demonstrated by prior work or study, and who are enrolled in the School of Information Sciences' Graduate Certificate in Archival Administration.
The 2025 application round is now open!
To apply, please fill out an application form - note that a resume and cover letter are required. Your cover letter should include any relevant coursework or experience and should address how you would benefit from receiving the Raven Award.
The Albert Shanker Fellowship for Research in Education
The American Federation of Teachers in conjunction with the Walter P. Reuther Library of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University seek applicants for The Albert Shanker Fellowship for Research in Education. This research grant provides assistance for advanced graduate students and faculty utilizing the American Federation of Teachers archives as well as collections related to educational history housed at the Walter P. Reuther Library. Two grants in the amount of $600 each will be awarded in support of research.
Application Procedure: Applications must be received no later than December 20, 2024. Fellowship awards will be announced no later than January 17, 2025. Award funds must be used between March 2025 and September 2025. Send your application to Daniel Golodner, AFT Archivist
| Attachment | (click to download) | |
|---|---|---|
 | 2025 Shanker Fellowship app.doc | 29.5 KB |
 | 2025 Shanker Fellowship app.pdf | 83 KB |
| 2025_Fishman_Travel_Grant_Award_Application.pdf | 242.78 KB |