Research Grants & By-Fellowships

We have openings for 3 Archives By-Fellowships each year for researchers engaged in academic projects at a post-doctoral level or above.

We also have small grants to fund work undertaken on the papers of Sir Winston Churchill and other related collections available to undergraduates, postgraduates, academics and independent researchers

Archives By-Fellowships – Apply by 31st December.

Research Grants

A person with curly hair is deeply engrossed in a large open book on a table in the library, perhaps exploring grants and by-fellowships. Other patrons peruse shelves in the background, while a bronze sculpture of a hand subtly adorns the table.

By-Fellowships

Archives By-Fellowships are open to researchers engaged in academic projects at a post-doctoral level or above.

Archives by-Fellowships enable those from outside Cambridge to come and live in the College community and access the Centre’s collections for a temporary period. Applications are made to the Archives Committee, which then makes recommendations to the Fellowship Electors of Churchill College. Applications will be judged on the quality and promise of the research project.

The By-Fellows are awarded on the recommendation of the College Archives Committee.

  • The election of an Archives By-Fellow will be for the minimum of one full term (eight weeks). Occasionally, a longer period may be considered.
  • The Archives By-Fellow’s research must demand extensive use of papers in the Churchill Archives Centre.
  • They may be invited to give at least one talk within College, and to contribute to Archives Centre events.
  • The By-Fellow may be offered accommodation in rooms in College or in a flat in the College grounds on payment of such charges as the College may decide. They will be expected to reside in Cambridge for a substantial part of the tenure of the By-Fellowship, and to take part in the social activities of the College.
  • The Archives By-Fellow will be entitled to make use of all college facilities available to Fellows, and will have membership of the Senior Combination Room during their time in the College.
  • The College cannot offer a stipend or free accommodation, but the College is often able to support specific By-Fellowships with funding from the John Antcliffe, Correlli and Ruth Barnett and Churchill Fellowship funds (see below).

How to apply

In order to apply, applicants need to:

  1. Submit a summary of their research project.
  2. Submit a full CV and publication list.
  3. Nominate two referees and arrange for the referees to send references directly to Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre.

The deadline for applications is 31st December each year.

For further information about any of the By-Fellowships, or to discuss an application, please contact Allen Packwood, the Director of the Archives Centre at [email protected].

Previous By-Fellows include:

Testimonials

Professor Chandrika Kaul, University of St Andrews: “The By Fellowship is a unique opportunity to undertake sustained research at the Churchill Archives Centre. The cost and logistics of travel make it very challenging for researchers like me based far away – in my case in Scotland – to access these archives. I was living in College for the duration of the Fellowship which was a real boon. The staff were always ready to help and expedited my search for ‘lost’ treasures with aplomb and good cheer.”

Dr Jonathan Colman, University of Central Lancashire: “The By-Fellowship was of tremendous benefit to my research – which is for a biography of the diplomat Sir Frank Kenyon Roberts – as it allowed me to explore the rich archival and library resources available in a depth that otherwise would not have been possible. The collegiality, encouragement and helpfulness of the staff and fellows at Churchill made my time there memorable and special in every respect.”

Dr Kathy Davies, Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow in Environment and Sustainability, The British Library: “One of the most valuable gifts of the Archives By-Fellowship was having time and space to think. The opportunity to live in college gave me the time to explore new material. The most fruitful new explorations were in the papers of Baron Noel-Baker. I completed three publications and have started a new journal article on advertising energy change. These successes have propelled my longer-term research ambitions.”

Archives By-Fellowships Advert

John Antcliffe Archives By-Fellowship

With the very generous assistance of the John Antcliffe Fund, applications are invited for a sponsored Archives By-Fellowship.

The project supported should be concerned with the political, economic or social history of the Thatcher era, approximately the period 1975-1997. The Archives By-Fellow’s research must make extensive use of papers in the Churchill Archives Centre, including the Thatcher papers and related collections. The grant is currently £4,500.

John Antcliffe (1961-2010) won a history exhibition to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Conservative politics were a passion of his from a very young age. He served as Chairman of the University Conservative Association in 1981 and stood at the Greenwich by-election in 1987. He pursued a successful City career at NM Rothschild, and was centrally involved in the privatisations of the 1980s. He remained active in political life. In particular, he had the utmost respect for Margaret Thatcher: she marked her high regard for John by attending his memorial service. He also took a close interest in political history. Shortly before his death, he republished the Times Guide to the House of Commons of 1910, with an introduction in which he told the story of the 1910 election.

Three people in formal attire are engaged in a conversation about grants. An older woman with short hair and glasses faces two younger men wearing tuxedos. They stand in a warmly lit room with cream-colored walls, where discussions about prestigious by-fellowships often take place.
John Antcliffe speaking with Margaret Thatcher and William Hague

Churchill Fellowship Annual Grant

Churchill College and Archives Centre are delighted to announce that there is now an annual grant available from the Churchill Fellowship to help fund a UK citizen for one term as an Archives By-Fellow. Applicants should indicate if they wish to be considered for this grant. The Churchill College Archives Committee will make recommendations to the Churchill Fellowship regarding the award of this grant. The grant is currently £4,500.

The Correlli and Ruth Barnett Fund at Churchill College

This fund is created in the memory of the renowned historian and former Keeper of the Churchill Archives Centre, Correlli Barnett CBE (1927-2022), and his loyal wife Ruth.

It exists to fund Archives By-Fellowships and studentships for those researching in the Churchill Archives Centre. Funding is normally for one term and will be allocated at the discretion of the Churchill Archives Committee, who expect to make at least one grant per year. Priority will be given to those researchers who would not otherwise be able to afford to take up an offered By-Fellowship or studentship. The initial level of the grant for funding one full term will be £4,500.

Those applying to the College for Archive By-Fellowships will automatically be considered for the Correlli and Ruth Barnett fund. Applications for By-Fellowships in any given academic year, must normally be submitted by 31 December of the previous year (e.g. applications for the academic year 2026-27 are due by 31 December 2025).

Correlli Barnett, known as ‘Bill’, was the Keeper of the Churchill Archives Centre from 1977 until 1995. His leadership and energy transformed the institution, securing the Churchill papers in perpetuity, acquiring the Thatcher collection, and laying the firm foundations for future growth. Bill was an innovator who knew that the success of the Centre depended on its ability to attract the widest range of high-quality researchers and he was the originator of the College’s Archives By-Fellowship scheme.

Correlli Barnett at the Archives Centre

Correlli and Ruth Barnett

Research Grants

Funding is also available for other work undertaken on the papers of Sir Winston Churchill and other related collections, from the Jennie Churchill Fund and the Colin Bell Award.

These funds are available to undergraduates, postgraduates, academics and independent researchers working within and beyond Cambridge, including outside of the UK.

The Jennie Churchill Fund

Created through the generosity of Mr Laurence Geller CBE and the International Churchill Society, and with the patronage of Jennie Churchill (great-granddaughter of Sir Winston), this fund exists to support any archival, educational or research work undertaken on the papers of Sir Winston Churchill and other related collections.

This fund is available to undergraduates, postgraduates, academics and independent researchers working within and beyond Cambridge, including outside of the UK.

  • Are you a researcher from outside of Cambridge wanting to use the Churchill Archives Centre at Churchill College, but in need of financial support to meet travel and accommodation costs? If so, outline the nature of your project and how it relates to modern British history, politics and/or international relations. You can only apply once, and you can only request the assistance of up to £500.
  • Are you a researcher from outside of Cambridge needing support to purchase an individual subscription to the Churchill Archive Online, the digital edition of the Churchill Papers collection? If so, please outline the nature of your project and how it will be enhanced by access to this online resource. You can only apply once, and preference will be given to researchers who are unable to travel to Cambridge, where the collection can be viewed for free at the Churchill Archives Centre.
  • Are you a Churchill College student requiring support to travel or attend an event related to modern history, politics or international relations, or a student from outside of Cambridge wanting to attend such an event within Churchill College?  If so, you can apply for a grant of up to £250. Please outline the nature of the event and why it is important for you to attend.
  • Are you a school with a Churchill related project derived from Churchill Archive for Schools? If so, please explain how the proposal will enhance your teaching. You can only apply once, and you can only request the assistance of up to £500.
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Jennie Churchill

Speaking on the new fund, Jennie commented:

“I am deeply honoured to have my name associated with this new fund and look forward to hearing about the many exciting projects that it will make possible.

I know it will mean that we can do more in terms of actively encouraging and supporting projects based on the Churchill collection, and I am thrilled that the College is today announcing several new initiatives to kick start this process.”

How to apply

In order to apply, applicants need to submit the following information:

  1. a brief introduction of the individual or institution
  2. a brief summary of the project
  3. their contact details

The Director reserves the right to ask for further information.

The deadlines for applications are:

  • 31st May, with grants announced on 1st July
  • 31st October, with grants announced on 1st January

Applications should be sent to Allen Packwood, Director of the Archives Centre, at [email protected] or by mail to:

The Jennie Churchill Fund
The Director, the Churchill Archives Centre
Churchill College
Storey’s Way
Cambridge
CB3 0DS
UK

Grants are made at the discretion of the Director of the Archives Centre and the Chair of the College Archives Committee and up to £5,000 will be awarded in any given year.

Research supported by the Jenni Churchill Fund has included studies of: Winston Churchill’s relationship with America, Russia, and South Africa; the Downing Street Press Office; Clementine Churchill’s relationships with First Wives; elections, experts and polling; theatre, dance and political life; international air law; and the intelligence sector.

Previous recipients include:

The Colin Bell Award

The Colin Bell Award is an annual Award of £500 to support any archival, educational or research work undertaken on the papers of Sir Winston Churchill and other related collections.

The Fund honours Colin Bell DFC (born 5 March 1921), who served in Bomber Command in East Anglia (RAF Downham Market and RAF Wyton) as a ‘Pathfinder’ pilot of a Mosquito Aircraft during the Second World War. He regularly visited the historic Eagle hostelry in Bene’t Street in Cambridge, where his 608 Squadron features on the ceiling of the RAF Bar.

This fund is available to undergraduates, postgraduates, academics and independent researchers working within and beyond Cambridge, including outside of the UK.

How to apply

In order to apply, applicants need to submit the following information:

  1. A summary of their proposed research.
  2. Current academic CV.
  3. Details of when and how the researcher will use the Archive and for how long.
  4. Plans for research outcomes: This might take the form of publication, exhibition, and online resource or other means of disseminating the results of the research enquiry.

The deadline for applications is 31st December each year. The successful applicant would be expected to undertake the research within the following calendar year.

Outcomes

Award recipients will be encouraged to give a presentation at the Archives Centre based on their research, and are asked to submit a copy of any published work arising directly from the research to the Archives Centre.

Recipients will be given the opportunity to meet Mr Colin Bell and will receive a signed certificate confirming the award.

An elderly man in a tuxedo and bow tie stands beside a woman with long brown hair in an elegant black dress. Both are holding champagne glasses, smiling, and celebrating the announcement of prestigious grants in a warmly lit room with wooden walls and framed artwork.

Colin Bell with Development Director, Fran Malarée, at Churchill College

Applications should be sent to Allen Packwood, Director of the Archives Centre, at [email protected] or by mail to:

The Director, the Churchill Archives Centre
Churchill College
Storey’s Way
Cambridge
CB3 0DS
UK

Applications will be considered by a sub group of the College Archives Committee and the decision of this group will be final.

Previous recipients include:

  • Brittany Gittus, DPhil candidate in History at the University of Oxford, for her research project on multilateralism beyond the League of Nations in the 1930s.
  • Simon Harley, for his research on the British Royal Navy’s design, development and use of the battle cruiser in the years leading up to, and including, the First World War