Special Collections Summer Project

All Majors Welcome!

The LSU Libraries Special Collections Summer Project Program provides LSU undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct a research or creative project using the resources and materials held within LSU's Special Collections at Hill Memorial Library

This library is home to resources such as the Louisiana & Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, Rare Book Collections, University Archives, T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History, Louisiana Newspapers archives, and more.  A Special Collections Summer Project can be mentored by either an LSU faculty member or an LSU Special Collections archivist.

Students accepted to the program will receive up to $3,000 which can be used for wages and other project necessities. 

Submit your own project idea or apply to participate in an existing mentored project.

 

For summer 2024, students could submit their own project idea or apply to participate in one of the projects listed below: 

1. Archives Teaching Tool

2. LSU Oral History Project

3. Researcher as Activist

 

Name Major Mentor Research
Charlotte Balart English Kelly Larson Archives Teaching Tool
Bryce Edwards History Jennifer Cramer LSU Oral History Project

 

Applicant information

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Summer 2023 researchers Nathaniel Dela Pena and Madison Saucier with their mentors, Zach Tompkins and Alia Kempton

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Summer 2024 researcher Bryce Edwards presenting at the 29th annual Summer Undergraduate Research Forum

 

Past Recipients:

Name Major Mentor Research
Nathaniel Dela Pena History Zach Tompkins LSU History walking tour app
Madison Saucier History Alia Kempton Documenting Enslaved People in Special Collections

 

Leadership Team

Gina Costello, Associate Dean, Technology Initiatives & Special Collections

Kelly Larson, Special Collections Head of Research & Public Services

Alia Kempton, Special Collections Outreach & Instruction Librarian

John Miles, Special Collections Curator of Books & Head of Instruction

Zach Tompkins, Special Collections University Archivist

Sarah Ferstel, Director, LSU Discover Undergraduate Research Program