The Mary Isabel Sibley Fellowship
About the Fellowship
| 2025 | French Studies |
| 2026 | Greek Studies |
Established in 1934 by Isabelle Stone (ΦΒΚ, Wellesley College) in honor of her mother, Mary Isabel Sibley, this fellowship was designed to reward women pursuing graduate work in one of two fields of study, French or Greek, with the experience of researching and living abroad. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1905, Dr. Stone received her Ph.D. in 1908 from Cornell University and was then awarded the Alice Freeman Palmer Fellowship and spent the next year in Europe, principally in Greece, where she continued her study of Greek history and language.
Through the Mary Isabel Sibley Fellowship, Dr. Stone intended to pass on the opportunity for pleasure, wisdom and scholarship that she found during her time in Greece to future generations.
Fellowship Details
The Mary Isabel Sibley Fellowship is awarded annually, alternating in the fields of Greek and French. The award may be used for the study of Greek culture (e.g. language, literature, history, archaeology), or the study of French language or literature. It carries a stipend of $20,000 and is not restricted to members of Phi Beta Kappa or to U.S. citizens. The stipend is typically paid in two installments, the first on July 1 of the award year, and the second on January 1 of the following year.
Eligibility Requirements
The fellowship is intended, according to the donor’s wishes, for women in the early stages of their research careers who:
- Demonstrate ability to carry on original research;
- Hold a doctorate/have fulfilled all requirements for doctorate except the dissertation (ABD); and
- Plan to devote full-time work to research during the fellowship year. Under appropriate circumstances, if approved by Phi Beta Kappa, candidates may hold other positions concurrently with the Sibley Fellowship.
Application Process
Before applying, interested candidates should thoroughly read these eligibility requirements.Applications for 2025 (French Studies) are accepting applications until January 31, 2025.
Applications must include:
- A work proposal in both English and French
- Transcripts from all institutions (Transcripts do not need to come directly from the institution.)
- Three letters of recommendation
Ella Kirsh, PhD candidate at Brown University, has won the 2024 Sibley Fellowship, which recognizes exceptional young scholars in the field of French or Greek language, literature, and culture. Kirsh will use the Fellowship for her project The Memory-writers: a social and intellectual history of shorthand in Late Antiquity.
Please email awards@pbk.org with any inquiries or call (202) 265-3808.