• The Fellowship
• Research Fields
• Selection Committee
• Qualifications
• Application for the Fellowship
• Deadline for Applications
• Obligations of the Fellow
• Inquiries

The Bertha Klausner Research Fellowship is funded through the generosity of Ms. Klausner’s family and friends and is intended to provide research support for a recognized scholar. The Fellowship also is intended to facilitate the use of the Bertha Klausner Papers and other archival collections held by the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming. The Fellow shall be appointed for a period of one calendar year. During this time the Fellow will carry the title of the Bertha Klausner Research Fellow and represent the University of Wyoming as such. Administration of the Fellowship will be the responsibility of the Director, American Heritage Center.

Bertha Klausner developed one of the first national newspaper syndicates during the early 1930s. The Independent Publishers Syndicate was the model for current features such as Parade and This Week. In 1938, she left her syndicate to become an agent for cartoonists and artists. By 1945, she decided to concentrate on representing writers and founded the Bertha Klausner International Literary Agency, Inc. She developed a wide reputation based upon her creativity, integrity, and dedication to promising writers. Her clientele included actors Basil Rathbone, Joe E. Brown, Lionel Barrymore, and Theda Bara, and authors Upton Sinclair, Anthony Burgess, Robert Payne, and Nikos Kazantazakis. Plays or films included Zorba the Greek, Yentl, and a musical version of Shop on Main Street.

Research Fields

The Fellowship will facilitate the use of the papers of Bertha Klausner and other related collections at the American Heritage Center. The Fellowship provides support for research by a scholar in the fields of Women’s Studies, Communications, Film, Literature, the History of Business, Journalism, Drama, or related areas. Because each of these research topics encompasses diverse theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of gender, fellows may represent a wide-range of academic topics. Examples of such topics are: The Impact of the Literary Agent on the Content and Subjects of Writers; The Agent and the Introduction of Foreign Authors to the American Literary Market; The Literary Agent as Mentor to Young Writers; The Agent for Literature in Support of Non-Literary Careers; and The Agent and the Careers of Editors in Publishing Houses.

Other possible topics might include; the impact of Bertha Klausner in opening the way for women in the powerful literary agencies of New York and Hollywood; Autobiographies of celebrities of stage and screen in support of their acting career; The literary agent as gatekeeper in the field of popular fiction; Problems, policies, and innovation in the negotiation of book contracts; or examinations of the careers of Klausner’s clients, such as playwright Philip Freund, Alex J. Goldman, author of religious biographies, Joachim Joesten, who wrote reports about wartime Germany, historical novelist Cornel Lengyel, or Marcel Marceau and his tales of Mime repertory. Whatever the topic, the role or contribution of Bertha Klausner to this topic should be featured along with that of other literary agents.

An inventory of Bertha Klausner Papers go to http://rmoa.unm.edu/docviewer.php?docId=wyu-ah09562.xml. To view inventories of other AHC collections go to http://rmoa.unm.edu/results.php?inst=WyU-AH. Also see the AHC's Catalog or contact the AHCs reference area at ahcref@uwyo.edu.

Selection Committee

The Fellow will be selected by a committee of faculty from the American Heritage Center and members from the American Heritage Center’s Board of Faculty Advisors. The Fellow will be selected at the beginning of each year and will receive prompt notification of his/her selection. Research supported by the Fellowship should be conducted by the Fellow within one year of notification.

Qualifications

The Fellow will be a recognized scholar in one of the fields of research outlined. The Fellow should have a record of publication in the field or show significant potential for publication. Young scholars, minorities, and multi-disciplinary researchers are encouraged to apply. Selection of the Fellow will be made by the Selection Committee, as previously described, and will be on the basis of scholarly merit with no consideration of race, sex, ethnic background, or financial need. The Committee shall, however, consider the applicant’s ability to complete the research project and bring it to publication in a timely fashion.

Application for the Bertha Klausner Fellowship

Applicants for the Fellowship should submit to the committee, prior to the application deadline, the following materials:

• A research proposal of 2-3 pages outlining the specific research project proposed, how the papers of Bertha Klausner will be used, what other archival collections at the American Heritage Center are important to this research, and proposed publications which the research will support. Significant use of the Bertha Klausner Papers will be an important factor in the selection of the Fellow.

• A statement of the proposed timeline for the research project from initiation to completion.

• A resume including a list of publications authored by the applicant and copies of two of the author’s most recent publications which pertain to the proposed research, if applicable.

Deadline for Applications

All applications must be received by the selection committee on or before February 22, 2008, to be considered for the 2008 Fellowship.

Obligations of the Fellow

The Fellow will receive a stipend of $2,500, which will be used to defray research costs at the American Heritage Center, travel and other expenses associated with the research and fall lecture, or publications costs from this research. The Fellow will be responsible for scheduling and conducting the research within one year of receipt of the award and for making timely progress toward publication of the results of the research. The Fellow will also be expected to provide a general interest lecture based on their research at the American Heritage Center during the fall semester. The lecture may be aimed at audience groups including students, faculty, and the public.

The Fellowship stipend will be paid in two disbursements: $500 upon the applicant’s acceptance of the Fellowship, and $2,000 upon completion of the first research session at the American Heritage Center.

Inquiries Should Be Addressed To:

Associate Director
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue
Laramie, Wyoming 82071
Phone: 307-766-4114
Fax: 307-766-5511
ahc@uwyo.edu