Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students
Midwest Archive Conference
The Midwest Archive Conference (MAC) established the Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship program in honor of the late Archie Motley in 2004. Every year since then, MAC has selected two winners for the $750 scholarship to support their graduate study of archival administration degrees. The aim of the program is to promote diversity in MAC, and the archival profession at large.
The applicants, as well as the graduate archival program for which they’re applying, must meet certain requirements. The students should be of African, Asian (or Pacific Islander), American Indian, or Latinx descent, and have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale. They should be enrolled in a graduate program already, or have proof of acceptance for the upcoming academic year. The graduate program should have at least three courses listed in the SAA Directory of Archival Education.
MAC will select individuals who, through their applications, demonstrate academic excellence, involvement in their communities, financial need, and commitment to the archival profession.
Scholarship Summary
The Midwest Archive Conference (MAC) established the Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship program in honor of the late Archie Motley in 2004. Every year since then, MAC has selected two winners for the $750 scholarship to support their graduate study of archival administration degrees. The aim of the program is to promote diversity in MAC, and the archival profession at large.
The applicants, as well as the graduate archival program for which they’re applying, must meet certain requirements. The students should be of African, Asian (or Pacific Islander), American Indian, or Latinx descent, and have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale. They should be enrolled in a graduate program already, or have proof of acceptance for the upcoming academic year. The graduate program should have at least three courses listed in the SAA Directory of Archival Education.
MAC will select individuals who, through their applications, demonstrate academic excellence, involvement in their communities, financial need, and commitment to the archival profession.
Eligibility Requirements
- Eligible Grade: Graduate – Postgraduate
- Maximum Age: Any
- Required GPA: 3.0
- Geographic Eligibility: United States
- Gender: Any
- Race/Ethnicity: Alaskan Native, Asian American, Black, Hispanic, Pacific Islander
Key Information of Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students
Study Details
Area of Study
Archival Administration
Country of Study
United States
Specific Schools
Any
Application Requirements
Here’s what you need to submit besides your application.
- Grade transcript
- Recommendation letters
- Essay
Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students Timeline
March 1, 2023
Application closing
Candidates should send their application documents to the Chair of the program at the start of March.
June 1, 2023
Winners are announced
The scholarship winners will be announced on or before June 1.
How to ace the Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students
Get involved in your local community
The application form asks that you list your campus and community activities, so if you don’t have any and still have time to do so, get involved now. This could look like joining a society on your campus or volunteering in your community.
Get a relevant full or part-time job
This is also a part of the application form. If a full-time job is too much for you to juggle alongside your studies, you could get a part-time job.
Improve your essay writing skills
Hone your writing skills, so you can present a stellar essay for your application. Define clearly why you’re interested in this career path and what you hope to do with it. Be convincing!
Start preparing your application early
You should especially inform the people writing your recommendation letters on time and regularly remind them, so it’s ready by the due date. Preparing your application early also gives you ample time to review it thoroughly.
How the Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students is Judged
The MAC committee will assess a completed application form, recent official transcripts, two recommendation letters, and an essay. The essay should address the applicant’s interests and hopes for their future career in archival administration in no more than 500 words. Candidates are expected to be involved in their communities or campus activities and to possess significant academic achievements.
Why We Love the Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students
Winners get complimentary MAC membership
The scholarship comes with a one-year membership, free of charge. This automatically opens the door to a lot of opportunities for the winners.
Winners get a lot of visibility
The scholarship recipients are required to write essays about how the scholarship has assisted their academic activities and been crucial to their education. The essays will be published in the MAC newsletter, and possibly help the recipients get noticed by the right people.
You get to have multiple references
The application requires two recommendation letters. This gives a better chance of your application covering all your good qualities, and achievements.
5 Facts About Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship
It is not only open to U.S. Citizens
The scholarship will be applied to a U.S. college, but the candidates don’t have to be American citizens to apply.
A scholarship for minority students
The program is unique in that it not only prioritizes students of color but is also exclusively for them.
MAC is a prestigious association of archivists
MAC, with over 800 individual members and several notable institutional members, is one of America’s largest professional associations of archivists.
Archie Motley was a pioneer in the industry
Archie Motley left an unforgettable legacy, with his efforts to pave the way for the preservation of African American history and work as a founding member and longtime president of MAC before his death.
There’s also an internship in honor of Motley
The Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) named an internship for people of color after him with the same aim: to honor his memory, and promote diversity in the archival profession.