ARNOVA/Rockefeller Archive Center Workshops
on the History and Practice of Philanthropy
“Philanthropy and the Environment”
May 16-19, 2011
An Invitation for Proposals
The Rockefeller Archive Center (RAC) and the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action
(ARNOVA) invite proposals for the second in a series of special research workshops. On May 16-19, 2011, we will again
bring a select group of scholars to the Archive Center in Sleepy Hollow, New York. They will have an opportunity to
explore the Center's extensive philanthropic collections, to discuss research projects with scholars from a diverse array
of disciplines, and to engage in conversation with leaders of foundations and nonprofit organizations.
Each year we aim to assemble scholars from a variety of disciplines and at various stages of their careers, from graduate
students to junior and senior scholars. We have found that exploratory time in the archives can be fruitful for those
seeking dissertation topics, embarking on new book projects, as well as those seeking to enhance ongoing projects. The
workshops are led by one or two senior scholars who have made significant contributions to the particular issue area
and who are knowledgeable about the Archive Center's collections. Members of the archival staff also work with
participants prior to and throughout the workshop to help identify relevant materials in the collections.
Transportation to and from the Archive Center will be reimbursed. All meals and lodging will be covered during the
course of the workshop. Participants will have time on their own in the archives as well as time together at daily lunches
and several evening events, often featuring guest speakers. In the past, some participants have presented work in
progress, although this is not a requirement.
The Opportunities for 2011
"Philanthropy and the Environment”
Many aspects of environmental history are documented in the rich collections in the Rockefeller Archive Center. This
year's theme, "Philanthropy and the Environment,” should be of interest to scholars working on a wide range of
environmental topics, including the development of national parks in the U.S. and abroad; the emergence of the field
of environmental studies; philanthropic support for environmental policy organizations; the environmental impact of
agriculture; leisure and outdoor recreation and the environment; environmental conditions in various locales, especially
the Hudson River region and New York State, among many other topics.
The Rockefeller Archive Center's substantial holdings include the records of individuals and organizations that have
played important roles in shaping our interactions with the natural environment. Indeed, environmental issues and
concerns have long been associated with the Rockefeller family and many of their affiliated philanthropies. John D.
Rockefeller, Sr., devoted considerable energy and resources to shaping the natural environment of his vast estates.
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ARNOVA/Rockefeller Archive Center Workshops
Invitation for Proposals
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John D. Rockefeller Jr., expanded the scope of the family’s environmental commitments, creating the Palisades
Park Commission and national parks, including Acadia and Grand Teton. His sons were also strong environmental
advocates.
The Rockefeller Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund provided key support for the establishment of
environmental studies as an academic discipline in major universities. Both organizations also funded local, national and
international advocacy groups. Additional grants by these two organizations financed studies on health and pollution,
conservation in the Third World (national parks in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania), and the environmental impact of urban
development. The Rockefeller Foundation helped initiate the Green Revolution, and both organizations have been
deeply engaged with sustainable agriculture domestically and globally.
Portions of the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial papers as well as some non-Rockefeller collections, for example the
Commonwealth Fund and the Russell Sage Foundation, provide additional insight into the dynamics between the
nonprofit sector and the environment.
This vast body of environmental material remains, for the most part, underutilized by scholars of all disciplines.
The workshop will afford participants an opportunity to explore as yet unexploited primary materials such as recently
processed portions of the Laurance S. Rockefeller papers.
Application and Selection Process
The core of the application is the description of the research project, a description that should not exceed
1000 words. We strongly encourage applicants to consult the Archive Center website and its online guide to
collections in order to make preliminary identification of relevant materials. The application should address the
significance of the topic, how exploratory time in the archives will be helpful, and how participation in the
workshop will be of value.
While some applicants might be familiar with the Rockefeller Archive Center and have research already underway,
those who do not should, before applying, confer by email with the archival staff about potential materials to be
used and whether those materials are processed and available for research. The initial query to the archival staff
should be sent to ResearchEd@rockarch.org.
The deadline for submitting applications will be March 15, 2011. The applications will be reviewed by the workshop
leaders and members of the RAC staff, with decisions expected by early April.
Researchers and scholars from all fields and backgrounds are welcome to apply. While all the participants will be
working on some aspect of the broadly defined topic of philanthropy and the environment, we envision a workshop that
will be enriched by the diverse disciplinary perspectives, insights and experiences of the participants.
Application and instructions: http://rockarch.org/workshops/arnova-rac2011/2011app.doc
For more detailed information about environmental material in the collections, see The History of Conservation and
Ecology in the Rockefeller Archive Center’s Collections by Darwin H. Stapleton, Executive Director Emeritus, Rockefeller
Archive Center at: http://rockarch.org/workshops/arnova-rac2011/stapleton_RACconservation.pdf
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