The McElrath-Eskew Research Fund was created to provide modest grants to support the work of researchers of congregational song. These grants are open to both beginning and experienced researchers. The fund is named in honor of Harry Eskew and Hugh T. McElrath, two Fellows of the Hymn Society noted for their contributions in the area of hymnological research.
The Fund awards research grants of up to $500. Grants can be used to help fund travel to a distant library, provide money for a research assistant, or any number of other research-related activities.
To apply, please provide the following:
- a statement of the overall goal of the research,
- a specific plan for conducting the research,
- an explanation of the funds needed and how this grant would be spent to support the stated goal,
- a statement of any prior Hymn Society grants or scholarships received by the applicant,
- a copy of the applicant’s current CV,
- an example of previous writing or research in the field of hymnology, and
- at least one letter of reference to support the request. (A faculty member might solicit a letter from his or her dean, a student from his or her faculty advisor, a member of a religious order from his or her superior, etc. A letter from another member of The Hymn Society would also be helpful, but is not required.)
Applications for 2025 must be submitted by September 30.
Send all resources to
- Email: office@thehymnsociety.org
OR
- Mail: The Hymn Society in the US and Canada, 5 Thomas Circle, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20005-4153
New gifts will help to increase both the number and size of grants that we can award in the future. If you would like to contribute to the McElrath-Eskew Research Fund, please contact The Hymn Society office.
Information on this page is taken with permission from this column: Rehwaldt, Peter. “Research Director’s Report: Priming the Research Pump.” THE HYMN 59.2 (2008): 7