Special Collections Summer Project 

In collaboration with the Office of Undergraduate Research, the LSU Special Collections Library offers undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct a summer research or creative project using the resources and materials held within LSU's Special Collections at Hill Memorial Library.

Special Collections is home to resources such as the Louisiana & Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, Rare Book Collections, University Archives, T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History, Louisiana Newspapers archives, and more.  Special Collections Summer Project students are mentored by an archivist or librarian.

Students accepted to the program can earn up to $3,000 in wages for hours worked on the project.

In 2026, LSU will commemorate the 100th anniversary of its campus. To mark this milestone in our university's history, the Special Collections library has proposed two centennial-related projects for students during the summer of 2025.  Students will use the university archives and other resources within Special Collections, offering students a unique opportunity to engage with LSU's rich history. See below for project details.

 

Summer 2025 Recipients: 

Name Major Research Project
Ella Blandino Studio Art LSU Centennial Display
Emily Bracher Mass Communication LSU Centennial Display
Nsreen Saleh Psychology LSU Centennial Oral History

 

Applicant information

Eligibility for funding

  • Must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student in the following fall 
  • Must have a minimum 2.5 college GPA
  • Must be in good standing with the university

Restrictions

  • Students cannot earn wages from both the Special Collections Program and another funding source for the same hours worked on a project

Summer 2025 application deadline: Extended to March 9th!

Summer 2025 decisions announced: March 24, 2025

Mandatory Orientation: May 23

Program Duration: May 26 - August 15

Students interested in working on either of the two summer 2025 projects, should complete the application form at the link below.

Click here to access the Project Application Form

See available projects in the Special Collections Projects section on our mentor database (click here for link to database).

If you are having issues with any of these online forms, please submit all of your application documents and information to lsuour@lsu.edu 

All students who are accepted must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Attend the mandatory orientation.
  • Present summer project at end of summer event and at LSU Discover Day in the following spring.
  • Attend the following mandatory trainings & workshops:
    • Working with archival materials
    • Research Ethics
    • Professional Relationships
    • CV Writing
    • Citation Management
    • Presentation training
Image

Summer 2023 researchers Nathaniel Dela Pena and Madison Saucier (center) with their mentors, Zach Tompkins (far left) and Alia Kempton (far right)

Image

Summer 2024 researcher Bryce Edwards presenting at the 29th annual Summer Undergraduate Research Forum

 

Past Recipients:

Name Major Mentor Research
Charlotte Balart English Kelly Larson Archives Teaching Tool: The Nancy Pinson Papers
Bryce Edwards History Jennifer Cramer 20 Years in the Middle East: The Veteran's Experience Through Oral History

Name Major Mentor Research
Nathaniel Dela Pena History Zach Tompkins LSU History walking tour app
Madison Saucier History Alia Kempton Confronting the History of LSU's Land: Arlington Plantation

 

Leadership Team

Gina Costello, Associate Dean, Technology Initiatives & Special Collections

Kelly Larson, Special Collections Head of Research & Public Services

Brandon Layton, Special Collections Digital Engagement and Pedagogy Librarian

John Miles, Special Collections Curator of Books & Head of Instruction

Zach Tompkins, Special Collections University Archivist

Sarah Ferstel, Director, LSU Office of Undergraduate Research