Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students
Scholarship Sponsored by Midwest Archives Conference
Purpose
This scholarship aims to support minority students enrolled in graduate-level archival administration programs and to promote greater ethnic diversity within the Midwest Archives Conference (MAC) and the archival profession. Applicants will be assessed on academic promise, dedication to archival work and expanding access to archival materials, and a demonstrated commitment to serving and representing underrepresented communities.
Award
- Two scholarships granted each year
- Each recipient receives $1,500 and a complimentary one-year MAC membership
Who is eligible
Applicant requirements
- Self-identify as of African, Arabic, Asian, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, or Latinx descent
- Currently enrolled in or accepted to a graduate, multi-course archival administration program
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Program requirements
- If the graduate program is not listed in the SAA Directory of Archival Education (http://www2.archivists.org/dae), applicants must demonstrate that the program meets the multi-course standard by submitting copies of relevant course descriptions from the program’s current departmental catalog.
Application — deadline March 1, 2026
Applications must include the following items:
- Completed Application Form (PDF)
- Current résumé including education, employment history, campus or community involvement, professional memberships, and honors/awards
- Transcript from the most recent academic program (unofficial transcript acceptable)
- Essay (maximum 500 words) explaining how the applicant’s background and perspectives inform their interest in archives and outlining future goals and intended contributions to the archival field
- One letter of recommendation (may be submitted directly by the recommender)
Selection criteria
Candidates will be evaluated based on scholastic potential, commitment to archival work and improving access to archival materials, and dedication to representing and serving underrepresented communities within the profession.