Danna Bell Scholarship

This scholarship was established to honor the memory of our dear friend and colleague, Danna Bell. 

The Danna Bell Graduate Student Scholarship offers support to a person of color. The scholarship is named for Danna Bell (1960-2024), who was a leader, mentor, and role model to archivists. Danna joined MARAC in 1985, served as MARAC Chair (2009-2011), and was a member and chaired or co-chaired many committees, including the Education Committee, Custer Award Committee, Awards Committee, and served as Parliamentarian from 2017 to 2019. She received MARAC’s Distinguished Service Award in 2017. Danna was very active in the Society of American Archivists, served on Council (2001-2004), as President (2013-2014), and in 2008 she was named Fellow. Through her numerous conference presentations and workshop instruction for MARAC and the Society of American Archivists, she provided continuing education for archivists regionally and nationally. She was generous with her time and gave support, guidance, and encouragement to archivists and especially those entering the profession.

Purpose:
To provide financial assistance to BIPOC students pursuing graduate education in the archival field and to encourage ethnic diversification of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference and of the archival profession as a whole. Candidates will be evaluated on their scholastic potential, commitment to working in and creating access to archives and archival material, and commitment to representing and serving underrepresented communities in their work.

Award:
One-time $1,000 award plus $30 student MARAC membership. The award is paid directly to the educational institution and is funded by donations to the Graduate Student Scholarship Fund that are designated for the Bell Scholarship. Additionally, the Steering Committee can vote to bolster the Fund from the previous year’s conference surplus.

The Danna Bell Scholarship call for applications goes out in the fall and is to be used for the spring semester. Students are notified by December. The scholarship recipient is required to submit a brief article to be included in the next issue of the Mid-Atlantic Archivist newsletter following the award.

Eligibility:
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, an applicant must be:

  • a self-identified member of a BIPOC community
  • a resident or full-time student residing in one of the following states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, and in the District of Columbia
  • currently enrolled or accepted into a graduate program in archival studies or archives-related programs such as history or information studies

Priority will be given to individuals who have not previously received a MARAC scholarship. In the absence of candidates who meet the eligibility requirements in a given year, the scholarship will not be distributed that year.

Application:
Applications are to be sent to Scholarship Committee Chair, Megan Craynon, at [email protected] by October 31, 2026 and must include the following documents:

  • Current resume including:
    • Current Address
    • Education (undergraduate and graduate); anticipated graduation date
    • Relevant (archives related) employment/volunteer/internship experience
    • Honors, scholarships, or awards received
    • Memberships in professional organizations
  • Essay of no more than 500 words outlining the applicant's interests and future goals in archival administration and how the scholarship would help you meet them
  • One letter of recommendation sent directly to Scholarship Committee Chair, Megan Craynon, at [email protected]
  • Documentation of “good standing” with the educational institution (may be a letter or official transcript)

Please note that graduate students may apply to be considered for both the Graduate Education Scholarship and the Danna Bell Scholarship in the same year but will not be eligible to receive both awards in the same cycle. Students may only receive the Danna Bell Scholarship one time.