The Verville Fellowship is a competitive research fellowship administered by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum (NASM) in Washington, D.C. Established to promote the study of aerospace history, the fellowship supports scholars, academics, and qualified professionals in conducting significant research into the history of aviation or spaceflight.
The fellowship is named in honor of Alfred V. Verville (1890–1970), a prominent American aeronautical engineer and aircraft designer. Verville was a pioneer in the early aviation industry, known for his work on racing aircraft and his contributions to the United States Army Air Service and the Bureau of Aeronautics.
The Verville Fellowship is typically awarded as a residential appointment for a duration of nine to twelve months. It is specifically intended for mid-level scholars or individuals with equivalent professional experience in fields such as history, journalism, or engineering who demonstrate a commitment to aerospace history. Fellows are provided with a stipend and are granted access to the Smithsonian Institution's extensive archival collections, libraries, and curatorial expertise.
Recipients are selected through a peer-review process based on the merits of their research proposals, the importance of the topic to the field of aerospace history, and the applicant's ability to utilize the museum’s resources effectively. During their tenure, fellows are expected to engage with the museum’s professional community and contribute to the scholarly understanding of the historical development of flight and its impact on society.
