Humanities Montana awards four research fellowships

Press release

Humanities Montana awarded a $3,500 Research Fellowship to Gretchen Minton to fund research for a book that tells the diverse stories of Shakespeare’s influence on the people of Montana, from the times of mountain men to the continued popularity of Shakespeare in the Parks.

Humanities Montana awarded a $3,500 Research Fellowship to Cheryl Hughes to fund research on America’s conservation legacy that will lead to curriculum lesson plans and a narrative for an interpretive trail near Missoula.

The trail will include five geographical areas and will offer interactive displays that provide the history and relevance of the moments, persons, and concepts associated with the location.

Humanities Montana awarded a $2,000 grant to Betty Lou Mandler to fund research for an article and book about Willard E. Fraser, mayor of Billings from 1963 to 1969 and again from 1971 to 1972. Fraser was the son-in-law of poet Robert Frost and a prominent Billings figure and conservationist.

Humanities Montana awarded a $2,000 research fellowship to Christopher Preston to fund research for a project that investigates and catalyzes conversation around the idea of the “post-wild” Anthropocene, exploring the possibility that rather than losing its wilderness, Montana is poised to foster an increase the cultural significance of the wild.

Humanities Montana is the state’s independent, nonprofit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Since 1972, Humanities Montana has provided services and grants to hundreds of Montana organizations in support of public programs in history, literature, civil conversations, and public issues. Among its many programs are its grants, Montana Conversations, Speakers in the Schools, Hometown Humanities, Community Conversations, Letters About Literature, and the Governor’s Humanities Awards.