Office of Facilities, Engineering and Operations
Office of Facilities Management and Reliability

THE ENID A. HAUPT
FELLOWSHIP IN HORTICULTURE

The Horticulture Services Division at the Smithsonian Institution is pleased to announce that it is accepting proposals for The Enid A. Haupt Fellowship in Horticulture. This fellowship, made possible by a generous endowment from philanthropist Enid A. Haupt, is designed to encourage the study of, and professions in, the field of horticulture. It is the first Smithsonian fellowship devoted to the discipline of horticulture.

Introduction

The Enid A. Haupt Garden, a living horticultural exhibition, serves as the primary research resource for the fellow. This 4.2 acre garden combines a Victorian parterre, a fountain garden reminiscent of Moorish gardens, and an island garden which is accessed through moon gates. These three themes are used to link this horticultural display with the Smithsonian museums bordering it.

To supplement what the Garden has to offer as a research tool, the fellow will have access to other Smithsonian resources such as the Botany and Horticulture Branch Library of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries, a horticulture artifact collection, and the Archives of American Gardens. The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area offers other fine resources including the U.S. National Arboretum; the U. S. Botanic Garden; U.S.D.A.'s National Agricultural Library; Library of Congress; and famous historic sites such as Mount Vernon and Dumbarton Oaks.

In the interest of furthering the study and application of horticulture in urban settings, applicants should present their proposal to do research in this area. Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of scholars in related fields. Selection will be based on the quality of the proposal; its feasibility; its relevance to the Smithsonian's resources; and evidence of the applicant's ability to complete the proposal.

For more information on The Enid A. Haupt Fellowship in Horticulture, please contact Horticulture Collections Management and Education, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Capital Gallery, Suite 3300, MRC 506, Washington, DC 20013-7012. E-mail: healypa@si.edu; telephone: (202) 633-5840; fax: (202) 633-5697.

Eligibility

Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program seeking (or have received) their Master's or Ph.D. in horticulture, botany, garden history, landscape architecture or a related field. Applicants whose native language is not English are expected to have the ability to write and converse fluently in English.

Application

Application forms are available from Horticulture Collections Management and Education staff, Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, Capital Gallery, Suite 3300, MRC 506, Washington, DC 20013-7012.
E-mail: healypa@si.edu; telephone: (202) 633-5840; fax: (202) 633-5697.

Proposals

The application form must be accompanied by a research proposal from the applicant. This proposal should be 1,200 words or less in length, typed double spaced, and should outline the nature of the research project that the applicant is interested in doing with horticulture in the Enid A. Haupt Garden. Proposals on urban horticulture may include, but are not limited to, the following types of themes: the environmental effects of urban settings on horticultural endeavors; the social aspects of urban horticulture projects; garden furniture in public spaces; or the cultural significance of urban horticultural designs.

The proposal should include an explanation of how the applicant will further their research goals while doing research at the Smithsonian. Applicants are also encouraged to include the reasons they believe their research will broaden knowledge within the field of urban horticulture.

Also accompanying the application form and proposal, the candidate should include a preliminary timetable outlining the planned completion dates of significant steps in the research. The applicant should submit a budget for any anticipated expenses related to the research.

Curriculum Vitae and Transcripts

A curriculum vitae outlining previous education, employment, research goals, and plans for additional studies should be included with the application. Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate level work should be submitted so that they are received at the same time as other application materials. (Unofficial photocopies of transcripts are acceptable.)

Letters of Reference

Letters of reference from two people familiar with your academic accomplishments and research goals should also be sent for review with the application form and proposal.

Deadlines

Application materials (application form, proposal, curriculum vitae, transcripts and letters of reference) should be sent to Horticulture Collections Management and Education, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, Capital Gallery, Suite 3300, MRC 506, Washington, DC 20013-7012. All materials must be postmarked by no later than April 1, 2008.

Selection

Selection of the fellow will be based on the quality of the applicant's proposal; the feasibility of the proposed research; its relevance to the Smithsonian's resources; and evidence of the applicant's ability to do the research. Applications will be reviewed by scholars in relevant fields. Applicants will be notified of their status by August 1, 2008. The Institution does not discriminate on the grounds of race, creed, sex, age, marital status, condition of handicap, or national origin of any applicant.

Terms and Conditions of Fellowship

The Enid A. Haupt Graduate Fellowship in Horticulture is full time, in residence, and available for 12 to 24 months. Tenure will begin between September 1, 2008 and December 1, 2008.

The candidate is eligible for a stipend award of $25,000 per year. A research allowance of up to $1,000 may be made available for each year of the fellowship. The research allowance money will be awarded after a final budget for expenses is approved by the advisor. A travel allowance of one round trip fare from the nearest major airport to the Smithsonian Institution, to cover relocation expenses, is also available. The cost of one half of the Smithsonian Fellowship health insurance premiums for the duration of the fellowship can be covered.

Within three months of the beginning of the fellowship, a final timetable of significant deadlines within the research plan should be submitted to the advisor. During the fellowship, the candidate will share the progress and/or results of their research by presenting a talk at the annual In-Service Training which Horticulture Services Division coordinates for staff and the greater professional community in horticulture. By the conclusion of the fellow’s research, the fellow will supply a copy of their thesis or dissertation to the Botany and Horticulture Library of the Smithsonian Institution.

Depending on the progress of the research during the fellowship, requests for additional time, up to the maximum of 24 months, will be considered. The panel of scholars will review the proposed extension and make a final decision on such requests.

Smithsonian Institution Resources

The Enid A. Haupt Garden will serve as the primary resource for the research. Significant characteristics of the Garden that make it unique include its location in the center of downtown Washington, D.C.; the number of national and international visitors and dignitaries that tour it each year; its relationship to the surrounding museums and their research, exhibition and education programs; and the extensive collection of both original and reproduction antique garden furnishings.

The Haupt Garden is a 4.2 acre rooftop garden. Rooftop gardens, by the nature of their design, have features that create special horticultural challenges. The soil was brought from other sites and used to fill the area after the underground museums were built. The depth of the soil ranges from two feet at the shallowest point, to eight feet at the deepest. The large collection of mature (and close to mature) trees that were planted so that Mrs. Haupt could enjoy a mature garden, are growing in very restricted root zones, compared to natural sites.

The change in seasons brings distinct changes in the appearance of the Garden. The spring displays include flowering shrubs, trees, bulbs and early perennials. Summer plantings showcase annuals, hanging baskets and containers of mixed annuals and tropicals. Perennials and roses flower sporadically through the season. The end of the summer flowering season is complemented with plantings of mums--both in the ground and in hanging baskets. Seasonal planting displays are labeled to enhance the educational value of the experience for visitors. The entire Garden is decorated with evergreen wreaths and garlands for the winter holiday season.

The Garden is bordered by Independence Avenue, a heavily traveled eight lane street, on its south side. Jefferson Drive, a main street for people driving or walking along the National Mall, borders the Garden on its north side. The Garden is enjoyed by staff, visitors and residents for a variety of uses, such as: a walkway; a place to read, rest, or study; for its aesthetic pleasure; and by the Institution for special events. It is a beautiful and peaceful refuge in an otherwise noisy and crowded city. The complex array of factors affecting the Garden impact heavily on the techniques used to maintain it.

In addition to the Garden itself, the Smithsonian Institution has several fine resources to assist the fellow in their research. The horticulture section of the Botany and Horticulture Branch of the Smithsonian Institution Libraries has 5,000 books, 2,700 volumes of periodicals, and 10,000 trade catalogs. The collection consists of materials in practical and historical horticulture, garden history, and landscape design in America and their influences.

The Archives of American Gardens (AAG) is a collection of 80,000 photographic images and records documenting thousands of historic and contemporary American gardens. This collection includes 3,000 hand colored glass lantern slides dating from the 1920s and about 40,000 35-mm slides of gardens dating from colonial times to the present. In addition to slides, the collection also includes photographs; plans and papers documenting the work of a number of prominent landscape architects and horticulturists; numerous subject files; and artifacts and records maintained by the Horticulture Services Division.

The Smithsonian Institution is currently standardizing computers and computer software. Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, and Adobe Photoshop 7.0 are the only options available at the Smithsonian. Installation of other software on Smithsonian computers is not guaranteed, and requests are subject to approval by the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Fellows are permitted to bring in their own laptops and/or computers, but are responsible for their maintenance and repair if they choose to utilize their own equipment.

Secondary Resources

The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is teeming with horticultural resources. The area is dotted with numerous historic gardens such as Mount Vernon, Gunston Hall, Dumbarton Oaks, and Tudor Place. The U. S. Botanic Garden is only a few blocks from the Horticulture Services Division’s main office. The U. S. National Arboretum is located in D.C.’s northeast quadrant.

Located a short drive into the Virginia suburbs are the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society and the American Society for Horticultural Science. Sites in nearby Maryland include USDA's National Agricultural Library, Brookside Gardens, and Ladew Topiary Gardens.