Scholarships

Scholarship Opportunities

Below is a list of annual scholarship opportunities offered by SWCW. All applications must be received by April 1st, 2026.

Submissions (and any inquiries) should be sent to the Society at swcw1865@gmail.com.

Please use ATTN: Scholarship in the subject line, and identify the specific scholarship for which you are applying in the body of the email, along with your contact information. All scholarship criteria should be submitted as attachments to the email.

Marge Estilow Scholarship

This Scholarship is awarded to a current college student. Scholarship winners will be selected on the basis of an essay on “Women in the Civil War” using original research on the lives and efforts of women in the Civil War era.

Scholarship winners receive $250 and publication of their essays in our quarterly journal, At Home and in the Field.

To be considered, applicants must submit:

1. An essay of not more than five pages, single-spaced in length, using Times New Roman font in 12-point size in Microsoft Word format.
2. A bibliography of the primary and secondary sources which must use The Chicago Style Manual format.
3. A personal biography, of not more than one page, including age and school attending.

Dr. Florence Williams Scholarship

This Scholarship is awarded to a current high school student. Scholarship winners will be selected on the basis of an essay on “Women in the Civil War” using original research on the lives and efforts of women in the Civil War era.

Scholarship winners receive $250 and publication of their essays in our quarterly journal, At Home and in the Field.

To be considered, applicants must submit:

Brenda McKean Memorial Scholarship

This Scholarship is awarded to practicing reenactors and living historians
(aged 21+ with three years of experience).

Scholarship winner will receive a $250 grant to assist in furthering their formal training in pursuit of certification by the National Association for Interpretation.

To be considered, applicants must submit:

1. A minimum of two written recommendations from recognized leaders in the reenactor / living history field. If a member of an association or unit, a recommendation from their leader is also required.
2. An essay (1-2 pages) identifying their goals in reenacting / living history; the roles they interpret; any units in which they have participated; a history of their participation and training; and any formal training or education.
3. Images taken of the applicant in their role as a reenactor / living historian.

Ann Kilian Educator’s Scholarship

This Scholarship is awarded to awarded to teachers or museum professionals.

Scholarship winner will receive complimentary registration and lodging for the 2027 Conference on Women and the Civil War.

To be considered, applicants must submit:

Applicants must submit a biographical essay detailing their work with students, and how attending the conference will enhance this work.

SWCW assumes that all scholarship submissions adhere to the standards of academic honesty. All work should be completed solely by the applicant. Any elements of the work contributed by another person should be properly credited. Applicants are solely responsible for the accuracy and veracity of their submissions. Plagiarism is not tolerated. The use of generative AI tools is not acceptable.

SWCW will reject any submissions which violate these standards.