These short-term research fellowships are funded by a matching grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and gifts from individuals. The Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships cover research in the following general categories, but are not limited to:

• Political, constitutional, religious, military, and Black studies
• Business history, economic history, and labor relations
• Gender, women's, and LGBTQ+ studies
• Social, cultural, and literature studies

These fellowships are for academic researchers and doctoral candidates living outside the Richmond metropolitan area. 

These research fellowships provide funding to support one-month-long research visits to the VMHC. They cover the broad sweep of Virginia and American history but will typically be awarded to applicants working in an area of strength of the collection, including:

• Colonial history
• Antebellum history and the history of slavery
• Civil War and Reconstruction-era history
• Black history
• Business history and economic history

These fellowships are for academic researchers and doctoral candidates living outside the Richmond metropolitan area.

The Winfree Fellowship promotes the study and interpretation of Black history in Virginia and provides access to the VMHC’s vast collections. 

This fellowship is for a minimum of six weeks in residence at the VMHC's E. Claiborne Robins, Jr. Research Library.