The North American Society for Sport History offers four grants in support of research on sport history.
The Joe Arbena Latin American Sport History Grant
The Joe Arbena Latin-American Sport History Grant is designed to advance the study and exploration of Latin American sport history. Up to $1,000 per year will be granted. It is expected that, upon completion, this research shall be presented at a NASSH conference. Candidates are eligible for one-time funding.

Dr. Joseph Luther Arbena (1939-2013), Professor Emeritus of History at Clemson University from 1965-2006, passed away on October 25, 2013. Dr. Arbena published several books in the area of sport history, making major contributions to our understanding of sports and the rise of national identity. Dr. Arbena’s obituary can be found here.
Past Winners
2020 | Brandon Blakeslee, University of Texas, Arlington |
2019 | Javier Wallace, University of Texas, Austin |
2018 | Alex Nuñez, University or Arizona |
2017 | Doira Silva dos Santos, Federal Institute of Bahia |
2016 | Michael Wood, University of Alabama |
Apply for the Joe Arbena Latin-American Sport History Grant (deadline 5 February 2021)
Applicants must download the Arbena grant application, complete all required parts, and email the file to Chris Bolsmann, Chair of the Adjudication Committee.
The NASSH Diversity Scholarship
The NASSH Diversity Scholarship is designed to promote diversity in membership. The Scholarship is awarded to a maximum of one award ($500 plus a NASSH membership) per year. The Scholarship is open to applicants who self-identify as being racially or ethnically diverse. There is no requirement that applicants must be researching race/ethnic sport history or that they must present at NASSH. However, their presentations are encouraged and welcome.
Past Winners
2018 | Paulina A. Rodriguez Burciaga, Pennsylvania State University |
Tanya Jones, University of Texas at Austin | |
2017 | Doira Silva dos Santos, Federal Institute of Bahia |
Apply for the NASSH Diversity Scholarship (deadline 31 January 2020)
Applicants must download and complete BOTH part A and part B of the application. Both parts should be emailed to Michael Wood, Chair of the NASSH Membership Committee at michael.t.wood@ua.edu.
The NASSH Dissertation Travel Grant
PhD students with ABD status are eligible to apply for this award which supports sport history research relating to dissertations in progress. Up to a maximum of $3,000 is available for one award or it may be divided into two or three awards at the discretion of the committee. It is expected that, upon completion, this research shall be presented at a NASSH conference. Candidates are eligible for one-time funding.
Past Winners
2018 | Conor Heffernen, University College, Dublin, Ireland |
Tiago Maranhao, Vanderbilt University | |
2017 | Ornella Nzindukiyimana, Western University |
Diane Williams, University of Iowa | |
2016 | Joanna Mellis, University of Florida |
Adam Berg, Penn State University | |
Dain TePoel, University of Iowa |
Apply for the NASSH Dissertation Travel Grant (deadline 3 February 2020)
Applicants must download and complete BOTH part A and part B of the application. Part A should be emailed to Robert Kossuth, Chair of the NASSH Dissertation Travel Grant Committee. Part B should be completed by the applicant’s advisor and then emailed to Robert Kossuth, Chair of the NASSH Dissertation Travel Grant Committee
Roberta Park Award
Graduate students and postdocs who have a paper accepted for the NASSH convention are eligible to apply for a grant from the Roberta Park Fund. Annual interest on this fund is divided among the applicants to help defray the costs of travel and accommodation at the convention. Exact amounts of these grants vary from year to year. Graduate students are also encouraged to enter the NASSH Graduate Essay Competition along with the Park Fund.
Until her retirement, Dr. Roberta J. Park was Professor the Graduate School at the University of California, Berkeley and formerly the Head of the Department of Human Biodynamics. She is widely considered to be one of the leading sport historians in the world. More information on Dr. Park and her research can be found here.
No application is needed for the Roberta Park Award. Students apply through the their abstract submission. More information will be provided in the 2020 call for papers.