The Joy R. Hilliard Fellowship supports a master’s or doctoral-level graduate student doing research in the fields of conservation or environmental history. Special Collections and Archives staff award one $3,000 Fellowship annually to support costs associated with travel to Denver to do research in Denver Public Library’s renowned Conservation Collection. The Hilliard Fellowship directly supports research toward completing a graduate thesis or dissertation.
The application process is open from January 1-March 1, 2026. Applicants should submit a 500-word project statement, a CV or resume, and a letter of support, preferably from a faculty advisor. Materials can be submitted through the Joy R. Hilliard Application Form online. The Fellowship awardee will be notified by May 1, 2026.
The Fellowship recipient is expected to complete at least one week of on-site research at the Denver Public Library between June 1 and October 31, 2026. Successful applicants will describe how the library’s Conservation Collection holdings, including nearly 200 unpublished archival collections on the history of the American conservation movement, contribute to the student’s area of inquiry.
2026 Joy R. Hilliard Application Form - opens January 1, 2026
Joy and Edward Hobbs Hilliard Jr. played a leading role in preserving Colorado open space until Ed Hilliard's death in a mountain climbing accident on August 15, 1970. Following his death, Joy continued to be active as a conservationist and philanthropist. She made a significant contribution to preserving Phantom Canyon on the North Fork of the Cache La Poudre River. In addition, Joy established the Hilliard Room for the Conservation Library at the Denver Public Library. Her service includes board and trustee roles for Trout Unlimited, the Silver Trout Foundation, Planned Parenthood, and Colorado Outward Bound. A passionate fly-fisher, she climbed all 54 of Colorado’s Fourteeners. For her preservation work, she received both the Ed Hilliard Memorial Award in 1995 and the Colorado Open Lands Cranmer Award in 1999.
Past Hilliard Fellowship winners:
2000 - Joy R. Hilliard Fellowship in Environmental History established and announced
2001 - John C. Miles
2002 - Michael J. Yochim
2003 - William Philpot
2004 - Hal K. Rothman
2005 - Sarah Thomas
2006 - Barry R. Muchnick
2007 - 2008 (Two awards given)
Sara E. Dant
Megan Jones
2009 - Michael Wise
2010-2015 Fellowship paused
2016 - Sam Bock
2017 - Sherri Sheu
2018 - Jason Hogstad
2019-2025 - Fellowship paused