Ireland and the American Civil War (RDF17/HUM/GLEESON)

We invite applications for this studentship which speaks to the themes of Memory, Heritage and Identity; Diaspora; and American Studies in the Institute of the Humanities at Northumbria University. The project will examine the recently digitized Civil War pension records from the National Archives and Records Administration and use this large amount of research material generated by the War to give voice to those often missing from the historical record, in this case poor Irish immigrants and their families back in Ireland. In general terms it will assess how the U.S. war for the Union affected the social, economic and cultural lives of the Irish in America and in Ireland. More specific research elements to be explored include: 1. Participation on the Union side in the War and its influence on the identities of Irish immigrants in America and their family members in Ireland 2. What the Irish immigrant experience of the Civil War tells us about American national identity and its connections to race, ethnicity, class and religion. 3. The role of memory and commemoration in interpreting the immigrant experience of the Civil War 4. The significance of letters to government authorities during the Civil War era in the creation of ethnic diasporas.

Eligibility and How to Apply
Please note eligibility requirement:
• Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required (evidence required by 1 August 2017).

For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/

Please ensure you quote the advert reference above on your application form.
Deadline for applications: 20 January 2017
Start Date: 2 October 2017

Northumbria University is an equal opportunities provider and in welcoming applications for studentships from all sectors of the community we strongly encourage applications from women and under-represented groups.