Co-directed by Dr. Lisanne Norman ’94 and Dr. Thomas Fisher, instructors in humanities and social sciences, the John Hersey Scholars Program provides a select group of Seniors with the opportunity to conduct historical archival research at Harvard University.
The school introduced the Hersey Program in 2021 with the aim of developing students’ research and writing skills through hands-on experience with archival materials. The program is named after Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Hersey, Class of 1932.
Applications for the program open in the fall. Prospective Upper Mid candidates are required to submit personal essays and resumes. Interviews are conducted and by early March, students are selected.
This past summer, Hersey scholars spent two weeks exploring archival materials at Harvard’s libraries, including the Houghton Library and the Schlesinger Library, as well as others in the Boston area. Each scholar chose a topic for their focused research.
Tory Dana ’24 is among the seven current Hersey scholars. She said, “I applied to the Hersey Scholars Program because of my deep love for history. I wanted to feel history in my own hands.” Dana’s project focuses on how classics have influenced modern literature.
Returning to campus in the fall, the group continues their research in a year-long honors history course. Each member produces a 40-page research paper on their topic by the end of the year.
Reflecting on her experience, Dana said, “My favorite part of the program was the rare opportunity to complete graduate-level work during high school, while also developing stronger relationships with other dedicated students.”
Introduced in 2021, the MacLeish Scholars Program gives a group of select Seniors the opportunity to curate specialized English projects. The program is directed by Dr. Jeff Blevins, instructor in English.
MacLeish scholars choose a topic on which to conduct focused research. Over the summer, they visit the Beinecke Library at Yale University, in addition to multiple libraries in New York, where they study primary documents such as draft papers, diaries, and letters.
Guided by ms. janan alexandra, instructor in English, MacLeish scholars also study creative writing. Over the course of the program, they build a portfolio of creative writing pieces. Then, with the help of a bookmaker, they turn these portfolios into books, learning binding, paper-making, and printing techniques in the process. “You can think of it as a three-legged stool: the research, the creative writing, and the bookmaking,” said Dr. Blevins. “The analytical, the creative, and the artistic; they come together in this nexus.”
In addition to their books, each scholar uses their research to write a 30-page fi nal paper over a year-long honors English course.
Nate Seidenstein ’24, a current MacLeish scholar, advises students considering the program to have an open mind. He said, “Coming in, I wasn’t the most creative-minded, and I was skeptical of the bookmaking. But in the end, it was definitely a rewarding experience for all of us.”
