Generously supported by the Mellon Foundation and administered by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the program supports doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences as they pursue innovative approaches to dissertation research, including new methodologies, formats, and collaborations with community partners beyond the academy.
The focus of White’s study is the impact of industrially knit fabric on 20th century American modernism through the development of modern dance, which saw dancers trade in stiffly woven tutus and dresses for stretchy leotards and tights.
“Knitted goods did not just change dance costumes but eventually transformed the American wardrobe and drove the widespread adoption of a new American body ideal,” says White.
To better understand the impact of this industrial and material change on dancers, White will be partnering with Thomas Jefferson University's Kanbar College of Design, Engineering & Commerce, as well as Swarthmore College's Dance Department.
During the fellowship period, White will be studying knitting technology at TJU’s East Falls campus—originally the site of the country’s first textile college, Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science—and sharing her findings with dance students and faculty at Swarthmore through collaborative workshops.
White is one of 50 graduate students selected from a pool of over 1,000 applicants through a rigorous, multi-stage peer review process that drew on the expertise of more than 170 scholars across the country. Each fellow receives an award of up to $52,000, consisting of a $42,000 stipend; up to $8,000 for project-related research, training, professional development, and travel; and a $2,000 stipend to support external mentorship that offers new perspectives on the fellow’s project and expands their advising network.
