Archive Scholar

The purpose of the Archive Scholar Award is to encourage scholars of architectural and business history to make use of the business archives, slide archives, publications and the architectural program library of the architectural/engineering firm CRS and its successor, CRSS, Inc. Included in the archives are transcripts of interviews with the executive officers and other members of the firm. The Scholar Award is intended to help offset living and travel expenses incurred in visiting the CRS Center, as well as other expenses related to the support of research, scholarship and publication that makes use of the archives.

CRS (originally Caudill Rowlett Scott) was established in College Station, Texas, shortly after World War II by William Caudill and John Rowlett, professors of architecture at Texas A&M, and Wallie Scott, Jr., a graduate student. By the 1970s, it had grown into the largest architecture/engineering/construction firm in the country. The firm was known for its emphasis on "design by team" and the "squatters" method of working with clients during the planning, programming and design phases of its projects. For more information about the contents of the archives, please contact the CRS Center.

The award is made in early January. To apply for this award, please submit a letter of application by mail (see below) or email (v-miranda@tamu.edu). The letter must be received by the CRS Center no later than January 2, 2009.

Dr. Valerian Miranda
Interim Director, CRS Center
College of Architecture
Texas A&M University
3137 TAMU
College Station, Texas 77843-3137
voice: (979) 847-9357
fax: (979) 862-2235

Award:

Up to a maximum of $2,500.

Application Format:

A proposal of not more than two pages which includes:

The objectives and significance of your project,
The methodology you intend to use,
The results that you expect, and
Your plan for disseminating these results.
A budget for how you intend to use the stipend.
Your curriculum vitae (maximum one page).
A recommendation letter from your advisor/dean.

Application Deadline:

All applications are due at the CRS Center by January 2, 2009. Those wishing to have their application materials returned must include a self-addressed, stamped mailer.

Eligibility:

Any faculty member, graduate student, doctoral student, or post-doctoral student in architecture, engineering, business, or a related discipline. Successful applicants will be assigned a work space in the Center and will be classified as a visiting scholar for the duration of their stay at the CRS Center.

Selection Procedure:

The CRS Center Board of Directors will review the merits of each proposal. If no proposals are deemed acceptable, the Board reserves the right to not make any award. The selection will be announced by early February.

Payment Procedures:

Recipients will be reimbursed for their expenses up to $2,500, the amount of the award. Because you are being reimbursed for expenses only, this award will not be subject to federal withholding. Upon notification of this award, recipients will need to provide a social security number as well as a permanent address to the CRS Center. In order to be reimbursed, you will need to provide original receipts and sign College purchase vouchers.

Ten percent (10%) of the amount of your award expenses ($250) will be withheld and sent to you after you provide evidence of publication or presentation of your results at an educational or professional conference. If all requirements are not met after two years from the date of your award, all funds that have not been used will revert back to the CRS Center.

Funding for the CRS Center Archives Scholar is provided by the CRS Center for Leadership and Management in the Design and Construction Industry. The CRS Center was established in 1991 through an endowment funded by CRSS, Inc. and by contributions from Texas A&M University. In addition to sponsoring the Archive Scholar, the Center undertakes other research and educational activities related to its mission to improve the quality of business practice and management in the planning, design and construction industry.