The mission of the funder, initiated by the bequest from Johanna Lenz Mendel's estate in 1998, focuses on supporting research within the Lilly Library collections. The areas of interest highlighted for support are centered around topics that were of particular interest to Johanna Lenz Mendel and Bernardo Mendel. These topics include the history and exploration of the Spanish Colonial Empire, Latin American independence movements, European expansion in the Americas, geography, navigation, cartography, German literature and history, and music including sheet music.
The Mendel Visiting Fellowships aim to aid scholars from outside the Bloomington area in conducting research within the Lilly Library's collections on topics closely related to the interests of Johanna Lenz Mendel and Bernardo Mendel. These fellowships focus on a broad range of subjects from the history of the Spanish Colonial Empire and Latin American independence movements to voyages, travels, exploration, and even German literature and music. Candidates interested in these areas are encouraged to verify the alignment of their proposed topics with the library’s collections prior to application. The fellowship offers up to $5,000 to cover travel, living, and research expenses. Awards must be utilized within the calendar year following the award. Applicants must submit a detailed research proposal, a résumé, and for some candidates, two confidential letters of recommendation, to be considered for the fellowship.