In 1850 Herman Melville purchased a house and farm in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He called his Berkshire residence Arrowhead after finding those relics while plowing his fields. By 1851, Melville completed and published his masterpiece, Moby-Dick, inspired by Arrowhead’s majestic view of Mount Greylock.
In 2018 the Berkshire County Historical Society established a fellowship program for Berkshire County college students, providing the opportunity for them to be inspired by the same view and landscape that inspired Melville.
The Melville Fellows program annually awards three outstanding Berkshire County college students the opportunity to work in Melville’s study at Arrowhead to create one or more pieces of original writing inspired by Arrowhead’s surroundings and the BCHS collection. During the semester-long program, students work with BCHS writing mentor and Writer-in-Residence Emeritus Jana Laiz as a group and individually. The program does not restrict the type or subject of the works created, allowing participants a wide breadth of creative freedom. A public presentation of new works is held at the end of the semester.
For more information, or to apply, contact education@berkshirehistory.org.