DeKALB | NIU History Professor Kenton Clymer won the Wilson Center fellowship on his book that chronicles the American participation in Burma in the early 1800s.

“I’m happy too receive it and finish the book I’m working on,” said Clymer. He said he has been working on the book whenever he has time for the last three years. His sources are documents from the national archives from the United States, Australia, and Burma.

According to a press release, the Wilson Center fellowship is based in Washington, D.C. and is engaged in the study of current world events and history. The fellowship is only awarded to about 25 winners a year.

Clymer will move to Washington where he will have an office in the Wilson Center. The building is next to the Library of Congress.

Clymer said that the nation of Burma was of geographical importance for the United States during the early years of the Cold War when America was trying to keep communist influence out of the region. During the 19th century, the country was influenced by Baptist missionaries.

Clymer said he has always been interested in U.S. relations in Burma because the country isn’t talked about often today and is now politically repressed.