One was apparently considered unemployable because of his thesis on gay literature. Most of those Bennett interviewed had chosen not to seek full-time academic careers, either because they wished to pursue other careers, or because they were not prepared for the sacrifices of time, location, or income required. A few had retired from professorships, and some had simply quit tenured positions in order to spend more time on their research. Even among those who had initially hoped for academic positions, most had created a life that they were later reluctant to change. Nearly all of the 84 stated that they would refuse a full-time university teaching position if it were offered to them at the time the interviews took place.
Many independent scholars have other careers.
Twenty-five were dependent on a spouse and four on other family members. Eleven had retired, two had acquired adequate independent wealth, and one was at that time supported by a grant. Many of those who were not formally employed still earned income from various activities. NCIS welcomes part-time and adjunct professors because we believe they can benefit from our services. The development of groups for independent scholars The Institute for Research in History, founded in New York in 1976, seems to have been the first group of independent scholars to organize.