Archives Fellow
Job Summary:
The Barnard Archives and Special Collections is seeking applications for two part-time fellowships working under the supervision of the Directors of the Archives and Special Collections and with the guidance of the Records Coordination and Processing Archivist. This year, the Archives Fellows will gain hands-on experience in archival processing, outreach, and instruction, with a focus on processing institutional records and subsequently producing research guides, lesson plans, and/or workshops based on these collections.Job Description:
About the positions: Fellows will start their time at Barnard by learning how to process collections and accruals using ArchivesSpace, focusing on institutional records of the College (including, for example, records of academic and administrative committees, the Board of Trustees, Buildings and Grounds, and/or campus labor unions).
Through this work, fellows will gain experience with and acquire basic skills related to:
Accessioning, appraisal, basic conservation, arrangement, and description of material in all formats, including analog, paper, digital, audiovisual materials, photographs, web archives (participants may process upwards of 50 linear feet, as well as re-processing and enhancing description for collections)
Revision and creation of processing workflows and documentation
Processing accruals and updating legacy finding aids
Contributing to records coordination and records management workflows
After building a foundation in archival processing, fellows will continue working with College institutional records, bringing their familiarity and expertise into reference, outreach, and instruction projects, which may include:
Fielding reference requests from researchers
Developing resources for researchers, such as research guides, bibliographies, tutorials, and how-to's that leverage Barnard's institutional records collections
Designing lesson plans for workshops or class visits to the archives focusing on critical and close readings of institutional records
The fellowship is intended to give participants a foundation in processing as well as an introduction to reference and/or instruction work. Participants will be provided with training on processing, reference, and instruction work; meet regularly with full-time archives staff; and are expected to work independently and manage their time to complete tasks. Applicants do not need to have prior experience processing collections or working in archives in order to apply.
About the collections, the Archives, and our office:
The Barnard Archives and Special Collections consist of over 450 distinct collections. We document the history of the College and collect special collections materials that relate to broader histories of feminism and advance the mission of the College by collaborating in teaching and learning. Highlights of our administrative records include our Dean’s Office and President’s Office collections (collectively documenting 130 years of the leadership of the College); departmental records such as the Dance Department, the Botany Department, and Physical Education and Athletics collections; the records and collections of the Barnard Center for Research on Women; and faculty committees records, which document the evolution of the Barnard curriculum and faculty governance structures. Highlights of our collections more broadly include the Ntozake Shange Papers, the Sabra Moore NYC Women’s Art Movement Collection, the Kathryn Kolbert Planned Parenthood v. Casey records, Special Collections zines from the Barnard Zine Library, and many more.
The Barnard Archives commits to work that is equitable and anti-oppressive, and encourages and supports work which centers voices, knowledge, and memory-making practices historically excluded from the archival record. Our community agreements describe some of the ways in which we are committed to upholding values of inclusivity, privacy, and support.
The archives fellowship is primarily in-person, at the Barnard Archives and Special Collections on Barnard’s campus (at 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027), with opportunities for remote work as possible. Our offices are accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities. We have bathroom facilities available for all gender identities. Our Reading Room is open to researchers Monday-Friday, 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM.
While employed at Barnard, you will be given access to the Library’s resources.
Duration: 430 hours; scheduled from September 2024 - June 30, 2025; scheduling is flexible but typically 7-8 hours a week for 34 weeks during the academic year (September 2024-April 2025); 15-20 hours/week for 9 weeks in early summer 2024 (May-June 2025) and including some time off.
Compensation: $32/hour
Skills, Qualifications & Requirements:
To Qualify:
Must be currently enrolled in a graduate-level program in archival management, library sciences, or related fields.
Must be available to work weekdays.
Must make a commitment to work, on average, 7-8 hours of work a week, with the opportunity for increased hours if desired in early summer. Work schedules are flexible and can be adjusted as needed–for example, participants can choose to work more hours and complete the fellowship in a compressed time frame.
Preferred demonstrable skills include: desire to work both collaboratively and independently; excellent organizational, research, and communication skills; critical analysis of archives or the archives profession (e.g. bringing a critical race, feminist, disability justice, and/or queer theoretical lens to archival work); and strong attention to detail. We welcome applicants to discuss how these preferred skills have been utilized and honed in areas of their life outside of their professional or academic work.
Applicants do not need to have prior experience processing collections or working in archives in order to apply.
The Barnard Archives encourages candidates of all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Barnard College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is actively committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community.
To Apply:
Apply via the Barnard College Human Resources Posting. The site will require you to create an account, upload a cover letter and resume; finalists will also be asked to provide references.
In your cover letter, please describe your professional interests, why you are interested in working with the Barnard Archives and Special Collections, and what you might like to accomplish or learn during the fellowship (keeping in mind that this year’s fellowship is focused on processing, reference, and teaching with institutional records in a college archive setting).
Address your cover letter to Martha Tenney, Jennifer Eberhardt, and Olivia Newsome. Questions can be directed to Martha Tenney (mtenney@barnard.edu).
Priority date for applications: July 31, 2024
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the College's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Company:
Barnard CollegeTime Type:
Part time
