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Barnard Archives and Special Collections 2021-2022 Fellowship: Archives Processing and Pedagogy
Duration: Mid-September 2021 – June 30, 2022; scheduling is flexible but typically 10 hours a week for 34 weeks during the academic year (September 2021-April 2022); 20 hours/week for 9 weeks in early summer 2022 (May-June 2022)
Compensation: $30/hr
About the positions:
The Barnard Archives and Special Collections offers fellowships working under the supervision of the Directors of the Archives and Special Collections, in a two-person fellowship cohort. This year, the Archives Processing and Pedagogy Fellows will gain hands-on experience in an academic institutional archives and special collections, focusing on processing archival collections and teaching with archives.
As in previous years of the Barnard Archives fellowship, participants will start their time at Barnard by processing collections and accruals using ArchivesSpace. We tailor this work together based on participant interests in learning specific skills, working with specific types of materials, or focusing on topical areas.
Collections management and processing work may include:
- Accessioning and processing (appraisal, basic conservation, arrangement, and description) of institutional papers, manuscript collections, photographs and A/V materials, and web archives in analog, paper and digital formats
- Revision and creation of processing workflows documentation
- Processing accruals and updating existing finding aids
After building a foundation in archival processing, participants in the fellowship will conceive of and complete independent projects with the support of Directors and other archives and library staff. This year, independent projects in the fellowship will focus on teaching with archives and developing resources for archival and primary source pedagogy at Barnard.
Teaching and pedagogy projects will be self-directed by fellowship participants and may include:
- Creating outreach materials to reach the general public (inclusive of but not limited to Barnard and Columbia undergraduates, staff, and faculty; local K-12 students and teachers; graduate students and other researchers) and promote teaching and learning with archival materials
- Developing lesson plans, assignments, and teaching resources (such as research guides or instructional videos) for teaching with materials from the Barnard Archives or with Barnard Archives audiences
- Conducting outreach to student groups and activists and providing instruction in archiving group activities, documentation and records and personal digital archiving
- Teaching and consultation with students, researchers, and broader public audience
- Participating in teaching and outreach activities for exhibits in the archives and the Milstein Center, including Undesign the Redline at Barnard
- Other activities as defined by participants, with support and collaboration from Archives Directors, Archives Student Associates, Barnard personal librarians and Instruction Working Group members, and faculty and staff across Barnard and Columbia
The overall structure of the fellowship will be determined by the participants in conjunction with the Directors of the Barnard Archives. Participants in the fellowship will plan and direct their own independent projects.
About the collections, the Archives, and our office:
The Barnard Archives and Special Collections are comprised 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 dance and advance the mission of the College by collaborating in teaching and learning. Highlights of the collections 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, the records of the Barnard Dance Department, the records and collections of the Barnard Center for Research on Women, 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 some remote work as possible. Our offices are accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities. We have bathroom facilities available for all gender identities. We are open Monday-Friday, 10 AM – 6 PM.
While employed at Barnard, you will be given access to the Library’s resources.
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, 10 hours of work a week, with time off for winter and spring vacation, and increased hours if desired in early summer or throughout the fellowship. Work schedules are flexible and can be adjusted as needed.
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.
The Barnard Archives especially encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ people, and individuals from other underrepresented groups. 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: Apply here. The site will require you to create an account, upload a cover letter, resume, and references.
In either a traditional or slideshow/presentation-style 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. If you choose to include a slideshow-style cover letter, please format it as a pdf.
Address your cover letter to Martha Tenney and Obden Mondésir.
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