Job Opening Title: Spring 2016 Archives Fellow
Institution/Organization Name: Dedalus Foundation
Job Location (City, State, Province, Country): New York, NY
Application Deadline:
Years of experience required: 1-2
The Dedalus Foundation invites applicants for its Spring 2016 Archives Fellow program, a part-time paid five-month position for an advanced graduate student or recent graduate in archival studies. The Archives Fellow will gain valuable hands-on experience through assisting the Foundation Archivist with surveying, processing, reference, outreach, records management, and/or digitization.
About the Dedalus Foundation:
Founded in 1981 by the artist Robert Motherwell (1915–1991), the Dedalus Foundation fosters public understanding of modern art and modernism through its programs in arts education, research and publications, archives and conservation, and exhibitions, as well as in the guardianship and study of Robert Motherwell’s art. As we work to inform and educate the public, we strive to maintain the high standards of our founder, who in addition to being a great artist was also active as a writer, lecturer, and teacher.
About the Dedalus Archives:
The collection is comprised of two distinct areas: materials created by the artist Robert Motherwell, and materials generated by the Foundation after Motherwell’s death in 1991. Motherwell’s papers consist of tens of thousands of documents, including extensive personal and professional correspondence, handwritten manuscripts, drafts of his writings, transcripts of lectures and interviews, studio and business records, datebooks documenting his daily activities, and many other materials. The photographic archive consists of more than 24,000 photographs of works of art, exhibition installations, studio documentation, events, and portraits/personal images. The archives are arranged and described, with current finding aids available. Some materials have been digitized, including video and audio recordings.
Position Summary:
The Spring 2016 Archives Fellow will be supervised by the Foundation’s full-time Archivist. Responsibilities may include:
• Survey, process, re-house, and write or augment descriptions for portions of the Foundation’s institutional archives (analog and digital) and/or Motherwell’s studio archives, personal papers, and library.
• Assist in selection of digitization priorities.
• Create digital surrogates with appropriate metadata for original materials.
• Assist in researching collection management systems and maintaining current databases.
• Promote use of collection through social media posts and other outreach activities.
• Prepare monthly reports detailing progress on assigned projects.
• Maintain an awareness of current library/archives issues and trends.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Foundation Archivist.
Job Requirements:
• Knowledge of archival best practices, standards, and theory required.
• Experience in processing archival collections required.
• Familiarity with databases, specifically Filemaker Pro, desired.
• Familiarity with modern art and interest 20th century art history desired.
• Applicants must possess the necessary writing and editing skills to produce scope and content and biographical/historical information for finding aids.
Applicants Must:
• Be a current advanced graduate student or recent graduate of a library science, information science, museum studies, archival studies, history or art history graduate program.
• Be available to work two weekdays, 10 hours a week.
• Possess excellent communication, research, and organizational skills.
• Be comfortable working independently and with a team.
Compensation:
$20/hour. Credit for graduate program student internship requirements may also be arranged.
Duration:
The Spring 2016 Archives Fellowship is expected to run from late January through May 2016. Exact schedule and scope of project to be determined with the Foundation Archivist.
To Apply:
Submit a resume, a letter of interest that includes availability/schedule information, a short writing sample (finding aid preferred), and a list of three references to Christiana Dobrzynski at archives@dedalusfoundation.org with subject line “Spring 2016 Archives Fellow application.”
Archives Gig 