Job Opening Title:
Processing Archivist ( 6-Month Term)
Name of Employer:
Van Alen Institute
Job Site Location (City AND State):
Gowanus, Brooklyn, New York
Application Deadline:
rolling
Minimum Degree Requirement:
Master’s in Archives or Library science
Years of experience required:
1-3
Salary Range:
$30-$35 /hr
Job Opening URL:
Job Description (if URL to posting not available). Include instructions for how to apply:
Archive Focus: Institutional Records of the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects (1893–1994)
The Van Alen Institute, originally founded in 1894 as the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects, is seeking motivated students from Information and Library Science programs to assist in the processing and public launch of our extensive 130-year institutional archive. This historically significant collection documents the establishment, growth, and curricular development of American architectural education from the late 19th through the 20th century.
This is an unparalleled opportunity to work hands-on with a substantial collection that is a vital primary source for scholars of architecture, art history, and cultural studies.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables:
Working under the supervision of a qualified archive consultant and alongside student processing assistant(s), the processing archivist will apply archival principles and best practices to process a diverse range of materials, including:
Processing & Arrangement: Physically arranging and describing 254 linear feet of institutional records and 43.5 linear feet of photographic material (over 12,000 images).
Cataloging & Description: Creating detailed descriptions and metadata for archival records, generally at the series or folder level, including competition drawings, minutes, letters, and financial records.
Preservation: Rehousing materials, including oversized architectural drawings (over 4,000 originals), in acid-free folders and boxes to ensure long-term preservation.
Discovery Tool Creation: Collaborating on the development and deployment of a user-friendly and DACS-compliant finding aid to ensure public access to the collection.
Why This Archive Matters
This project offers the chance to directly contribute to making an unrivaled primary resource publicly accessible. Your work will help illuminate:
Architectural and Artistic Evolution: Tracing shifts in design from the Gilded Age through modernism via competition drawings and jury deliberations.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Highlighting historic partnerships between architects, sculptors, muralists, and other designers.
Cultural Influence: Revealing the collection’s broader impact on social trends through unique ephemera like Beaux-Arts Ball programs.
Qualifications:
Master’s degree in Library Science, Archival Studies, Information Science or related field, or equivalent experience
1-3 years professional experience in an archive or library.
Experience applying archival standards (e.g., DACS, Dublin Core) and best practices for material handling and rehousing.
Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and commitment to accurate descriptive work.
Interest in architecture, art history, or institutional history is a plus.
To apply: If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@vanalen.org with “Processing Archivist” in the subject line.
Archives Gig 