PUL offers two Special Collections fellowship opportunities for summer 2022

Princeton University Library (PUL) is now accepting applications for two fellowship positions beginning in summer 2022. Offered by Special Collections—Firestone  and Special Collections—Mudd Manuscript Library, the positions are geared toward recent graduates and graduate students who want to pursue a career in special collections libraries or archival work. 

“Our fellows have gone on to positions as archivists at institutions like Smith, Penn, Harvard and the private sector,” said Reference Professional for Special Collections Emma Sarconi. “In fact, two previous fellows, Valencia Johnson and Will Clements, are now employed as archivists at the Mudd Library here at Princeton.”

The reading rooms in Mudd Manuscript Library and Firestone Library's Special Collections.

The Special Collections Summer Fellowship for Firestone Library 

The fellowship provides a summer of paid work experience for a current or recent graduate student interested in pursuing a career in Special Collections libraries or archives. The fellow will gain experience in the technical services, public services, and curatorial aspects of the field, with possible projects including learning and implementing reparative description, processing/reprocessing of manuscript collections, and participating in the reference rotation and answering reference questions in person and remotely (among others).

Applicants must be a current graduate student or recent graduate (within one year of graduation) of an advanced degree program, and have past experience working in the archival and/or special collections profession (including positions held as part of volunteer programs, internships, work-study programs, contract/adjunct work, other fellowships, etc.).

“A lot of this work you learn best through doing - from a public services standpoint, working with patronage requires some practice and this fellowship gives folks that practice,” said Sarconi. “Our fellows also get the chance to process collections and publish finding aids, which can be added to their C.V. or resume. It’s what sets you apart as a job applicant and in an interview.”

Applications must be received by Tuesday, March 1, 2022. To learn more about the fellowship, visit the Special Collections website.

John Foster and Janet Avery Dulles Archival Fellowship

In conjunction with Mudd Manuscript Library, this fellowship provides one graduate student (or recent graduate) a summer of work experience in preparation for pursuing an archival career. The 2022 fellow will gain experience in both technical and public services, working under the guidance of archivists from both teams.

The 10- to 12-week fellowship, which may be started as early as May, requires applicants to have successfully completed at least 12 graduate semester hours (or the equivalent) applied toward an advanced degree in archives, library or information management, American history, American studies, or museum studies.

“At Mudd, our fellow will have the opportunity to work with collections representing individuals and organizations in the areas of 20th-century American foreign policy, public policy formation, and international development, as well as the many and varied institutional records in the Princeton University Archives,” explained Public Policy Papers Archivist Will Clements. “We’re a fairly small team, so the fellow will really have the opportunity to become enmeshed pretty quickly in day-to-day operations.” 

Applications must be received by Monday, March 7, 2022 at 11pm. To learn more about the fellowship, visit the information page on the Special Collections website.

Published on February 10, 2022

Written by Brandon Johnson, Communications Specialist

Media Contact: Barbara Valenza, Director of Library Communications