Job Description
Job DescriptionTO APPLY: Interested candidates should attach a cover letter and resume, both as PDF documents, to their application in the Newberry Career Center. Applications sent without both a resume and cover letter will not be considered. To be considered for this role, applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable to apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by email.
ABOUT THE NEWBERRY: The Newberry collection—some 1.6 million books, 600,000 maps, and 5 million manuscript pages—is a portal to more than six centuries of human history, from the Middle Ages to the present. We connect researchers and visitors with our collection in the Newberry’s reading rooms, exhibition galleries, program spaces, classrooms, and online digital resources.
Since its founding in 1887, the Newberry has remained dedicated to deepening our collective understanding of ourselves and the world around us. As individuals engage with Newberry collections and staff, they discover stories that bridge the past and present and illuminate the human condition.
The Newberry’s community of discovery is driven by a shared commitment to promoting research, inspiring learning, and using inquiry across the humanities as a tool to engage critically in a vibrant democratic society.
SUMMARY: Reporting to the Lloyd Lewis Curator of Modern Manuscripts and Archives, the Intern will preserve, arrange, re-house, and describe the records of the Standard Club of Chicago. This position is ideal for an individual seeking to work with primary sources and on track for a library or archival career. The internship will last no more than 250 hours.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the supervision of the Curator, the intern will participate in the following activities:
- Arrange and re-house archival materials
- Apply appropriate preservation treatments to archival materials
- Conduct research on the content and subject matter of archival materials to inform arrangement decisions and enhance collection descriptions
- Create finding aid/inventory for the collection
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in the humanities required
- Research and writing skills, ability to work independently, and familiarity with computer applications required
- Ability to alphabetize files required
- Coursework or experience with archives and manuscripts, and background in the social and cultural history of Chicago and the Midwest preferred
- Knowledge of cursive writing and interest in material culture of archival materials highly desired
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Physical strength, mobility, and endurance with the ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally. Visual ability to read cursive and physical ability to print legibly.
SCHEDULE: This is a part-time, nonexempt position, working 250 hours total, with normal hours generally from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. While a remote work arrangement is possible, the incumbent will primarily work onsite.
BENEFITS: This role is eligible for health benefits.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER