Fellowship Research Assistant

JOB TITLE: Fellowship Research Assistant

DEPARTMENT: Patricia D. Klingenstein Library

REPORTS TO: Revson Foundation Fellow and Curator of Manuscripts & Archival Collections

ABOUT THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL

New York's first museum, The New York Historical is a leading cultural institution documenting over 400 years of American history through a peerless collection of art, documents, and artifacts. Our offerings span groundbreaking exhibitions; acclaimed educational programs for teachers and students nationwide; and thought-provoking conversations among leading scholars, journalists, and thinkers about the past, present, and future of the American experiment. The New York Historical is a museum of museums and a collection of collections. We are home to the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, the Center for Women's History, the Reiss Family Graduate Institute for Constitutional History, the Dorothy Tapper Goldman Center for Teaching Democracy, the DiMenna Children's History Museum, and the future American LGBTQ+ Museum. We elevate the perspectives and scholarship that define the United States' democratic heritage and challenge us all to shape our ongoing history for the better.

JOB SUMMARY

The New York Historical is searching for a Research Assistant to assist the Revson Foundation Fellow with a biographical project related to Genevieve S. Brooks Brown. Brown, a Bronx-based housing activist and neighborhood community organizer, was primarily active in the second half of the twentieth century. The biography examines New York City housing policy, development, displacement, and the lived experience of New Yorkers from roughly the 1960s through the 1990s, drawing on archival, journalistic, and scholarly sources. Some research related to the biographical subject's childhood will also focus on rural South Carolina under Jim Crow. Working closely with the Revson Foundation Fellow and the Curator of Manuscripts & Archival Collections, this role involves conducting archival research, organizing findings, contributing to the development of scholarly outputs, and providing administrative assistance to the Fellow.

This is a part-time, grant funded position by the Revson Foundation, and is intended to work through June 2027.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Review primary source materials housed in the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library and arrange visits and support review at other research libraries. Perform targeted research using digital archives, academic databases, library e-resources, government documents, and other source materials, and request materials;
• Identify, catalog, and summarize relevant documents tied to the research subject;
• Follow archival handling protocols and maintain proper documentation practices;
• Locate, review, and synthesize material from historical newspapers (e.g., The New York Times, local and alternative presses, trade publications);
• Organize research findings, maintain bibliographies, and track citations accurately;
• Assist in identifying key themes, patterns, and historical context within archival materials;
• Support fact-checking and verification of historical information;
• Coordinate with Library staff regarding access, permissions, and material requests;
• Provide administrative support to the Fellow;
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field; master's degree or current enrollment in a graduate or Ph.D. program in museum studies, art history, history, library science, or related field is preferred;
• Proficient in everyday digital tools and comfortable learning new software applications;
• Understanding of basic AI concepts and tools to enhance efficiency, automate routine tasks, and support decision-making;
• Excellent organizational and writing skills, with a keen attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and manage multiple research threads;
• Experience conducting historical newspaper research is preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.


This is largely a sedentary role using a computer and reviewing research documents; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets, and bend or stoop as necessary. The employee will walk and stand throughout the day, and travel locally to other research libraries in the NYC metro area.


COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The expected salary for this position is $28 per hour. The successful candidate will be offered a salary based on specific factors such as their individual qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.


The New York Historical is an Equal Opportunity Employer.