Archival Field Fellowships (2 positions, paid), Roving Archivist Program, MA State Historical Records Commission, (multiple locations, Massachusetts)

Posted September 14, 2026

Description:

Through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the Massachusetts State Historical Records Advisory Board (MA SHRAB), a program within the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office, is pleased to provide funding for 2 Fellowship opportunities for emerging archives professionals to gain practical processing experience at an archival repository in Massachusetts. The MA SHRAB Archival Field Fellows will work onsite at the selected repository to
rehouse and process an archival collection and will be supervised remotely by the MA SHRAB Roving Archivists. In addition to professional experience and mentorship, Fellows will receive a stipend of $1,500.00 to complete approximately 60 hours of work to rehouse, arrange, describe, and make accessible an archival collection. Projects will be completed within a two-month timeframe. The Field Fellow will work with the repository to share online the collection information or finding aid, as well as
write a blog post about the Fellowship experience for the MA SHRAB blog. To view previous examples of Field Fellowship posts, visit the MA SHRAB blog:https://mashrabblog.wordpress.com/?s=field+fellowship.

Position Duties:

• Apply archival principles and standards to arrange, rehouse, and describe an archival collection.
• Work with the repository to share the collection finding aid online.
• Write a blog post about the field site and processing project for the MA SHRAB blog.
• Submit a brief summary of the Field Fellowship to the MA SHRAB.

Qualifications:

• Interested candidates must be enrolled at, or be a recent graduate from, a college or university at the graduate level pursuing a degree in information and library science, archives management, history, public history, or a related field (note: no academic credit is provided through the MA SHRAB Field Fellowship program).
• Must have demonstrated knowledge of archival theory and standards.
• Ability to work independently.
• Must arrange own transportation to and from the repository.
• Availability to complete the Fellowship project within two months, working part-time or full- time.

How To Apply:

Submit the following information to [email protected] with the subject line “Archival Field
Fellowship – Fellow Application”:

1. Resume.
2. One-page letter of interest including an indication of preferred geographic area of the state for
   field placement as well as an estimate on the months/days-of-the-week/hours-per-week
   available.
3. Provide contact information for two references who can speak to the applicant’s knowledge of
   and/or experience in archival studies (such as from a professor, program director, or archives
   employer/internship supervisor).

Application deadline: October 9, 2026 by 12 PM E.T.

Additional Information:

What is the Roving Archivist program?
The Roving Archivist Program connects stewards of historical records with a trained professional archivist to provide advice on policies, procedures, arrangement and description of records, preservation planning, and emergency preparedness. The program provides critical assistance to small and medium-sized Massachusetts repositories that administer collections of 500 linear feet or less. For more information about the Roving Archivist program, and to view a map of repositories that have received Roving Archivist services in the state, visit the MA SHRAB website: SHRAB Grants and Programs (state.ma.us).