Caroline Dwight Bain Archival Fellowship

The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) in Boston, Mass. is now accepting applications for the Caroline Dwight Bain Archival Fellowship. The Bain fellowship provides a stipend of $4000 for 210 hours of work during the summer of 2025. 

The MHS is an independent, scholarly research library founded in 1791 for the threefold purpose of collecting, preserving, and disseminating sources for the study of American history. The MHS holds more than 3,700 manuscript collections dating from the 17th century to the present, as well as extensive collections of early American imprints, newspapers, maps, printed ephemera, photographs, engravings, and other research materials. 

**Purpose:  **

Now in its second year, the 2025 Caroline Dwight Bain Archival Fellowship will provide a current student or recent graduate of a conservation or bookbinding program with an immersive learning and work experience at one of the nation’s most important research libraries. The fellowship recipient’s work will focus primarily on hands-on preservation and conservation of books and bound manuscripts in the MHS collections. 

**Reporting Relationship:  **

The fellowship recipient will report to the Nora Saltonstall Conservator & Preservation Librarian. 

**Schedule:  **

The fellowship recipient may choose a full-time schedule of six weeks (210 hours) or a part-time equivalent in the summer of 2025. All work must take place at the Society’s building at 1154 Boylston St., Boston during regular business hours (Monday–Friday).  

Responsibilities:

Specific duties may include:  Creation of cases for rare books  Environmental monitoring  Stacks cleaning  Surface cleaning  Red rot consolidation  Re-casing  Binding repair  Paper mending 

**Qualifications:  **

Enrollment or recent completion of one of the following degrees:  Master’s degree in conservation; Master’s or diploma in a bookbinding program with conservation coursework; or Master’s in an MLS program at an ALA-accredited program in library science, with a demonstrated ability to perform basic collection maintenance  Ability to lift, up to 50 lbs.; and to transport materials on and off carts and shelves  Excellent hand skills  Superb attention to detail   Ability to work independently and in a team environment  

Full/Part Time

Internship

Education

BA/BS

Salary$4,000.00  / Summer Stipend

Salary Notes

Compensation and Benefits:   $4000 stipend. Please note that the fellowship recipient is not a member of the MHS staff and th

Closing Date

04/18/2025

How to Apply

**Application procedure:  **

Please send by email a single PDF that includes a cover letter, résumé, two written recommendations, and photographs of hands-on work documenting up to 5 items to [email protected]. Priority will be given to applicants who apply by April 4, 2025. The fellowship is available in May or June of 2025. 

**Other Requirements:  **

MHS requires proof of a vaccination for COVID-19. As part of its offer process, the MHS will conduct a reference and criminal background check for any finalist. The MHS is not able to sponsor visas.