The Thaw Conservation Center at the Morgan Library & Museum announces a one-year post-graduate fellowship in rare book conservation, with the possibility of renewal for a second year. The fellowship will provide an emerging book conservator with a mentored post-graduate opportunity, working under the guidance of an experienced staff of book and paper conservators. Projects of progressive complexity will develop decision-making and treatment skills as applied to the preservation, treatment, exhibition and loan of bound materials, both printed and manuscript. The fellow will participate in all Thaw Conservation Center activities, including treatment, documentation, technical studies and research, preventive conservation, and environmental monitoring. Completion of an independent research project resulting in a publication, blog post, lecture, or conference presentation is encouraged.
The fellowship will begin in September 2024.
The Morgan is a dynamic museum and research library environment, with extraordinary and varied holdings of books, manuscripts and works of art on paper and parchment; the Thaw Conservation Center is a major resource in New York City for the conservation and technical study of books, manuscripts, bindings, drawings and prints.
Applicants should be emerging professionals who are recent graduates of a recognized graduate-level academic program in conservation, or have acquired equivalent skills, knowledge and experience through other means.
The successful candidate will have a strong grounding in conservation theory and ethics, particularly as applied to books and library materials, as well as demonstrable skills in the treatment of rare books at the post-graduate level. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, plus a commitment to public outreach are highly desirable.
An electronic portfolio of treatment and/or research projects, with relevant written and visual documentation, will be required of applicants selected for interviews.
Annual salary $50,000 plus excellent benefits; up to $2,000 annually for professional development/research-related expenses.
Fellows are expected to make their own travel and housing arrangements but are offered a one-time payment of $1,500 to assist with relocation expenses.
Applicants should submit a cover letter detailing their interest in the fellowship, including a statement of career goals and areas of special interest for research or treatment, plus a curriculum vitae and a list of three referees. Three letters of recommendation should be provided separately by the referees.
All application materials must be received by April 1, 2024. Application materials, including letters of recommendation, should be submitted electronically to tcc@themorgan.org
Preliminary inquiries may be addressed to Maria Fredericks, Sherman Fairchild Head of Conservation, mfredericks@themorgan.org
This fellowship is generously supported by the Pine Tree Foundation of New York.