Title: Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Archive Practicum

Department: Ryerson and Burnham Archives of the Art Institute of Chicago

Duties/Responsibilities: Founded in 1901, The Ryerson and Burnham Libraries is the third largest art research library in the United States. The Archives' mission is to collect artists' and architects' papers that complement and extend both the 400,000+ volumes of the Libraries' collection as well as the permanent collections of the museum's curatorial departments. The Archives' collections are notably strong in late 19th- and 20th-century American architecture, with particular depth in Midwest architecture. Architects such as Edward Bennett, Daniel Burnham, Bruce Goff, Bertrand Goldberg, Ludwig Hilberseimer, Mies van der Rohe, Louis Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright are represented in a broad range of papers. As well, the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago is documented through photographs by C.D. Arnold and through a small collection of ephemera. The Century of Progress International Exposition of 1933-1934 in Chicago and the World's Fair of 1939 in New York are also each represented in an individual archive. The Historic Architecture and Landscape Image Collection (HALIC), a large collection of mounted photographic prints and lantern slides, provides valuable historic records of American architecture, landscape design, and urban planning. Other significant collections include the papers of artists, designers and scholars such as Ivan Albright, Irving Penn and George Collins.

A few of the many valuable experiences we may offer a graduate student with interest in Archives are:

• Survey, arrange, process, and provide preservation and intellectual access to large and small collections. Add accruals to existing collections; evaluate and reorganize existing collections to better facilitate access accordingly.
• Review and update existing finding aids and encode new finding aids in EAD.
• Assist in the establishment, organization, editing, and application of metadata for new and existing digital objects. Digitize collection items when appropriate and develop content for online exhibits, publications, and other uses as required.
• Assist patrons and researchers in navigating collections on-site and online; respond to email research inquiries.

It is our goal to create Library Practicum and Internship experiences that are tailored to meet the needs and the career goals of each individual student.

Required Qualifications/Skills: The Ryerson and Burnham Archives (http://www.artic.edu/aic/libraries/rbarchives/rbarchcoll.html), operating under the administration of The Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at The Art Institute of Chicago, offers semester long internships to graduate students in Library and Information Science with an interest in Archives.

Preferred Qualifications/Skills:

Length of Program: Semester long internships

Compensation:

College Credit:

Hours:

Application Deadline: Questions? Please call or email Nathaniel Parks, Assistant Archivist nparks@artic.edu, 312.857.7676.

To apply, fax or email a resume and cover letter to:
The Art Institute of Chicago Internship Program -- Ryerson and Burnham Libraries
111 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60603-6404
or send an e-mail to: aic.jobs@artic.edu

Please Cc: or fax a copy as well to:
Nathaniel Parks
Assistant Archivist Ryerson & Burnham Libraries
nparks@artic.edu
fax: 312.553.4320

Number of Openings: