The American Philosophical Society's Library & Museum (APS) in Philadelphia invites applications for a two-year, residential Archives Training Fellowship for applicants at any stage of their careers who would like to develop or advance their professional skills in collections care and best practices surrounding Native American and Indigenous collections in archives, libraries, and museums. This funding opportunity is part of the Native American Scholars Initiative (NASI), supported by the Mellon Foundation. An award will be made pending availability of funding.

The Fellow will be based at the APS Library & Museum’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR). Over the two years, the Fellow will spend 80% of their time as a contributing member of the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research, working alongside archivists and other staff on tasks and projects relating to CNAIR’s work promoting access and use of the APS Library & Museum’s archival collections relating to Indigenous peoples and languages of the Americas, which is one of the largest such archival collections on the continent. The other 20% of the Fellow’s time will be devoted to pursuing an independent project of their own proposing.

This opportunity is intended to give the Fellow broad exposure to and direct experience working with archival collections in a professional context through working in parallel with archivists, curators, and other staff at CNAIR. The makeup of the Fellow’s work may include multiple areas of archival practice, such as processing, digitization, metadata work, resource development, exhibition planning, and reference, with the combination of tasks and responsibilities constructed partly in light of the Fellow’s experiences and interests, and partly in light of CNAIR’s current project priorities. The Fellow will also work on a significant, sustained project with CNAIR focused on one of the above areas.

This 24-month residential fellowship is intended for a master’s degree graduate in archives or library/information science, a recent doctoral graduate in any field, or an independent postdoctoral scholar. The applicant should be working or planning to work with Native American and Indigenous collections in an archive, library, or museum setting. Applications from those who have lived experience or sustained personal engagement with Indigenous communities, including as a member of an Indigenous community, are particularly encouraged. Key criteria for evaluation include the nature of the applicant’s past work and the articulated goals of professional training in relation to the applicant's career development.

The purpose of this fellowship is to provide information professionals and scholars with training and experiences that will diversify their skillset by working alongside archivists and staff at CNAIR, as well as to the opportunity to do an independent project of their own on the side.

The Fellow will also be expected to participate in the vibrant intellectual community at the Society, including monthly lunches at the Library with visiting scholars, daytime workshops and programming with other residential fellows, and evening programs with specialists in a wide range of fields.

[In addition, the APS's Library & Museum offers several short-term fellowships to support research using its collections. For information on the short-term fellowships visit https://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/fellowships.]

Eligibility & Qualifications

• This fellowship is open to applicants anywhere in the world, including those who are not U.S. citizens or residents. Availability of visa sponsorship is not yet known, but may be available depending upon funding support.
• Applicants must have completed their master's degree in library science or archival studies, or doctoral degree in any field by the beginning of the fellowship term.
• Applicants should have scholarly and/or personal experience with Indigenous topics or issues. 

Terms
Compensation is $50,000 a year plus benefits, along with additional funds for research support, travel, and relocation. The Fellow is expected to be on site full time for the duration of the fellowship, excepting approved travel for professional development. The Fellowship may not be held concurrently with any other fellowship or grant.

• 24 month residential fellowship
  $50,000 annual salary
  $5,000 travel/research fund
  $750 relocation cost

Application Instructions
Applicants will submit the following materials through Interfolio (https://apply.interfolio.com/177458):

• An introductory cover letter that discusses their past work, career goals, and how the fellowship will support attaining those goals.
• A 1-2 page statement describing the specific skills and experiences the applicant hopes to gain through the fellowship and the contributions they will bring to the APS.
• A short statement, no more than one page, describing the extent of their experience working collaboratively within an Indigenous community, or as a member of an Indigenous community.
• A one-page description of a proposed project stemming from the applicant’s areas of interest to be done as 20% of their time.
• C.V.
• Two letters of recommendation that address the following questions. These can include letters from Indigenous community members or entities, if relevant describing to the applicant’s overall work:
  • Does the applicant have a demonstrated interest in archives, Native American and Indigenous Studies or allied fields?
  • Does the applicant have a demonstrated interest in or experience with working in cultural heritage institutions in contexts not directly related to doing their own research (i.e. through collections care, cataloging, exhibition planning, programming, or other related activities)?
  • How would this fellowship advance the applicant’s career goals?

Extended deadline: February 9, 2026.

Application deadline: January 16, 2026.