Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society

Historian in Residence

The Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center (JHC), an archive and educational center specializing in the Jewish history of Boston and New England, is inviting applications for the position of Historian in Residence for the 2022/3 academic year. The Historian in Residence program is a nine-month residency for a recent Ph.D., advanced graduate student, independent scholar, adjunct faculty member, or public historian to conduct research within, and spotlight stories and insights from, the JHC’s archives. Generously funded by Richard Schilder in honor of Justin L. Wyner, this residency carries a stipend of $30,000 for a period of nine months.

Responsibilities

Over the course of their residency, the Historian in Residence will develop and work on a research project inspired by the JHC’s collections and will contribute to other projects and content as agreed upon with JHC staff. Required projects include:

• Designing and implementing a research project on a topic or theme inspired by the holdings of the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center, and using related holdings at other local or national repositories to connect and contextualize it within American and/or American Jewish history.
• Writing at least one article based on this research for publication in American Ancestors magazine.
• Developing at least one public lecture based on their research, to be presented online or in person.
• Researching, developing, and teaching an online course (comprising four classes) on Jewish immigration to the United States from the 1920s through the 1950s, for a general adult audience.

Depending on the historian’s available time, additional projects might include contributing to other JHC public programs; and creating occasional blogposts, social media posts, and website features that highlight JHC collections. The position offers multiple opportunities to build one’s CV.

For more information about the Jewish Heritage Center and our collections, visit our website at www.jewishheritagecenter.org

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will:

• Have an advanced degree in history, American Jewish history, or a related field. Doctorate or nearly-completed doctorate preferred.
• Demonstrate superb writing, research, and presentation skills.
• Be experienced in interpreting and presenting historical content for a wide variety of audiences.
• Be able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

How To Apply:

Candidates should submit a resume and/or CV; two references; and a statement of interest (no more than 1,000 words) that addresses:

• Your current research interests
• Your experience researching in archival collections
• What interests you about the JHC collections
• 1-2 research projects you might want to pursue using the JHC collections
• How you might use related collections at local or national archival repositories

Reporting to the Associate Director for Archives and Education, this flexible, donor-funded fellowship begins on or after September 1, 2022. The Historian may work the equivalent of 15-20 hours a week through June 30, 2023. The stipend is $30,000 for the nine-month appointment. Hybrid remote work is possible, but the Historian will be required to spend at least some time working onsite with the JHC’s collections (by arrangement with JHC staff).

Please send the above to:

Michelle Major, Director of Human Resource

HISTORIAN IN RESIDENCE Application

Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society

mmajor@nehgs.org