Polly Thayer Starr Fellow in American Art

Job Description

Job Description

BOSTON ATHENAEUM

POLLY THAYER STARR FELLOWSHIP IN AMERICAN ART

JOB SUMMARY

The Boston Athenaeum invites applications for the Polly Thayer Starr Fellowship in American Art, intended to provide training and experience as a pathway into the curatorial field. This curatorial fellowship will constitute a full-time, one-year appointment, with the possibility of renewal for a second year. The fellowship is open to graduate students in Art History, American Studies, Museum Studies, and allied interdisciplinary humanities fields in the final stages of doctoral study (ABD) or to scholars who have earned the M.A. or Ph.D. in a relevant field within two years of the start of the fellowship. The Athenaeum seeks candidates whose expertise and experience will further its goals around matters of representation and inclusion. Candidates prepared to bring new and interdisciplinary perspectives to the interpretation of art and visual culture in the Athenaeum’s collections are especially encouraged to apply.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Starr Fellow will work closely with the Athenaeum’s curatorial team, collaborating on a broad range of departmental initiatives and projects, including those designed to further cultural equity. The Fellow will be an active partner in expanding access to, and fostering critical dialogue around, the Athenaeum’s Special Collections through writing, research, and educational outreach. The Fellow will have opportunities to participate in a wide range of curatorial and programming activities, including rotating displays of works from the permanent collection.

In addition to collaborating with the curatorial team, the Starr Fellow will consult with the Athenaeum’s curators early in the fellowship to identify and develop a project grounded in the Athenaeum’s collections and resonant with the mission of the Starr Trust, subject to approval by the Head of Special Collections. The topic of the Fellow’s approved project and other activities may include:

• Drawing on the Athenaeum’s extensive collection of American paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, photographs, illustrated and artists’ books, and art-related archival and secondary research sources;

• Activating the Athenaeum’s special collections, especially those that are less known to the public, through public programs and instructional activities;

• Exploring the roles of historically underrepresented figures in American art and culture, including but not limited to the work of women and people of color;

• Advancing the Polly Thayer Starr Charitable Trust’s mission “to permanently further Mrs. Starr’s artistic legacy and to enhance the appreciation and knowledge of other artists whose works are reflective of her life and interests”;

• Illuminating the collections and activities of the Boston Athenaeum and the Starr Trust for a broad scholarly audience and for the general public.

Over the course of the fellowship, the Starr Fellow will develop the topic into at least one completed project such as an installation of collection materials; a study day or symposium; a scholarly article for submission to a peer-reviewed journal; or an online research or educational resource. The Fellow will have the opportunity to give one or more lectures on this topic at the Athenaeum and elsewhere.

The Polly Thayer Starr Fellow will receive an honorarium of $65,000/year, plus benefits, and work space at the Boston Athenaeum. The Fellow will have access to travel funds and to project and programming funds, subject to supervisory approval. The Fellow will have full access to the Athenaeum’s library and research facilities and, in consultation with the Athenaeum’s curators and registrar, its collections of rare and unique materials, including paintings, sculptures, works on paper, rare books, and manuscripts. The position will report to the Head of Special Collections.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Candidates will be evaluated on their record of prior achievement; the originality of their research interests; their skill and experience in navigating primary and secondary research sources, including original works of art; the quality of their writing; skill at public speaking; and ability to meet deadlines, complete multiple projects successfully, and balance self-directed work with contributions to team projects. Prior museum or special collections experience is strongly preferred; teaching experience is also desirable. Must submit to and pass a background check, including criminal history, personal references, and employment verifications.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.

TO APPLY: Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a short writing sample (no more than 20 pages), and the names of two references familiar with the applicant’s curatorial and scholarly abilities and achievements. Applications received by September 15, 2025 will receive first consideration. Apply using the button below

The Boston Athenaeum is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome candidates who will increase our diversity; we encourage candidates of color and all diverse candidates to apply and are committed to hiring individuals who value a diverse and inclusive work environment. The Boston Athenaeum is also committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the HR Generalist Nora Conley at 617-720-7630 or conley@bostonathenaeum.org

ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHENAEUM

The Boston Athenaeum is a distinguished member-supported library, museum, and cultural institution with a long history at the center of intellectual life in Boston. The Athenaeum hosts lectures and other events nearly every week of the year and supports a dynamic exhibition program. The Athenaeum seeks to nurture a sense of wonder and delight in sharing the joy of physical books, maps, prints, and other works of art, and to foster community and civil discourse among its members and guests. The Athenaeum’s collections are housed within a National Historic Landmark building located near the city’s Black Heritage Trail and the Freedom Trail, Boston Common, and Public Garden in the vibrant Beacon Hill neighborhood. The library maintains over 600,000 volumes with strengths in history, biography, literature, art history, architecture, and the decorative arts. Membership is open to all, and visitors are welcome. Learn more at www.bostonathenaeum.org.

American painters and sculptors represented in the Athenaeum’s collection include Allan Rohan Crite, Sarah Goodridge, Robert Duncanson, Harriet Hosmer, Horatio Greenough, Anna Claypoole Peale, Rembrandt Peale, Lilla Cabot Perry, John Singer Sargent, Florine Stettheimer, and Gilbert Stuart. Holdings of works on paper give special weight to American historical prints and to New England printmakers, both historic and contemporary; particular strengths include the work of Boston lithographers and the graphic arts of the World Wars. Specializing in works by Boston-area artists and firms, the photography collection comprises a catalog of early processes, including daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, albumen, and salted paper prints. Represented through a variety of media, the art collection maintains special emphasis on American portraiture and the landscapes and built environments of New England. Rare book holdings range from Medieval manuscripts and early printing to modern fine press, with strengths in literature and history, natural history, book illustration, the book arts, New England print culture, the American Civil War, and many other fields. Highlights include the largest extant portion of George Washington’s personal library, the double elephant folio edition of Audubon’s Birds of America, and one of the most extensive collections of contemporary artists’ books in the United States. The Athenaeum’s own archives attest to the institution’s role as a catalyst in the development of American arts and letters, and situate it as an important site for the study of the history of connoisseurship and collecting.