History Colorado Collections Diversity Fellowship

Interested in a career in museums? Curious about how collections are used to engage the public? Want to earn extra funds while building your resume? This program encourages you to explore a career in museums while learning about collections care and the ways in which collections and curatorial staff work to increase access to the collection.

The History Colorado Collections Diversity Fellowship encourages undergraduate and graduate students from diverse communities who are enrolled at an accredited Colorado university or college to explore collections-related work and the challenges within museums, historical organizations, and cultural institutions as they relate to inclusion, representation, narrative, and the workforce. Acceptance into the program is a competitive process and only completed applications will be considered. After reviewing applications, some students will be offered an in-person interview with program staff.

This 350-hour-long fellowship will offer students the opportunity to work on a specific collections-based project at History Colorado. The Collections Diversity Fellowship is designed to engage students in the care, preservation, and interpretation of the History Colorado Permanent Collection. The Collections Diversity Fellowship will also include aspects of public engagement with a final presentation and/or social media post.

About the Diversity Fellowship

Fellows will receive a stipend of $4500. The Collections Diversity Fellowship stipend is not salary or compensation. The Fellowship stipend is meant to support study and research during the tenure of the appointment and will be issued in 1 to 2 installments.

The History Colorado Collections Diversity Fellowship is a proactive initiative to bring more diverse experiences and individuals into the History Colorado organization.

Since cultural organizations tend to be representative of the social structures and political traditions of the groups who created them, it can take a determined effort to make their staff, programs, and collections more reflective of diverse populations. Communities need to “see themselves” in the work of cultural organizations in order to identify with their missions.

For museums, diversity and community engagement are not issues of political correctness. The demographic shifts in Colorado require History Colorado and other cultural organizations to diversify the perspective of their establishments in order to truly fulfill their missions.

Spring 2020 John W. Emery Family Archival Diversity Fellowship

What is the project, why is it important? 

The John W. Emery Family Diversity Fellow for 2020 will work with the Curator of Archives to make manuscript collections more accessible through the arrangement and description of five archival collections acquired by History Colorado since 2018:

  • The Charles Arhart Collection: A collection of materials from an LGBTQ inclusive church with many connections to other History Colorado Collections.
  • The Marcia S. Krieger Papers: Materials relating to the first woman to be the Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.
  • Lena Stoiber and the Stoiber Family Papers: Archival and photographic items related to a pioneering female mine operator in 19th and early 20th century Silverton, CO.
  • Antonia Brico Posters and autograph books: An addition to a large collection of materials about a pioneering orchestra conductor and one of the first female professional orchestra conductors.
  • Chinook Foundation papers: A collection of late 20th and early 21st century flyers, brochures and other ephemera from non-profits in the Colorado Front Range.

This project will add information and historical context to the existing collection information, as well as create new catalog records for these materials. The project will make this information available to the public through our online collections catalog. The project will seek creative ways to expand the public’s knowledge of these collections.

What qualifications do I need to apply?

History Colorado is seeking an undergraduate or graduate student in Public History, Museum Studies, Archives Management, or a related program, to complete this project. Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited Colorado university or college for Spring 2020. Applicants must be prepared to complete the fellowship in the spring or summer of 2020 at the History Colorado Center in downtown Denver.

All candidates must be from a diverse community. The successful candidate will be a creative, self-motivated, and intellectually curious individual committed to the mission of History Colorado to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past.

Application Process

To apply, please send a cover letter introducing yourself and explaining your interest in the program, along with a current resume and contact information to Curatorial Services and Collections Access, Diversity Fellowship, History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver, Colorado, 80203. You can also email your application to shaun.boyd@state.co.us (please include Diversity Fellowship in the subject line).

Acceptance into the program is a competitive process and only completed applications will be considered. After reviewing applications, some students will be offered an in-person interview with program staff.

Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2020.

Spring 2020 Temple Buell Diversity Fellowship

What is the project, why is it important? 

History Colorado has a wide range of architectural collections, from the work of Robert S. Roeschlaub, Colorado’s first licensed architect, to prominent firms such as James Sudler Associates. Drawing upon the legacy of Temple Buell, one of Colorado’s most significant architects and developers, the Spring 2020 Temple Buell Diversity Fellow will work with the Temple Buell Associate Curator of Architecture to make History Colorado’s architectural holdings more accessible to the public through an in-depth inventory and rehousing project.  

In addition to working with architectural drawings and related documents, the Temple Buell Diversity Fellow will also carry out research to enhance the information and historical context included in the existing collections information. The results of this research will be made available to the public through our online collections catalog. The Fellow will also seek creative ways to expand the public’s knowledge of History Colorado’s architectural holdings.

The Temple Buell Diversity Fellowship is generously funded by the Buell Foundation.

What qualifications do I need to apply?

History Colorado is seeking an undergraduate or graduate student in Architecture, Art History, Public History, Museum Studies, Archives Management, Library and Information Science, or a related program, to complete and enhance this project. Applicants must currently be enrolled at an accredited Colorado university or college for Spring 2020. Applicants must be prepared to complete the fellowship in the spring or summer of 2020 at the History Colorado Center in downtown Denver.

All candidates must be from a diverse community. The successful candidate will be a creative, self-motivated, and intellectually curious individual committed to the mission of History Colorado to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past.

Application Process

To apply, please send a cover letter introducing yourself and explaining your interest in the program and project, along with a current CV/resume and contact information to Curatorial Services and Collections Access, Temple Buell Diversity Fellowship, History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver, Colorado, 80203.  You can also email your application to anna.mascorella@state.co.us (please include Temple Buell Diversity Fellowship in the subject line).

Acceptance into the fellowship program is a competitive process, and only completed applications will be considered. After reviewing applications, some students will be offered an in-person interview with program staff.

Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2020.

Spring 2020 Collections Diversity Fellowship

What is the project, why is it important? 

Throughout the Curatorial Services and Collections Access (CSCA) department are several opportunities to complete projects to assist CSCA staff in the ongoing curatorial and collections daily work. These projects seek to add information and historical context to existing collection information, both for History Colorado objects and loaned materials on view in exhibits at the Center and stored at the off-site storage facility. Fellow will learn how to use the various collections databases and resources utilized by museum staff.

Projects include the successfully completion of the following:

  • Condition report, measure, and photograph returned loaned objects from closed outgoing loan at the off-site storage facility under the supervision of the Collections Manager
  • Condition report and photograph of History Colorado objects of Beer Here! and What’s Your Story? Exhibitions under supervision of Exhibits and Loan Registrar
  • Box or rehouse objects and find permanent storage locations under supervision of Exhibits and Loan Registrar and Collections Manager
  • Number objects in permanent collection under supervision of Assistant Registrar
  • Provide customer service at Research Center during public hours under supervision of the Research Center Manager
  • Complete archival projects under the supervision of the Curator of Archives

This project will add information and historical context to the existing collection and loan information. The project will make this information available to the public through our online collections catalog.

What qualifications do I need to apply?

History Colorado is seeking a graduate student in History, Museum Studies, Archives Management, Art History or a related program, to complete and enhance this project. Applicants must currently be enrolled at an accredited Colorado University or College for Spring 2020. Applicants must be prepared to complete the fellowship 3 days a week from April 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020 at the History Colorado Center and off-site storage facility.

The successful candidate must be from a diverse community, creative, self-motivated, and an intellectually curious individual committed to the mission of History Colorado to create a better future for Colorado by inspiring wonder in our past.

Application Process

To apply, please send a cover letter introducing yourself and explaining your interest in the program, along with a current resume and contact information to Curatorial Services and Collections Access, Diversity Fellowship, History Colorado, 1200 Broadway, Denver, Colorado, 80203. You can also email your application to kimberly.kronwall@state.co.us (please include Diversity Fellowship in the subject line).

Acceptance into the program is a competitive process and only completed applications will be considered. After reviewing applications, some students will be offered an in-person interview with program staff.

Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2020.

Location:  History Colorado Center, and off-site storage facility, Denver, CO

Stipend:  Fellows will receive a stipend of $2250. The Diversity Fellowship stipend is not salary or compensation. The Fellowship stipend is meant to support study and research during the tenure of the appointment and will be issued in one installment on June 30, 2020.

Apply by: April 1, 2020