Archival Fellow

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.

Job Description:

Position Title: Archival Fellow

Position Type: Full-Time

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Department: Research, Scholarship, and Library (Curatorial Division)

Reports to: Director of Research, Scholarship, and Library

Date Reviewed: November 20, 2025

About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:

Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.

The Momentary is a contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. The Momentary is a venue for the music, art, and food of our time, and a catalyst for creativity and economic vitality. An extension to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary is a ‘living room’ where community gathers to be inspired, connected, and joyful. You belong here: make the most of this moment.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Research, Scholarship, and Library, the Archival Fellow will arrange, describe, and digitize the Dr. Francis V. O’Connor Research Collection. Gifted to Crystal Bridges by O’Connor, the collection comprises approximately 40 linear feet of artist files, manuscripts, correspondence, project files, and printed material that pertain to O’Connor’s research and publications on Jackson Pollock and the Federal Arts Project of the Works Progress Administration. An additional 15 linear feet of O’Connor’s personal papers complete the collection.

This position is a full-time, fully on-site, one-year terminal position open to recent MLIS graduates and early career archival professionals.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Research, assess, and arrange the Dr. Francis V. O’Connor Research Collection
• Physically stabilize and perform basic preservation of materials through rehousing, re-foldering, and encapsulation
• Digitize records and curate digital records in SharePoint
• Create and edit finding aids and digital exhibits/directories in ArchivEra
• Supervise archival interns and volunteers
• Assist staff, researchers, and museum guests with reference and use requests
• Participate on department, division, and museum-wide working groups and committees
• Perform related duties as assigned by the Director of Library and Archives
  
  

Qualifications and Skills:

• MLIS degree from an accredited program or commensurate education, training, and experience
• One year of experience arranging, describing, and preserving archival collections
• Familiarity with DACS and such item-level metadata standards as CCO and Dublin Core
• Knowledge of preservation and conservation issues for a variety of materials, including paper, photographs, and textiles
• Basic understanding of the digitization of analog formats and digital preservation standards
• Demonstrated planning, decision-making, and problem-solving skills with superior verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to research historical subjects
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including attention to detail and deadlines
• Ability to work independently and to effectively interact with diverse colleagues and constituents
• Experience working with interns and volunteers
  
  

Preferred Skills and Abilities:

• Experience or academic training in the history of American art
• Experience working with ArchivEra
• Experience using digital preservation software and tools
  
  

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Physical demands: The position requires verbal and written conversation with others, sitting, standing, walking, bending, climbing, reaching, strenuous lifting/moving objects up to 25 pounds and use of hands to manipulate, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. Vision abilities required by the job include close vision and color perception
• Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum galleries, art studios, outdoors on the trails, and in communities served. Some evening and weekend hours are required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate.
  
  

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.