What are the responsibilities and job description for the Curator's Fellowship position at Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)?
Applications for the 2026 Curator’s Fellowship are open now through February 6, 2026.
The Curator’s Fellow conducts research in MOHAI’s collections and prepares a public presentation offering new insights on MOHAI materials and Puget Sound area history. This MOHAI collection-based project takes place over six months, including 10 to 20 hours of on-site research, and pays a stipend of $5000. MOHAI prioritizes research that includes stories of historically marginalized or excluded communities, particularly Black, Indigenous, People of Color.
The museum invites applications from community and academic researchers and historians whose work focuses on the history of the Pacific Northwest. Research should bring new interpretations or insight to MOHAI’s content.
For our 2026 Curator’s Fellowship, MOHAI is interested in learning more about specific communities in Seattle’s history for upcoming museum priorities, and we would like applications to address one of the two topics listed below. Researchers will be asked to search within MOHAI’s collections for these stories but also encouraged to do research at other local institutions.
Topic 1: Disability history, including people with physical disabilities, people who are deaf/hard-of-hearing, blind/low-vision, neurodivergent, and people with chronic illnesses including mental illness. We are interested in stories of daily life, advocacy and activism, and how disability history intersects with other historical themes (health care, housing, labor, education, etc.).
Topic 2: Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander history in Seattle and the region, from 19th century sailors to more recent migrations fueled by colonial/military developments, educational opportunities, and economic pressures. We are interested in stories about NH/PI identity, culture, labor, and community life – and more.
Salary : $5,000