Stephen Sprouse Archives Fellowship

Newfields a Place for Nature & The Arts • Indianapolis, IN

17h • $24 • Onsite

About The Position

The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields seeks applicants for the Stephen
Sprouse Archives Fellowship. This temporary, six-month position within the
Archives and Library is ideal for early career professionals and current or
recent graduate students specializing in archival science. The Fellow reports to
the Interim Director of the Library & Archives, and works closely with the
Librarian, Registration, and Education Department to organize and digitize the
Sprouse Papers.

This role facilitates access to the Sprouse Papers by assisting in the
development and implementation of digital tools and works collaboratively with
staff across Newfields to achieve project goals. The Fellow also supports
Library projects and may contribute to the development of programs and
publications that feature the museum’s archival holdings.

About the Stephen Sprouse Papers: Stephen Sprouse was a groundbreaking fashion
designer active from the early 1980s through his death in 2004. He collaborated
with Andy Warhol, NASA, Target, and Louis Vuitton, to name just a few examples
of his influence. Newfields acquired the Stephen Sprouse fashion collection,
including his archives, from the Sprouse family in 2018-2019, and mounted an
exhibition in 2022. The archival collection measures approximately 76 linear
feet and contains an array of formats, from paper to Polaroids, fabric samples
and patterns, and magnetic media. Sprouse used Polaroid film as his primary
means of documenting his work and muses, and there are over 5,000 prints in the
collection that need to be processed.

Requirements

• Knowledge of current archival standards and best practices.
• Familiarity with archival management systems such as ArchivesSpace.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Proven ability to organize and synthesize information, making logical connections between materials.
• Ability to collaborate with team members in a timely and effective manner.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Library or Archival Science, History, Museum Studies, or Art History
• Demonstrated experience through coursework or internships.
• Knowledge of fashion design, trends, and terminology a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assess and organize archival materials into a coherent, research ready arrangement manner, in consultation with the Interim Director of Library & Archives and Curatorial.
• Rehouse materials into acid-free folders or appropriate storage containers, with guidance from Conservation staff as needed.
• Develop a comprehensive finding aid and descriptive metadata to support scholarly and public access.
• Digitize select materials, time permitting, and generate associated metadata.
• Collaborate with staff to upload digitized materials into Newfields’ digital asset management system.
• Participate in team meetings and cross-departmental check-ins to share updates and align on institutional priorities.
• Support day-to-day operations of the Stout Reference Library, including reference services, collection maintenance, and public engagement as appropriate.
• Supports Library and Learning Innovation projects at Newfields and may contribute to the development of programs and publications that feature the museum’s archival holdings.
• Must be available to work onsite and some weekends and evenings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees