Position Announcement: Dietrich American Foundation Collection Fellow, Wesleyan University

The Dietrich American Foundation (DAF) collection, on long-term deposit from the DAF and administered by Wesleyan University’s Special Collections & Archives (SC&A), is a superb group of more than 1000 books, periodicals, manuscripts, printed ephemera, and related materials focusing on early America. Particular strengths include the Seven Years’ War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812. The collection includes one of four copies of the first printing of the Star Spangled Banner’s sheet music, Ben Franklin’s personal annotated copy of Second Protest, With a List of the Voters Against the Bill to Repeal the American Stamp Act… (1766), a first edition of the first collected publishing of the Federalist papers in their original boards, and the unpublished diaries of loyalist Grace Galloway. In addition to high spots, the collection is rich in manuscripts and uncommon printed material from before 1850.  

Reporting to the Dietrich Family Associate University Librarian for Unique Collections/University Archivist, the two-year DAF Collection Fellow will increase access to this little-known collection. Their primary responsibilities will be to process and catalog materials in ArchivesSpace and Alma/Primo, create condition reports, review and improve housing and storage with the Preservation & Book Arts Librarian, and set digitization priorities with the Digital Lab. The Fellow will also create teaching and research guides to integrate the collection with Wesleyan’s other Unique Collections. This position will be highly collaborative, so the ability to communicate effectively, work across teams, and consider the needs of diverse stakeholders is essential. 

For additional information please see the full position description.

For full consideration please apply by Friday November 7, 2025.