Call for Applicants: Archival Fellow (Contractor)
Date: January 9, 2026
Call for Applicants: Archival Fellow (Contractor)
Hosted by: Public Housing Community Fund
Hours: Up to 15 hours/week
Dates: March 2026 - July 2026 (16 weeks)
Stipend Amount: $8,000
Location: Remote and/or hybrid at Fiorello H. LaGuardia Community College/CUNY in Long Island City, Queens
Overview
The Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF) seeks an Archival Fellow (the “Fellow”) to write a long-form article for a StoryMap that references a select group of digitized historical materials from the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collection at the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives (LGWA). This Fellowship is a component of The Revitalizing the NYCHA Archives: Honoring our Legacy, Building our Future Program, highlighting the major historical milestones in NYCHA since its founding in 1935 and its evolution into North America's largest public housing authority.
The Fellow will conduct collection research at the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives in Queens. The NYCHA collection documents the construction of New York’s public housing projects and provides information about the lives of the residents between the early 1930s and 2000s. The collection contains architectural drawings, correspondence, reports, news clippings, testimony, journals and newspapers, and surveys of neighborhoods and tenant populations. It also has photos of city neighborhoods before the development of public housing buildings.
StoryMap Narrative Goals
Showcase NYCHA’s comprehensive history from the 1930s to the present day
Highlight the significant impact of public housing on the landscape of New York City
Celebrate the contributions of NYCHA’s residents and employees
Reference collection materials that capture the breadth and culture of NYCHA
Program Partners
The Fund for Public Housing, Inc., d/b/a Public Housing Community Fund, was founded as a nonprofit (501c3) organization in 2016, to support NYCHA and its residents. PHCF creates and leverages resources and relationships to enhance the opportunities and quality of life for NYCHA residents, while uplifting the importance of public housing to our city. PHCF aims to engage people and partners to build a stronger, more equitable New York City by investing in public housing communities. PHCF invests in programs focused on leadership development, financial empowerment, community health, and workforce training for residents of the NYCHA community. https://www.communityfund.nyc/.
The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY
The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives was established in 1982 to collect, preserve, and make available primary materials documenting the social and political history of New York City. The Archives serve researchers, journalists, students, scholars, exhibit planners, and policy makers. The LaGuardia and Wagner Archives also produce public and educational programs exploring the history of Greater New York. https://www.laguardia.edu/about/laguardia-and-wagner-archives/.
NYCHA, the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 528,105 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs, as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. In addition, NYCHA connects residents to critical programs and services from external and internal partners, with a focus on economic opportunity, youth, seniors, and social services. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city. https://www.nyc.gov/site/nycha/index.page.
Scope of Work
Under the general supervision of the Public Housing Community Fund, and working closely with the Lead and Processing Archivists at LGWA, the Fellow will:
Develop accurate records and citations of relevant collection materials to facilitate future access on Google Drive
Write a draft and revised final article (maximum 3,000 words) intended for publication in a StoryMap and bibliography
Reference and caption the NYCHA collection materials in the article
Create content that aligns with the program’s narrative goals
Deliverables
One (1) draft article for internal review
Write a draft article (3,000-word maximum) that references and captions collection materials. The Fellow will submit a preliminary bibliography formatted according to a standard citation style (e.g., Chicago, MLA).
One (1) final article for public-facing contexts
Incorporate feedback from program partners into a polished final article suitable for publication. The Fellow will also submit a final bibliography.
One (1) dossier containing detailed records for internal preservation
Compile a list of relevant materials from the NYCHA collection and scholarly sources that demonstrate critical synthesis of research.
Participation in at least monthly check-in meetings (virtual or in-person)
Basic Qualifications
Obtained or working towards a graduate degree in any relevant field
Experience conducting archival research, preferably in a public or academic archive setting
Experience producing clear, engaging, and accurate written work for public or academic audiences
Experience synthesizing and interpreting primary and secondary sources to create compelling narratives
Experience reviewing contract agreements, intellectual property, image rights, and usage permissions related to archival materials, artworks, and multimedia content
Familiarity with archival standards and best practices, including DACS, EAD, and MARC
Familiarity with archival management software and digital preservation tools
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Capacity to work at 29–10 Thomson Avenue, Long Island City, Queens, New York 11101 in the C-Building (room C760)
Preferred Qualifications:
Demonstrated professional experience with the collection of materials related to public housing
Demonstrated portfolio of written work about housing, urban development, social welfare, and the arts in New York City
Application and Project Timeline
Application due by: February 06, 2026, 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Selected applicants will be notified for an interview by: February 20, 2026
Selected applicants will be notified in early March 2026
Fellow starts by: March 23, 2026
First draft and preliminary bibliography due on or about: May 15, 2026
Fellow receives feedback on or about: June 12, 2026
Final article and revisions due on or about: July 02, 2026
Dossier due by: July 13, 2026
Contract and Payment Schedule
The Fellow will serve as an independent contractor to PHCF and will not be considered an employee of PHCF. Accordingly, the role is not eligible for health benefits.
Contractor compensation shall not exceed $8,000 for the deliverables over the term of the position.
Payments for the Fellow, up to $8,000, shall be made as follows:
$500 at contract signing (March 2026); and three (3) payments of $2,000 each according to the Project Timelines and acceptance of deliverables, on or about:
May 15, 2026: $2,000
June 12, 2026: $2,000
July 02, 2026: $2,000
The final payment on or about July 17, 2026, upon acceptance and approval of the final deliverable: $1,500
Submission Requirements
Share your professional qualifications for the Archival Fellow position and personal motivations and interest in public housing in New York City
CV/resume
Writing sample and/or portfolio
One reference contact from similar work
Submission Instructions
Apply by February 06, 2026, at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time by using the Google Form here.
Send all questions to archives@communityfund.nyc.
We encourage applications from the City University of New York students and recent graduates, NYCHA residents, and emerging scholars with an interest in public housing, urban history, archives, and storytelling.
The Fund for Public Housing, Inc., d/b/a Public Housing Community Fund, provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.
