Description du poste
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS NYG&B Scholar in Residence: Toward a More Complete Record – A Review of NYG&B Transcriptions, 1870–2025 The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) is seeking applications for a Scholar in Residence to conduct a systematic review of published record transcriptions in the NYG&B Record under a short-term appointment. Under this particular project, the Scholar in Residence will review transcriptions published in the NYG&B Record from 1870 to 1920 to identify individuals who may not be fully represented in the historical record, and compile information to support more inclusive future scholarship. Mission and Background: The NYG&B preserves, documents, and shares family history and stories from across New York State. We engage with genealogists, biographers, historians, and organizations to establish the broader contexts of New York's past. We actively foster connections between New York's past and present. Founded in 1869, the NYG&B is a nonprofit organization. As one of the oldest genealogical organizations in the United States, the NYG&B serves members both nationally and internationally through its extensive records and resources; educational programming; and landmark publications, including its scholarly journal the NYG&B Record , quarterly issues of the New York Researcher , and the award-winning N ew York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer . Its comprehensive records and collections encompass genealogical and historical materials from all 62 counties in New York State. Learn more at www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org. Scholar in Residence Program Overview: Through its Scholar in Residence program, the NYG&B engages an expert genealogist for a short-term appointment to survey materials at the NYG&B or at another institution for relevant historical documents and research related to a particular family history topic. Since 2023, the NYG&B's Scholar in Residence program has sought to bring greater understanding and awareness of potential materials within existing genealogical and historical collections. Projects focus on a specific research topic and collection, and work is completed during a defined survey period (typically 8 to 12 weeks). Complete projects are made freely available online at newyorkfamilyhistory.org. Previous projects have included Documenting Jewish Families from Colonial Times to the Present in New York State (2024 and 2026); Tracing Immigrants to New York (2025); and Forced Settlement: Documenting Descendants of Enslaved Americans and Their Scottish Connections (2024). Project Scope: Toward a More Complete Record Since its first issue in 1870, the NYG&B's scholarly journal, the NYG&B Record , has included transcriptions, abstracts, and compiled genealogies for many of New York's earliest families. As the second-oldest genealogical journal in the United States, with more than 600 issues published to date, the NYG&B Record has served as an invaluable resource for genealogical researchers. Previous issues of the journal are available digitally with an every-name index that includes more than 1.2 million names from 1870 to 2025. As in all scholarly disciplines, it is important to revisit and reevaluate earlier editorial and research practices with an understanding of the context in which they were created. Modern frameworks, such as the Genealogical Proof Standard, now guide authors in producing more thorough, transparent, and inclusive work. Earlier publications, developed under different conventions and constraints, may reflect limitations in access, methodology, or editorial scope, including the incomplete representation of some individuals within transcriptions and abstracts. This project will undertake a systematic review of published record transcriptions in past issues of the NYG&B Record to identify such gaps and, where appropriate, reconnect those publications to the underlying original sources, in support of future scholarship that more fully reflects the individuals documented in historical records. The NYG&B proposes to complete this project in two phases, beginning Fall 2026. During the first phase, the Scholar in Residence will: Review transcriptions published in the NYG&B Record from 1870 to 1920, identifying instances where individuals may not be fully represented, through comparison with original records and relevant contextual sources. Prepare a summary of reviewed articles, noting areas where additional research or clarification may be warranted. Compile information on previously unrepresented or underrepresented individuals in a format suitable for future scholarly publication, where possible. Provide an assessment of the likelihood of similar gaps in volumes published between 1921 and 1989, and 1990 to 2025, based on observed patterns. The project's second phase, which will commence by Spring 2027, will incorporate the findings from the first phase to continue reviewing transcriptions published in the NYG&B Record for a set 40-year period, as suggested during the first phase, provided that the entirety of articles from 1870 to 1920 have been identified. This project will be overseen by the NYG&B executive team. Once completed, the Scholar's findings will help inform potential approaches for incorporating this additional research into future issues of the NYG&B Record or other publication methods, supporting a more comprehensive and inclusive presentation of the historical record. A $1,000 weekly stipend will be provided to the Scholar. All elements of the project will be completed in approximately 16 weeks, divided into two 8-week phases beginning in December 2026 and May 2027, respectively. How to Apply: To apply, please submit the following to adminaccounts@nygbs.org by Dec 4, 2026: Letter of interest (not to exceed 1,500 words). Curriculum Vitae. Writing sample (based on your own research, not to exceed 20 pages). Two letters of recommendation from faculty or professionals in your field.