Project Description:

Raices Chicago is seeking a knowledgeable and seasoned professional with extensive archival experience to lead a mapping and research project focused on creating an inventory and report of existing Latine community archives. This foundational work supports Raices Chicago in taking the first step to fulfill one of its long term goals: making the collections on Chicago's Latine communities discoverable to increase the diversity and complexity of their stories. This project will bridge and grow the knowledge about archival holdings in larger established institutions and the lesser known community collections.

Scope of Services:

The archivist will be responsible for submitting the following deliverables. They may implement additional tools such as surveys and one-on-one interviews to conclude the research and mapping work:

1. A synthesis of the preliminary assessments conducted by Raices Chicago interns and team on Chicago Latine Archives to help identify gaps in the established collections.

2. The creation of a report that includes a summary of the known collections, themes, strengths, archival silences as well as recommendations on the archival needs and opportunities of Latine-serving organizations.

3. In addition to the primary deliverables outlined above, the archivist will collaborate on sharing the inventory and report with collaborators and the cultural community, and provide archival expertise to the Raices Chicago team.  

Budget:

Thanks to the generous support of the Donnelley Foundation, the current budget available for this project is $10,000.  If additional funding is secured, the scope may be expanded to include additional requirements. Additional project support may also be augmented as the scope of the project expands.

Timeline:

This project will begin in November 2025 and conclude in June 2026 with the submission and presentation of final deliverables. 

• Phase 1: Synthesizing & Mapping of Collections (November 2025 - March 2026)

• Phase 2: Reporting & Presentation of Findings (June 2026)
  

Eligibility:

This opportunity is available for Chicago metro area-based professionals who have experience in archival projects. Library science or public history background is strongly preferred. Familiarity with Chicago Latine histories is a must. English and Spanish language skills are preferred.

Application Requirements:

• A resume detailing relevant past experience (2-3 pages max)

• Letter of Interest: Why are you interested on this project and why a good fit (2-3 pages max)

• Samples of previous work or projects, including links to digital references

Email all application materials to info@raiceschicago.org

Raices Chicago team will review all applications and select finalists to participate in virtual interviews with a hiring date by second week of November 2025. 

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Questions about the project or application requirements, please contact us via email at info@raiceschicago.org.