Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT)
The Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT) is a program within UCLA Library Special Collections. It was launched in 2004 with a generous lead gift from the Ahmanson Foundation. The center seeks graduate students from a variety of academic disciplines and pairs them with archives and special collections projects that match their expertise and interests. The CFPRT’s central purpose is to equip emerging scholars with skills that will enable them to effectively utilize primary sources in their future careers.
Since its inception, the CFPRT has employed over 200 students to carry out a diverse range of projects. Scholars have processed archival collections, conducted oral histories, created original research projects, digitized and created metadata for archival resources, collaborated on digital humanities projects, and contributed to departmental outreach initiatives through student-led events, exhibits, blog posts, and public presentations. This important work has made some of UCLA Library’s most valuable resources widely discoverable and ready for use by the research community.
The CFPRT is committed to cultivating a welcoming space for students to work collaboratively and creatively, to actively and critically participate in the archival process, and to engage with primary sources in innovative ways.
Center for Primary Research and Training Graduate Student Positions
The Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT) seeks applications from graduate students for positions that will allow students to gain first-hand experience in working with archives and special collections material. CFPRT scholars are able to work up to 19 hours per week during the academic year, Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm, and are paid $19.54 per hour. A minimum of 12 hours per week is required.
To be considered for positions, please email an application, letter of interest, and a CV or résumé to:
Courtney Dean
Head, Center for Primary Research & Training
speccoll-cfprt@library.ucla.edu
The application deadline for the winter quarter is Sunday, December 1, 2019.
- Download CFPRT Position Descriptions for Winter Quarter 2020 (pdf).
- Download CFPRT Application for Winter Quarter 2020 Positions (docx).
Position Descriptions
Processing or archival experience not required for the positions below.
Processing Scholar: Robert A. Kennard Architectural Drawings
Project duration: 1 quarter
Robert A. Kennard (1920-1995) was an African American architect in Los Angeles who designed over 40 residences and later focused on public works, including the City of Carson City Hall and Community Center and LAPD Headquarters. The collection consists of photographs and negatives of architectural projects by Robert Kennard and/or Kennard Design Group (KDG); drawings and blueprints; reports, legal and financial information, newspaper articles, and other documentation; original plans for Kennard’s personal residence; and Kennard’s student project folio. This project will focus on the architectural drawings in the collection (125 rolls and oversize portfolios) and will leverage the subject knowledge and handling skills of a scholar familiar with 20th century architecture, providing them an opportunity to engage with original materials and learn the fundamentals of archival preservation, arrangement and description. There may also be opportunities for outreach activities including blog posts, flash exhibits, and more. Desired skills: Familiarity with architectural drawings and ability to handle oversize materials.
Centennial Wiki Scholar
Project duration: 1 quarter
The Centennial Wiki Scholar will participate in an ongoing project to survey and integrate information about Library Special Collections (LSC) holdings into existing Wikipedia articles. This may entail editing or enhancing a biographical or historical article; linking from an article to a finding aid and/or digitized content for the person or organization; or creating new articles based on LSC holdings. The Centennial Wiki scholar will focus on LSC and University Archives collections documenting UCLA’s relationship to Los Angeles communities, individuals, and infrastructure. This project will allow a student to engage in research using LSC collections and provide hands-on experience working with primary sources and archives. The scholar will also contribute to ongoing OpenUCLA initiatives and potential programming. Desired skills: Experience with Wikipedia editing; knowledge of, and interest in, Los Angeles communities and history.
Five Short Films about the Center
The UCLA Library has released five short films documenting the history of the center and highlighting four student projects:
Treasures of the UCLA Library: Colonial Mexican Manuscripts (part two of five)
Treasures of the UCLA Library: Cuneiform Tablets (part three of five)
Treasures of the UCLA Library: African American Collections (part four of five)
Treasures of the UCLA Library: Near Eastern Manuscripts (part five of five)
Written, directed, and produced by Erin Flannery, the films have been made possible with support from the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Irving and Jean Stone Endowment, and University Librarian Discretionary Fund.
