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.
Position Descriptions and Application
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. CFPRT scholars are able to work up to 19 hours per week, Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm, and are paid $19.54 per hour.
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 & Trainingcdean@library.ucla.edu
Application deadline for the Winter Quarter is November 30, 2018.
Download Position Descriptions (pdf) and Application (docx):
Processing or archival experience not required for the positions below.
Buddhist Churches of America Records
A commitment of 2 quarters is preferable.
The Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) is a national organization of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha sect in the continental United States. Formerly known as the Buddhist Mission of North America (BMNA), the BCA is the largest Japanese American Buddhist organization and is currently headquartered in San Francisco, California. The collection includes correspondence between headquarters in the United States, Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji Headquarters in Kyoto, Japan, and individual temples. It is also comprised of meeting meetings, conference materials, education-related records, publications, financial records, photographs, and audiovisual materials in a wide variety of formats. Desired language skills: Japanese.
Redescription Scholar
The Redescription Scholar will undertake a survey to identify finding aid description that contains outdated, culturally insensitive or oppressive language in order to redescribe collections that better reflect self-description by communities. The pilot phase of this project will focus on LSC collections documenting the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. The scholar will survey LSC collections in order to audit and revise euphemistic language not in line with the preferred terminology advocated for by the Japanese American Community. The scholar will be responsible for making and documenting revisions, and developing and implementing workflows that promote transparency of archival descriptive practices. This will involve creating contextual description for legacy data, as well as developing and making accessible version control of finding aids.
Required skills and knowledge
- Demonstrated ability with and commitment to inclusive practices and cultural competency
- Demonstrated interest in collection management and archival description.
- Ability to work independently, while following established guidelines and procedures, as well as work collaboratively as a team.
- Ability to establish and implement policies, in addition to educating team members about description guidelines
Preferred skills and knowledge
- Knowledge of national archival and bibliographic standards, such as Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Demonstrated interest in or experience with collection management systems, including ArchivesSpace
- Demonstrated interest in or experience with metadata workflows and data remediation
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.