Curator, Lapidus Center for the Historical Analysis of Transatlantic Slavery - Schomburg Center

Application Deadline: 11 October 2026 | Department: Research Libraries | Location: Schomburg Center

About the role

For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been an essential provider of books, information, ideas, and education. With collections numbering more than 56 million items and serving more than 16 million patrons in person each year and millions more online, NYPL’s reach is both local and global. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities. At our world‑class research centers—including the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Library at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the Library for the Performing Arts, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture—expert staff facilitate the work of our diverse communities, offering inspiring reading rooms, exhibitions, fellowships, and a dynamic range of research services. Their work is supported by dedicated staff on the Collections and Research Services teams. We are proud to be the most public and widely used research library in the world. Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of materials focused on African American, African, and African Diaspora experiences. The Lapidus Center for the Historical Analysis of Transatlantic Slavery at the Schomburg Center generates and disseminates scholarly knowledge on the slave trade, slavery, and anti‑slavery pertaining to the Atlantic World. The Center supports long‑term and short‑term fellowships; engages the public with a variety of programs, an annual nonfiction prize, exhibitions and conferences; and partners with local, national, and international institutions. Funded by a generous gift from Ruth and Sid Lapidus, which included a collection of rare books and manuscripts, the Center is the only facility of its kind based in a public research library. The Curator supports the development and interpretation of the Lapidus collection and manages Lapidus Center affairs including new acquisitions, scholarly research and publications, engagement and outreach. In partnership with NYPL and Schomburg departments, the Curator participates in exhibitions, programming, and other opportunities that foster learning and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an advocate for the Lapidus Center collection, developing an in‑depth knowledge of its holdings, gaps, and opportunities for growth
• Oversee and manage Lapidus Center activities including prizes, fellowships, conference and programs
• Participate in the selection of fellowship recipients and support fellows’ access to and engagement with the Lapidus Collection
• Work collaboratively with Schomburg Center’s Scholars in Residence program and the Schomburg‑Mellon Humanities Summer Institute
• Partner with NYPL Public Programs and Exhibitions, Research Libraries, as well as Schomburg divisions to develop and facilitate innovative exhibitions and programs
• Assist in the cultivation of prospective donors and identify grant opportunities and support for the Lapidus Center
• Provide oversight for the operational budget; inclusive of forecasting, reviewing and approving expenditures
• Coordinate and approve communication activities of the Lapidus Center both internally and externally in collaboration with Communications staff and other teams
• Build partnerships with local, national, and international institutions and organizations to further expand the reach of the Lapidus Center and keep abreast of current trends in scholarship and the field
• Serve as the public face of the Lapidus Center and Schomburg’s scholarship and research activities related to slavery in the Atlantic World, including interviews, public speaking, and coordinating promotional materials and correspondence
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Requirements

• Education: Master’s Degree or higher in Africana Studies, Arts, or related field with a concentration in Transatlantic Slavery Studies
• Experience: 7+ years of experience in either, or a combination of college level teaching, writing, research or program development related to the Atlantic Slave Trade and/or Abolition; strong knowledge and research skills demonstrated through scholarly accomplishments in African Slavery & the Atlantic Slave Trade; evidence of original scholarship with a proven record of initiating, curating, and delivering well‑received presentations, exhibitions, publications, and/or public programs
• Skills: Highly developed research, writing, and oral communication skills; ability to serve as an effective spokesperson with visitors, outside communities, supporters and donors; proven ability to foster and maintain collaborative relationships; excellent problem solving, planning and organizational skills with the ability to execute multiple projects simultaneously; demonstrated initiative, accuracy, attention to detail, judgment, analytic and organizational abilities; ability to work well independently and collaboratively in a team environment; may supervise temporary grant‑funded staff

Pay

Compensation: $113,000 - $118,000 / year

Schedule

35 hours per week onsite to be scheduled during regular building hours (M‑F anytime between 9 am and 6 pm); some evenings and weekends