Senior Exhibit Program
Since 2016, Yale Library has selected one Yale College student each year to present their senior essay research in the unique narrative form of an exhibit. The exhibit opens in April of the student’s senior year and remains on view through October.
The Senior Exhibit Program offers one rising senior training in curatorial skills culminating in the production of an exhibition based on the student’s senior essay topic.
The selected student receives a $4,200 stipend to support five weeks of research at Yale during the summer between their junior and senior years. This research, which must be completed on campus using Yale Library collections, becomes the foundation for the exhibition content.
Applications for the class of ’27 fellowship opportunity closed March 6, 2026.
Previous student curators have shared their research with a broad audience inside Yale and beyond, while adding a significant achievement to their resumes. They have also gained professional-level curatorial skills and experience through the intensive mentoring and support that the library’s exhibition production team, librarian advisors, and faculty advisors provide throughout the fellowship.
Read about past senior exhibits:
Anne Gross ’25, curator, “Sensation!: Reported Bodies in 19th-Century American Media”
AJ Laird ’24, curator, “Whaling: Logbooks: Records of a Maritime Industry”
Chucho Martinez ’23, curator, “The Study of Things: George Kubler in Latin America”
“Developing a Curatorial Eye,” a 10-year anniversary exhibition of past student-curated exhibitions is on view in the Exhibition Corridor of Sterling Library through April 2026.
Process & Timeline
2026-27 Timeline (Yale College Class of ’27)
- Appplications closed March 6, 2026; selected student will be notified in late April.
- Summer internship: Student-curator selects five weeks between June 1 and Sept. 1.
- Exhibition development and production: September 2026 – April 2027.
- Opening reception: April 2027.
- Exhibition on view: April – October 2027
2027-28 Timeline (Yale College Class of ’28)
- Info sessions will be scheduled in December 2026 and January 2027
- Applications will open in February, with a submission deadline in March.
Getting started
- Review this 2026 information session slide deck.
- Review fellowship recipient roles and responsibilities, as well as deadlines and workflows.
- Discuss the opportunity with a faculty advisor and librarian exhibit advisor. Your selected advisors must agree to work with and advise you throughout the year-long project.
- Send questions to kerri.sancomb@yale.edu
Elements of a Strong Proposal
A strong proposal will
- Show an in-depth exploration of a significant collection or draws from multiple Yale Library collections
- Show evidence of previous experience working with primary source materials
- Show strong familiarity with the subject discipline; for example, if your topic is about bookplates, you should be familiar with research in the history of art.
- Show evidence of time already spent with the collection and/or includes letters of support indicating that the applicant has the time and ability to develop the project more fully
- Outline how the narrative of the thesis will be furthered through the exhibition elements (labels, visual elements, collections materials, facsimiles where needed, etc.)
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of responsibilities and timeframe for the exhibit project independent of the senior thesis project for their department
Letters of Support
The proposal must be accompanies by letters of support from a Librarian Advisor and a Faculty Advisor. The letters should
- Demonstrate a strong connection between the subject of the proposal and the faculty advisor
- Agree to the advisor responsibilities as outlined.
- Attest to the student’s past success in the subject discipline
- Speak to the student’s ability to successfully complete the project in the timeframe allotted
Elements of a Good Exhibit
In developing their proposal, prospective curators should keep in mind that a good exhibit includes
- A strong narrative
- Strong visual elements that further the thesis or narrative of the exhibit, and fluidity between the elements telling a strong story
- Use of a variety of library collections material to tell a story; for example, an exhibit with manuscript documents, photographs, prints, and bound material will be stronger than an exhibit with only textual collection materials.
Exhibition Corridor Considerations
The Senior Exhibit is presented in Sterling Memorial Library’s Exhibition Corridor. In developing their proposal and eventual exhibition, curators should be aware that:
- Use of originals may be limited for collections that are fragile or vulnerable to light damage.
- Most special collections materials can only be shown in reproduction.
- Proposed objects should consider the spatial limitations of the exhibition cases in the Exhibition Corridor.
- The Exhibition Corridor is not equipped to incorporate multimedia.
Review & Selection
Selected exhibition proposals must be clearly executable in the given timeframe.
The Advisory Group looks for:
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Thorough and careful original research
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Thoughtful analysis of library collection materials
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Compelling and innovative research subjects
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Visually engaging collection materials
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A focus on underutilized collections
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A chosen topic that is different from recent exhibitions, or, if not, is presented from a unique point of view
The Advisory Group will give preference to proposals that show:
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Excellent organizational skills
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Ability to manage cascading or overlapping deadlines
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Demonstrated ability to conduct self-directed research during summer research fellowship and early fall semester for exhibit development
Senior Exhibit Curator
The student selected to curate a Senior Exhibit
• Works with Exhibits Unit to establish exhibition production schedule that aligns with student’s academic calendar
• Works independently to meet agreed upon deadline; communicates any delays or complications in a timely manner
• Adheres to Yale Library exhibition best practices and department policies regarding research, exhibitions and loans
• Seeks research assistance from a librarian if needed
• Develops theme and focus of exhibition and case outline
• Selects all materials to be exhibited and provides a complete item list to the Exhibits Technician
• Creates final case layout of all objects to be exhibited
• Completes all exhibition text and works with Faculty Advisor and Librarian Exhibits Advisor as needed on edits and revisions
• Works with Exhibits Unit to manage reprographic services needed to create exhibit reproductions or facsimiles, or for digital files needed for exhibit publicity
• Works with advisors to complete the Copyright Fair Use worksheet if needed (for online exhibitions only):
Faculty Advisor
The Faculty Advisor assists the Senior Exhibit Curator for the entirety of the exhibit production period with
- Establishing an exhibition production schedule that aligns with the student’s academic calendar
- Defining the parameters and expectations for how the exhibit work will contribute to their final senior project
- Developing the theme and focus of the exhibit and case outline
- Contributing subject expertise and serving as a resource for content development
- Reviewing and editing exhibit text drafts with focus on subject overview and accuracy
- Selecting items for exhibit (optional)
- Advising on best practices in the field of study for completion of the Copyright Fair Use worksheet provided by the Yale Office of the General Counsel (For online-exhibits only)
Librarian Exhibits Advisor
The Librarian Exhibits Advisor
- Mentors the student curator during the exhibit research process
- Connects the student with relevant library staff and collections
- Meets regularly with the student to track progress on the exhibit
- Guides the student through specific exhibit preparation tasks
- Communicates as needed with the student’s academic advisor for the project.
The Librarian Exhibits Advisor will work with the Curator for the entire exhibit production period to assist with
● Introducing the student curator to relevant Yale LIbrary departments and guidelines at the beginning of the exhibition process to ensure all Yale Library exhibition practices and department policies are followed
● Establishing routine check-in meetings to closely monitor progress to ensure deadlines will be met
● Developing the theme and focus of the exhibit and case outline
● Contributing subject expertise and serving as a resource for content development
● Reviewing and proofing all draft exhibition text with attention to content and style
● Offering guidance, along with the Exhibits Unit and the Manager of Publication, on overall exhibit design and public relations material
● Selecting items (optional)
● Advising on best practices in the field of study for completion of the Copyright Fair Use worksheet provided by the Yale Office of the General Counsel (for online exhibitions only)
The Librarian Exhibits Advisor will work with the Exhibits Unit to:
● Establish the exhibition production schedule
● Consult on case layouts during Item and Case Layout Reviews
Exhibition Production Program Manager
The Exhibition Production Program Manager
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Leads the production, installation, and maintenance of exhibits. Works directly with curators, librarians, archivists, library staff, faculty, and students in planning and designing exhibit installations.
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Chairs Sterling Memorial Library exhibits committee and manages centralized master production calendar.
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Reviews items selected for exhibition with individual curators to determine physical and environmental display concerns and needs. Refers items to conservators and coordinates treatment work with master production schedule. Works closely with Preservation Field Services Librarian ensure that in-house exhibition environments meet preservation standards.
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Performs research and makes recommendations to exhibit curators regarding appropriate mounts and displays to be used and fabricated for their exhibits.
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Creates and maintains exhibition documentation, customized exhibition production plans/checklists, selection tracking tools, spatial visualization tools, and label copy templates.
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Provides manuals and mentoring for student curators.
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Designs and fabricates mounts, mats, frames, book cradles for a wide array of library collection materials predominantly held in the library’s special collections.
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Oversees staff, student assistants and outside contractors involved in exhibit projects. Provides training and guidance to non-library exhibit curators in library policy, protocols, and standards for the safe display of library materials.
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Oversees the management, documentation, and transportation of loans for Sterling Library exhibitions. With Yale Library conservators, organizes and supervises the proper handling, packing and unpacking of art objects loaned between Yale libraries and collections for Sterling venues.
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Acts as liaison to Library Communications on branding and label/copy standards and production. Communicates schedules for exhibitions and related events.
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Provides training for Librarian and Faculty Advisors as needed.
Library Exhibits Technician
The Library Exhibits Technician
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Works directly with curators, librarians, archivists, library staff, faculty, and students in planning and designing exhibit installations
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Participates in item selection for exhibition with individual curators to determine physical and environmental display concerns and needs. Refers items to conservators and coordinates treatment work with master production schedule. Responsible for maintaining exhibit item list on project SharePoint site
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Maintains Exhibit Production Calendar and creating Outlook meeting appointments and reminders for all necessary deadlines
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Maintains exhibition documentation, customized exhibition production inventory lists, selection tracking tools, spatial visualization tools, and label copy templates
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Provides manuals and mentoring for exhibition curators
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Coordinates all digitization requests and workflows
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Designs and fabricates mounts, mats, frames, and book cradles for a wide array of library collection materials predominantly held in Yale Library Special Collections
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Oversees the tracking and transportation of loans for Sterling Library exhibitions; with Yale Library conservators, organizes and supervises the proper handling, packing, and unpacking of art objects loaned between Yale libraries and collections for Sterling Library venues