The Forbes House Museum
Project Archivist
The Forbes House Museum seeks a Project Archivist for a grant-supported project to improve access to paper-based items in its collection, including photographs, prints, books and documents. The Project Archivist will inventory, catalogue and photograph each item, purchase the appropriate supplies for storage, and reconcile missing items. It will be the responsibility of the Archivist to provide training workshops on object handling and data entry for staff and volunteers. The Museum uses Past Perfect cataloguing and collections management software.
This position is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for 481 hours of work, at a rate of $25-30/hour, commensurate upon level of experience. The expected start date is Fall 2022. The Project Archivist reports to the Executive Director. Hours may be scheduled at times mutually convenient for the archivist and staff.
Key Responsibilities:
Analyze archival collection to determine their current states of preservation, organization, and description needs.
Conduct conservation review of materials, and identify priority items requiring stabilization, cleaning, repair, or other professional care for preservation.
Identify for purchase all preservation or archival materials that will be needed to properly house collections.
Perform preservation, stabilization, inventory control and housing measures to ensure safe and proper storage or display of collection.
Target collections that meet criteria for potential digitization projects.
Work with Project Curator as appropriate to ensure uniform and comprehensive cataloging and inventorying of the collection.
Required Qualifications:
Master’s degree in library science, history, or related field with a specialization or significant coursework in archives, OR graduate degree in any field with demonstrated knowledge of archives, such as Certified Archivist status or post-graduate training. Current master’s candidates who have made significant progress towards a degree are encouraged to apply.
Six months of full time or equivalent experience with processing archival collections, including institutional records and manuscript collections.
Knowledge of or experience with standard archival principles and practices, especially metadata standards (DACS, EAD, LCSH) and familiarity with Past-Perfect cataloguing software.
Ability to manage projects, including developing workflows, writing documentation, and maintaining statistics.
Attention to detail.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to lift boxes or objects weighing up to 20 lbs.
For more information about the Museum and its collections, please visit the website at www.forbeshousemuseum.org
To apply:
If interested, please email your resume to g.labbe@forbeshousemuseum.org. We will be scheduling interviews in early September, and a decision will be made by late September/early October.
https://www.forbeshousemuseum.org/employment/