Project Archivist, Brown Research Library, Maine Historical Society, Portland ME
Posted June 11, 2014
The Maine Historical Society’s Brown Research Library seeks a full-time (35 hrs/wk) Project Archivist for processing the recently acquired Bangor Theological Seminary Collection. The start date for this 18-month temporary project is August 3, 2014. The Project Archivist is responsible for working independently and as part of a larger collections management team to complete the archival appraisal, processing and description of a nearly 250 linear ft. collection of institutional records documenting the 200 year history of the Bangor Theological Seminary of Bangor, ME, an inter-denominational seminary in the Congregational tradition.
The project includes three components: Project Management, Arranging & Describing, and Outreach.
Project Management:
- Creating and implementing a working timeline
- Keeping the project on-task and within the 18 month perimeter
- Communicating with and reporting to the Society’s Archivist as well as other technical services staff
- Managing the project budget
- Supervising other project staff and volunteers
Arranging & Describing:
- Archival appraisal and survey
- Identifying and setting priories in respect to preservation, conservation and digitization
- Arranging the collection including, but not limited to, re-housing and reformatting
- Adhering to the industry’s best practices
- Implementing and/or providing guidelines for preservation and conservation
- Creation of a completed finding aid in accordance with the Society’s expectations and current practices
Outreach:
- Cultivation and promotion of the collection though the Society’s online and printed outlets
- Coordinating internal requests for exhibition content and/or publications
- Providing recommendations to the Society’s Maine Memory Network Curator
Requirements:
- MLS or equivalent degree from an ALA accredited institution with graduate coursework in archival management
- Five or more years experience as a processing archivist
- Experience working with large collections, including series and hierarchical organization
- Ability to lift and move 40 lbs and stand for long periods of time
- Transportation to an offsite facility
Preferred:
- Experience with institutional records, especially of an academic and/or religious nature
- Working in a historical society setting
- Working knowledge of Maine history
Compensation & Logistics:
Salary at $30,000 per year with benefits package. Processing of this collection will take place off-site at the Society’s collections management center in Portland, ME. The Project Archivist must provide their own transportation to and from the site, but are not expected to transport collections. Public transportation to the site is limited.
Please submit the following electronically to Jamie Rice, MHS Director of Library Services at [email protected]
- A cover letter expressing interest in the position and outlining relevant experience
- A complete curriculum vitae of education, employment and publications
- One complete finding aid and one additional writing sample in the form of exhibition text, a professional presentation, or a blog post
- Three professional references, including current phone, email addresses and affiliations
The above may also be mailed to the following address:
Maine Historical Society
Brown Research Library
489 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101-3498
Attn: BTS Search Committee
No Phone Calls Please.
The Application period ends on July 1, 2014.