Project Archivist, Justice Antonin Scalia Papers, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Posted May 10, 2018
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Harvard Law School Library seeks an experienced, collaborative, and service-oriented processing archivist for a one-year term beginning July 1, 2018. Reporting to the Curator of Modern Manuscripts within the Historical & Special Collections unit (HSC), the successful candidate will survey United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s collection of scholarly and professional work, develop a multi-year processing plan, and begin describing the collection in an Encoded Archival Description (EAD) finding aid.
- Survey and appraise approximately 400 linear feet of argued case files, conference files, pre-Supreme Court work, speaking engagements, correspondence, miscellaneous court documents, teaching files, and event files. The collection contains both analog and born-digital materials.
- In consultation with the curator of modern manuscripts and curator of digital collections, develop a processing plan for the physical and born-digital components of the collection that proposes arrangement schemes; and a management plan responsive to the multiple, rolling restrictions and redactions that impact approximately 75% of the collection.
- Arrange and describe at least the portion of the collection scheduled to be open to researchers in 2020 (approximately 90 linear feet).
- Encode a finding aid in XML according to the Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) and Encoded Archival Description (EAD) standards.
Basic Qualifications
ALA-accredited master’s degree in library science or archival studies required. Minimum of three years’ experience in appraising, accessioning, arranging, and describing manuscript collections. Some of the work will take place at the Harvard Depository in Southborough, Massachusetts, thus a valid driver’s license and access to a car is required.
Additional Qualifications
The successful candidate will have experience processing large and complex collections. Must have the ability to lift and transport 40-pound boxes, use a stepstool, and open hand-cranked compact shelving. Demonstrated experience with issues relating to risk, restrictions, and managing access to complex archival and manuscript collections. Demonstrated knowledge of current national archival and descriptive standards and best practices, including DACS, EAD, and EAC-CPF. Experience working with ArchivesSpace or similar collection management tools, including importing, validating, exporting, and crosswalking EAD. Excellent writing, communication, project management, and time management skills. Experience working with born-digital materials. Experience working with legal materials. Active involvement in local, state, regional, national, or international professional or scholarly associations.
Additional Information
Justice Antonin Scalia graduated from the Harvard Law School in 1960. He worked at a large law firm, taught law at the University of Virginia, the University of Chicago, and Stanford; and held several administrative posts in the federal government. He served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, before being appointed to the Supreme Court in 1986. The collection includes material relating to all of these activities.
HSC is a small and energetic team within Harvard Law School Library engaged with all aspects of special collections work. Harvard Law School Library’s collection of historic legal materials is one of the largest in the world, and includes rare books, early manuscripts, visual materials, and modern manuscripts. As members of the Harvard Law School Library, team members contribute to the Law School’s mission by collecting and sharing our materials with the HLS community and with researchers worldwide. As active members of the large and thriving Harvard Library community, HSC staff collaborate with colleagues to share information, solve problems, and learn.
Please note: As a condition of employment, the successful candidate is subject to a non-disclosure agreement.
This is a term appointment currently expected to extend to June 30, 2019, subject to funding and departmental need.
All offers to be made by HLS Human Resources.