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Project Archivist and Database Designer, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Association, Gloucester, MA

Posted November 9, 2019

This position will be responsible for a three phase project.  The cemetery will provide a paid assistant and make corporate officers available to answer questions. Tasks include: collective review and planning; database design; and processing and data input.  

 

The records are currently unprocessed and unindexed. They are mostly in date-ordered and labeled envelopes and files.  The project archivist will be responsible for conducting a survey of the collection, which includes files and maps, and creating a processing plan.  Officers of the Cemetery Corporation will be available to help decide what records can be destroyed. The project archivist will arrange, re-house, and describe the collection in a finding aid.  The project archivist will develop a relational database and metadata schema for the finding aid data.  

Part-time hours can be flexible, to fit with other obligations of the successful applicant.  The duration of the project is expected to be one month. Pay will be $20/hour plus travel expenses to Gloucester. Gloucester is on the MBTA commuter line to Rockport and at the end of Route 128, about 40 miles from Simmons Fenway by car.

Responsibilities

Phase I: Collection Review and Planning 

  • Review 4 cartons of unprocessed materials and create a collection inventory. 

  • Review survey maps of the cemetery, develop strategy to extract data from these.

  • Produce a preliminary schedule of the required work and its milestones.

 

Phase II: Database Design 

  • Design normalized database schema, with special consideration of survey maps

  • Develop processing plan for paper records, with intention of sending processed records to deep storage. Redundant / unneeded materials to be set aside for destruction.

 

Phase III: Processing and Data Input 

  • Arrange and describe archival materials in a finding aid; review finding aid, print for use

  • Create relational database management system (set up system, select layout, develop search strategies) and enter finding aid data

  • Carry out systematic tests of database; revise data entry and query processes as necessary

 

Qualifications

  • Enrollment in or recent completion of a Masters-level program in library science, archival studies, information sciences, or related program

  • Experience working with physical archival collections

  • Interest in database design

  • Flexible nature with the ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks/activities simultaneously

  • Creative problem-solving skills, curiosity, and motivation.

  • Ability to delegate routine work to an assistant.

 

Compensation: $20/hour, approx. 20 hours/week plus travel expenses.

 

Submission Process and Application Materials:

Please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected].

Deadline: Saturday November 30th

 

Update: The address of the cemetery is PO Box 553, Gloucester, MA 01930. Only a small part of the work will be done outside at the cemetery, where the names on the gravestones may need to be cross referenced with the paper records of the grave lot deeds. 

 

This part of the work could involve photographing each gravestone, or with cross referencing online genealogy records maintained by other parties, such as the Church of Latter Day Saints. 

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