Job Opening Title:
Contract Archivist
Name of Employer:
Surratt House Museum, M-NCPPC
Job Site Location (City, State) :
Clinton, MD
Application Deadline:
Minimum Degree Requirement:
Years of experience required:
Salary Range:
Job Opening URL:
Job Description (if URL to posting not available). Include instructions for how to apply.:
About the Surratt House Museum
The Surratt House Museum was founded almost fifty years ago as a site dedicated to fostering an appreciation for the history and culture of nineteenth-century Prince George’s County, Maryland, with particular emphasis on the years of 1840 to 1865. It sought to interpret the web of conspiracy surrounding the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, as well as the lives of those involved in the conspiracy including Mary Surratt and her son John Surratt, Jr.
Today, the Museum is transforming its traditional narrative into one that is more inclusive, diverse, and relevant through the development of impactful interpretation, programming, and exhibits. The site’s history as a place of enslavement is finally being acknowledged and interpreted as part of these efforts. The Museum engages in the history of the mid- to late-nineteenth century through an intersectional lens. The Surratt House Museum now places a special emphasis on the ways in which the assassination of President Lincoln impacted the legal and political application of Reconstruction, the development of prejudicial racial laws, the rise and acceptance of the “Lost Cause” mythology, and the reclamation of history and national memory.
Mission
To ensure a most just future, the Surratt House Museum serves as a catalyst for civic dialogue and for deeper perceptions of the U.S. Civil War, Reconstruction era, and evolving fight for social justice.
Position Description
The Surratt House Museum seeks a creative, forward-thinking contract archivist to assess approximately 45 linear feet of archival collections that have previously received minimal levels of attention. To date, the archives have not been fully cataloged, leaving the museum at a disadvantage. As a former site of enslavement, the museum now aims to create new systems that advance racial and social equity and justice through our spaces, collections, programs, and services.
This 6-month position will support broader museum efforts to align each program area with the museum’s mission, vision, and values, through the development of a preliminary inventory and creation of an archive manual. The contract archivist will focus on one of several accessioned, but largely unprocessed, paper archival collections to produce the deliverables.
Core Responsibilities
The Contract Archivist will assist with a variety of archival tasks. The key focus will be on:
– Conducting a representative survey of the archives to gain a broad overview of the content
– Assessing the state of the selected archival collection (including intellectual and physical arrangement, housing, access, description, etc.)
– Inventorying and cataloging the selected archival collection at the item level to produce documentation about contents and scope
– Developing a customized, sustainable approach to guide future archival actions in an archive manual, particularly with regards to culling and deaccessioning, taking into consideration best and “next” practices
– Maintaining records within the museum’s collections management software, CatalogIt, and work to establish baseline minimums for capturing metadata
Qualifications
– Advanced degree in a relevant discipline (MLIS preferred)
– 2-3 years of experience in archival management or library and information science
– Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
– Strong attention to detail
– Ability to work in both collaborative and independent settings
– Minimum of 1 year of experience with metadata curation
– Some knowledge of copyright law
– Demonstrated knowledge of current trends and issues in archives
In addition to the above functions and qualifications, the successful candidate will demonstrate adherence to the M-NCPPC Natural and Historic Resource Department (NHRD) core pillars.
– Enhancing the Visitor Experience: Quality and Quantity
– Leaving a Legacy: Transforming Education into Advocacy
– Strengthening Inclusivity, Diversity, and Belonging
– Acting with Integrity, Respect, and Trust
To Apply
Submit a cover letter, resume, and Request for Quote (RFQ) to surratthouse@pgparks.com.
Supplemental
Upon being selected for this contract position, the candidate will be required to register as a vendor in the M-NCPPC system. Information about this process will be provided at the time of the candidate’s acceptance of the contract.
Archives Gig 