Project Archivist
(6 month position)
Reporting
to the Director of Research Resources and the Archives Manager, the
Project Archivist will work to arrange, re-house, and describe a
discreet collection of archival material relating to a prominent
twentieth-century American artist. The archival collection is comprised
primarily of materials created and collected by the artist, including
correspondence, notebooks, illustrations, news clippings, photographs,
and other material. The goal of the project is to make the collection
accessible and available for researchers in a timely manner. This is a
six-month, temporary position and is full-time.
Responsibilities:
- Survey, arrange, and describe the collection, following archival best practices in consultation with archivists
- Implement
preservation strategies for the handling and storage of fragile
materials, identifying items within the collection that may require
additional attention.
- Catalog and describe the collection, using TMS (The Museum System), and ArchivesSpace
- Research artist biography and provide contextual information in archival description
- Perform other related duties, as required
Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in Library Science, Archives, or related field
- 2 years of relevant professional experience
- Demonstrated knowledge of archival best practices and standards, such as DACS
- Experience with TMS, ArchivesSpace, and/or Archivist’s Toolkit
- Familiarity with archival housing and preservation
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with excellent time management skills
- Knowledge of and interest in 20th century art
About the Department
The
Research Resources department provides access to primary resources,
published resources, and other research material relating to the
Museum’s support of American art and artists through its history,
collections, and programming.
About the Whitney
The
Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and
philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost
collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first
centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art,
which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States
for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve,
interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide
variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of
art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a
steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a
powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues
to help define what is innovative and influential in American art
today.
The
Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The
Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color,
creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital
status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender
identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law.
The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their
qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all
qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This
description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a
specific period of employment.
How to Apply
Please send resume and cover letter to: hr@whitney.org and state “Project Archivist” in the subject line. The Museum offers a generous benefit package.
