Temporary Position Available: Project Archivist

The Fort Larned Historical Society, owner and operator of the Santa Fe Trail Center Museum/Library, and Pawnee County have partnered for a major digitization project made possible through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and local funding by Pawnee County.

Responsibilities:

The Museum is seeking a full time Project Archivist for a limited term of one year beginning immediately. The Project Archivist will play an essential role in the digitization project. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Process and create descriptive aids for backlogged and new archival donations.

• Work with Digitization Committee to select archival materials to be digitized.

• Participate in the scanning process and data entry of digitized archival materials (photographs, paper records etc.).

• Provide guidance and supervision to volunteers involved in scanning archival materials.

• Work at both digitization project locations, Santa Fe Trail Center and Pawnee County Courthouse.

The Project Archivist will work closely with the Curator by implementing a controlled vocabulary and metadata (data about each archival item) for the digitization content management software database. In assistance with the Curator, Director, and Digitization Committee, the Project Archivist will help in the development and integration of digitization procedures within current museum policies.

Museum and Community Information:

The Santa Fe Trail Center is an American Association of Museums accredited history museum telling the story of the transportation route once known as the Santa Fe Trail. The exhibits show this freighting trail during its commercial days and through the time of settlement along the ruts of the old trail. The museum is located just outside the small rural community of Larned, Kansas, a town of 4,500. The museum is two miles from Larned and four miles from Fort Larned National Historic Site, operated by the National Park Service. Larned is 120 miles from Wichita, KS, 300 miles from Kansas City, MO and 400 miles from Denver, CO.

Education and Experience Requirements:

A potential candidate should have a bachelor’s degree or higher with experience in archival studies. Candidates need to demonstrate an understanding of archival management practices and processing, have strong interpersonal skills, good verbal/written communication skills, and be self-motivated. Knowledge of PastPerfect collections management software, Microsoft Office, and experience with digitization is preferred.

Application information:

This position is offered as a full time limited term position of one year with a salary range of $10 to $12 per hour depending upon education and experience. Review of applications will begin on June 15, 2010. Applicants should send a letter of interest, resume, and names and contact information for three references via U.S. mail or email to:

Dan Grzesiak, Museum Curator

Santa Fe Trail Center

1349 K-156 Hwy

Larned, KS 67550

curator@santafetrailcenter.org

(620) 285-2054