Curator for Collections on Ethnicity and Migration

31-Oct-2022

Harvard Radcliffe Institute

60397BR

Job Summary

The Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America is a special collections library that collects broadly across formats to document American women’s public and private lives and furthers the Radcliffe Institute’s commitment to the study of women, gender, sexuality, and society.

We seek a visionary candidate to fill the newly established position of Curator for Collections on Ethnicity and Migration. We seek candidates with knowledge of collections in one or more areas of race, ethnicity, and migration—including but not limited to Asian American and Pacific Islander, Latinx, and/or other diasporic communities—with the ability to work in comparative perspective across communities. The position will be part of a cohort of curators committed to building and sustaining collections, including the newly created position of Curator for African American and African Diasporic Collections and the current Curator for Gender and Society. The curator team plays a vital part in the Library’s ongoing work to build a more complete historical record with the collections of historically excluded communities in order to support research and learning. Working as part of a collaborative cohort of curators as well as independently, the curator works with other Library staff to ethically develop collections documenting the history and contributions of women and organizations under-represented in Schlesinger’s collections.

Reporting to the Executive Director and closely collaborating with the Pforzheimer Foundation Faculty Director, other curators and Library staff, the Curator leads the development of collections in Asian American and Pacific Islander, Latinx, and/or diasporic communities. The curators determine strategic priorities, manage acquisitions, and establish relationships with collections holders and their communities to support this crucial facet of the Library’s mission. They work with colleagues to steward and ensure equitable access to the Library’s existing collections, building sustainable relationships with donors about ongoing collection issues, and offering intellectual guidance to colleagues on the processing of newly acquired collections. The Curator also works with Library and faculty colleagues to elevate inclusive stories from within Schlesinger’s existing collections for the broader public.

Position Description

• Work collaboratively with curators and other library staff to deepen our world-class collections for American women’s and gender history, especially collections that document the experiences of historically excluded groups
• Build relationships with potential donors of archival collections
• Work with other Schlesinger curators to build and manage advisory working groups comprised of scholars, Library staff, and philanthropic supporters
• Oversee acquisitions budgets, monitors funds, manages gift and purchase agreements, and documents all facets of their ongoing work
• Report on their efforts in collections development to varied stakeholders, contributing and assessing data as needed
• Work with Library leadership to further a comprehensive strategy of community engagement to support our enhanced collecting mission. Such a strategy will include:
  • Collaborating with Radcliffe colleagues to develop vibrant public programming,
  • Working with Harvard faculty and colleagues in Research Services to enhance and support teaching and learning through our collections
  • Building partnerships with faculty across Harvard University, and engaging researchers, donors, and the broader community in learning about the Schlesinger Library
  • Planning and curating exhibitions of Schlesinger materials
  • Representing the Library at community events
  • Maintaining high visibility in the archival profession and in Harvard and Radcliffe publications
• Serve on the Schlesinger Library’s Acquisitions Committee and recommend potential acquisitions (both donations and purchases)
• Negotiate the terms of deeds of gift and agreements to purchase
• Promote awareness, understanding and recognition of legal issues which may arise from working with unpublished collections in areas such as copyright, privacy, confidentiality, right-to-know, and ownership
• Leverage technology to expand collection development in a technology-driven collecting landscape
• Represent the Schlesinger Library on Harvard Library committees
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Content expertise in the areas of our collections, as demonstrated by a Master’s degree in a related field including American Studies, Latina/o or Asian American Studies, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, History, Public Humanities, or related fields; ALA-accredited MLS/ MLIS.
• Two or more years of collection development experience; plus, four or more years work experience in a special collections or archival setting, or as part of collection-focused public history or cultural heritage project.

Successful candidate will have:

• Demonstrated experience working with individuals, donor communities, and organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively, both independently and collaboratively, in a highly collegial and team-based environment.
• Excellent organizational skills, including experience with budget and records management
• Excellent interpersonal skills and professionalism to interact with a wide range of people at different levels of the organization and the public
• Demonstrated ability to build effective long-term relationships both internally and externally and the ability to advocate for organizational goals
• Demonstrated experience and background in research and writing that establishes expertise in an area of study
• Exceptional verbal and written communication demonstrated presentation skills.
• Advanced technology skills including social media, Google Docs, One Drive, and database-management applications
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities effectively and efficiently, with competing deadlines
• Demonstrated project management skills

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Experience building community relationships
• Language expertise relevant to the Curator’s particular collecting missions
• Knowledge of archival theory, practice, and technologies, including in relation to born digital material
• Familiarity with conservation and preservation practices relating to special collections and ability to assess the conservation / preservation demands of potential acquisitions, including born digital material
• Familiarity with reparative and post-custodial archival practice

Physical Requirements

Physical Requirements:
The demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Employee must have the ability to work at a desk for extended periods and complete tasks requiring repetitive use of hands to type, handle library materials, computers, and phones; reach with hands and arms.
• Regularly required to talk or hear and frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel.
• This position involves lifting and must be able to lift 40 pounds, manage cartloads of material weighing up to 240 pounds and climb ladders to retrieve or reshelve collections.

Working Conditions

• This job is generally performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
• The position entails occasional visits to donor homes, speaking engagements at offsite locations, and some travel to conferences/meetings.
• There may be exposure to dust and occasional limited exposure to mold, particularly in the handling of gift collections. 

Additional Information

Cover Letter:
Please note that cover letters are required for every application for a position at the Radcliffe Institute. Please combine your cover letter and resume into a single document that is uploaded when you are instructed by HARVARD CAREERS, Harvard’s online application program, to “Upload my resume/CV from my computer”.

COVID-19 Vaccination:
Harvard requires COVID vaccination for all Harvard community members. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University’s COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Information” webpage: http://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-information/ .   

Interviews:
We will be conducting interviews virtually, and plan to invite finalist candidates for on-campus interviews. We  appreciate your understanding and flexibility with our interview process.

About the Harvard Radcliffe Institute:
The Harvard Radcliffe Institute is dedicated to creating and sharing transformative ideas across the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The Fellowship Program  annually supports the work of 50 leading artists and scholars. Academic Ventures  fosters collaborative research projects and sponsors lectures and conferences that engage scholars with the public. The Schlesinger Library  documents the lives of American women of the past and present for the future, furthering the Institute’s commitment to women, gender and society.

We are proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to achieving our goals through the efforts of a highly skilled, diverse workforce. With outstanding benefits , competitive pay , extensive learning opportunities,  and a stimulating and attractive work environment, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University may be exactly the employer you have been looking for. 
Diversity Statement
At the Harvard Library, our work is enriched by our diverse campus community. Our unique and wide-ranging abilities, experiences, and perspectives are integral to achieving Harvard University’s mission of excellence in research, teaching, and learning for our patrons, our collections, and our workplace. We believe that an inclusive environment that cultivates and promotes understanding, respect, and collaboration across our diverse workforce enables our success. 

We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and abilities to apply to be a part of our community of over 700 staff members.  Our work with faculty, students and researchers to explore answers to intellectual questions, enduring and new, and to seek solutions to the world’s most consequential problems, requires that we not only reflect, but also champion our diverse society. 
A global leader, the Harvard Library is a pre-eminent research library that acquires, disseminates, and preserves knowledge. Harvard’s Library holdings range from traditional print collections to rapidly expanding inventories of digital resources. It is the work of the Harvard Library to provide the University’s faculty, students, and researchers—now and in the future—with comprehensive access over time to all of these materials.  

Location

USA – MA – Cambridge

Job Code

386057 Library Professional

Department

Schlesinger Library

Union

00 – Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Employment, Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.