Wenham Museum Archivist Position – Community Preservation Act

The Wenham Museum seeks a detail-oriented, organized, and motivated Archivist to join the team
for a Community Preservation Act-funded project aimed at preserving, archiving and cataloging
the Town of Wenham’s historical resources and sharing Wenham’s history with the public. The
assistant will play a key role in cataloging, archiving, photographing, and adding historical records
to the Wenham Museum’s collections database and online collection website.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
1. Cataloging and Photographing Historical Records:
o Catalog approximately 1,000 historical items related to Wenham, including maps,
business ephemera, ledgers, and cemetery records.
o Take high-quality photographs of each item, ensuring that details and condition are
accurately captured.
o Enter item metadata (e.g., title, date, location, condition, description) into the
Wenham Museum’s Collections Database.

2. Cross-referencing and Quality Assurance:
o Ensure consistency and accuracy across all catalog entries, cross-referencing with
existing records when applicable.
o Identify and correct inconsistencies, missing information, or data errors.
o Adhere to metadata and photography standards set in the project guidelines to
ensure uniformity.

3. Public Access and Digital Preservation:
o Add cataloged and photographed records to the Hub website linked to the Wenham
Museum’s website, improving public access to Wenham’s historical materials.
o Support the goal of creating a publicly accessible inventory of historical resources.

4. Collaboration and Support:
o Work closely with project supervisors to ensure cataloging and photography
procedures align with project objectives.
o Assist in training and guiding volunteers or other staff in cataloging and photography
techniques when needed.
o Provide feedback on the project workflow to help streamline processes.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS
• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science, Archival Studies, or a related field.
• Certification by the Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) preferred.
• Minimum of 2-5 years of experience working in an archival setting, preferably within a
museum or historical institution.
• Proficiency in archival description standards (e.g., DACS) and experience with
Collections Management Systems (CatalogIt preferred).
• Strong experience in physical and digital preservation, including archival housing and
rehousing.
• Familiarity with oral history methodologies and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects independently, including overseeing interns or
volunteers.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and research skills.
• Experience in photographing archival materials, with an understanding of best practices for
preservation.
• Students and early career professionals are encouraged to apply.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
• Work will be conducted at the Wenham Museum and Patton Homestead, with occasional
travel for research and stakeholder meetings.
• The position requires the ability to lift and move archival materials, including boxes up to
40 pounds.
• Work may involve prolonged periods of standing, bending, and working in varied
environmental conditions due to the current state of archival storage.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position requires the ability to do one or more of the following throughout the day: stand, walk,
sit, bend and reach above and below shoulder level. The position also involves frequent repetitive
motion (typing, filing, etc.). The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

DISCLAIMER
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being
performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all
responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Application Instructions:
Interested candidates should submit:
1. A cover letter detailing their qualifications and interest in the position.
2. A current résumé or CV.

Applications should be submitted to Sarah Sosa-Acevedo at [email protected] by
April 30, 2025.