Archives Digitization Project Assistant at Whitman College

Whitman College; Walla Walla (WA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

Whitman College is seeking a part-time Archives Digitization Project Assistant to digitize glass plate photographs from the David Crockett Graham Collection. You will scan materials, manage digital files, and input metadata under supervision in the Whitman College and Northwest Archives.

You will gain behind-the-scenes exposure to library archives, develop meticulous attention to detail, and build archival research skills while contributing to metadata accuracy and digital preservation.

Qualifications

• Current Whitman College student.
• Detail oriented and capable of completing repetitive tasks accurately and efficiently.
• Available at least 10 hours per week.
• Strong written communication skills and some research experience.

Responsibilities

• Digitize glass plate materials via scanning/photographing according to project standards.
• Manage digitized files with consistent naming and create metadata as instructed.
• Capture metadata (publication date, title, creators) for scanned files and record per practices.
• Meet with supervisors/community members to record and research metadata.
• Consult online resources/databases to supplement metadata.
• Use graphic design software to edit and enhance digital objects.

Skills

Attention to detail

Written communication

Research experience

Time management

Education

Current Whitman College student

Tools

Graphic design software

Job description

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HIRING RANGE:$17.13-$ 17.13/hour

START DATE:Fall 2026

JOB PURPOSE

Under the direction of the College Archivist and Head of Special Collections and Collections Archivist, the Archives Digitization Project Assistant will work to digitize glass plate photographs within the David Crockett Graham Collection in the Whitman College and Northwest Archives and conduct research to identify information about the location or figures depicted. The Archives Digitization Project Assistant will work to scan physical materials, manage digital files, capture basic information about scans, and input metadata.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITY

• Digitize physical materials via scanning/photographing – scan/photograph materials according to project quality control standards, carefully and safely handle fragile collection items
• Manage digitized files, coordinating naming conventions between digital files and physical folders, create metadata as instructed;
• Accurately capture metadata (e.g., publication date, title, creators) about scanned files and record it according to established practices.
• Meet with supervisors and community members to record and research previously unrecorded metadata.
• Consult online reference resources and databases to supplement descriptive metadata;
• Use graphic design software to edit and enhance digital objects such as images, video, and audio files
• Identify and share potential issues with collections to supervisors, such as broken plates or physical defects that prevent scanning, etc.

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE

In this position, students will gain insight into behind the scenes in a library archives, practice their attention to detail, improve their efficiency, and gain skills conducting archival and academic research.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Current Whitman College student
• Must be detail oriented and capable of completing repetitive tasks accurately and
• efficiently
• Must be available at least 10 hours per week
• Must have strong written communication skills and some research experience

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Skills or knowledge with Chinese languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, or other regional dialects)

SUPERVISOR NAME: Alexis Hickey, College Archivist and Head of Special Collections
SUPERVISOR EMAIL: [e-mail]