Archivist, African American History & Special Collections

Cleveland History Center; Kentucky; On-site; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cleveland History Center, part of the Western Reserve Historical Society, seeks an African American History Archivist to manage processing, description, and preservation of manuscript collections and to create finding aids.

The role involves coordinating with curatorial and IT teams, ensuring standards, and occasionally supervising interns. Travel and varied hours may be required to support WRHS operations.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in library science (MLIS) with an emphasis on archival processing and management preferred; Bachelor’s degree in history or related field.
• Two years of archival processing experience, EAD understanding, and knowledge of MPLP required.
• Outstanding analytical, organizational, project, and time management skills and the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Evidence of active membership or willingness to join professional associations related to archives or libraries.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for assessment, accessioning, inventorying, arrangement, description, processing, preservation of manuscripts, creation of finding aids, and maintaining donor relationships.
• Coordinates with WRHS endeavors for library and archival projects, including exhibitions and special events.
• Occasionally supervises interns and volunteers.
• Describes collections and enters data into the WRHS Collection Management System and with OCLC.

Skills

Analytical skills

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Diversity, equity, inclusion

Education

Master’s in library science (MLIS) with archival emphasis

Bachelor’s in history or related field

Tools

OCLC

Collection Management System

Encodings with EAD

Job description

The Cleveland History Center, part of the Western Reserve Historical Society, seeks an African American History Archivist to manage processing, description, and preservation of manuscript collections and to create finding aids.

The role involves coordinating with curatorial and IT teams, ensuring standards, and occasionally supervising interns. Travel and varied hours may be required to support WRHS operations.