Collections Assistant

Norman Rockwell Museum; Stockbridge (MA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Norman Rockwell Museum is seeking a Collections Assistant to support the IMLS grant project “Preserving the American Visual Story.” You will inventory, catalog, research, condition report, rehouse, label, and create contextual materials for 1,000 works and related items.

You will collaborate with the Archivist and Collections Manager, help with digitization, EMu cataloging, and ensuring proper handling and documentation for grant activities and upcoming exhibitions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level background in art history, museum studies, or library sciences.
• Experience in collections management, inventory, cataloging, and digitization.
• Familiarity with collection management databases and photo-editing software.

Responsibilities

• Inventory, catalog, research, and create condition reports for objects in the project.
• Rehouse, label, and create contextual information for identified works.
• Flag items needing provenance or contextual research and potential conservation.
• Maintain EMu records and update acquisition/files for grant activities.
• Support digitization efforts and ensure proper object handling.
• Assist with curatorial projects to integrate cataloged materials into exhibitions.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Museum research

Attention to detail

Education

BA in art history or museum studies

Masters preferred

Tools

EMu

IMu

Excel

Adobe Suite

CAD basics

Job description

Our Mission

The Norman Rockwell Museum illuminates the power of American illustration art to reflect and shape society, and advances the enduring values of kindness, respect, and social equity portrayed by Norman Rockwell.

Description

Our Mission

The Norman Rockwell Museum illuminates the power of American illustration art to reflect and shape society, and advances the enduring values of kindness, respect, and social equity portrayed by Norman Rockwell.

Equity Goals

NRM embraces the values of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion to create a successful workplace and a more equitable society. Our mission embodies these values. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of identities, experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the more successful the organization, its employees, and our work in the world will be. Norman Rockwell Museum is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to equity and inclusion. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Norman Rockwell Museum is a drug-free workplace.

The Position

Reporting to the Archivist and Collections Manager, The Collections Assistant is a three-year Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant funded position as part of the NRM’s “Preserving the American Visual Story" project. This project will focus on the following subset of the NRM collection: 1,000 works of art; 2,500 published ephemera including magazines, tear sheets, and books; 1,000 items of photographic materials (mostly prints); 500 items of supporting ephemera, including sketch pads, diaries, and correspondence.

Responsibilities

The Collections Assistant's chief responsibilities are to inventory, catalog, research, condition report, rehouse, label, and create contextual materials and background information for the objects to be identified by this project, to ensure each work is properly identified, described, and institutionally recorded in preparation for responsible digitization.

While working with each object the Collections Assistant will flag those which 1) need additional research into provenance, 2) would benefit from additional cultural and contextual research, 3) need rehousing, and 4) need conservation

Additional Responsibilities

• Creating and updating computerized records in the collections management system, EMu, and the online public portal, IMu; as well as updating the physical acquisition files.
• Ensuring and overseeing that object handling is in accordance with best practices and standards within the museum field.
• Ensuring and overseeing the safe digitization of selected materials.
• Conducting regular permanent collection inventories; maintaining internal and external records relating to object movement for grant activities.
• Assisting with the creation of social media content to support and share grant-related activities.
• Assisting the Curatorial team to utilize the newly cataloged and digitized materials for inclusion in exhibitions and related educational products and programs.
• Following and updating the EMu cataloging style guide to ensure sustainability of project efforts.
• Working with seasonal curatorial interns on cataloging and research projects for the Rockwell Center for Illustration History.
• Consulting with scholar advisors, the Chief Curator, and the Chief of Curatorial Affairs to ensure accurate contextual descriptions for selected collections.

Requirements

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MATHEMATICAL And COMPUTER SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. Must be able to understand and use highly technical computer equipment and systems, in particular a variety of databases, and be familiar with Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Excel and Word as well as position specific programs such as Silverfish, Adobe Suite of Programs and basic CAD skills.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve complicated and practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral diagram, or schedule form.

Competencies

Exhibits excellent decision-making skills, judgment and adaptability. Maintains a customer service orientation and is a team player.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Valid driver’s license.

Experience And Education

B.A. in art history, museum studies, library science, or equivalent, plus a minimum of three years’ experience in a collections role in a museum setting is required. Familiarity with collections management, inventory, cataloging, object handling, and digitization. Knowledge of collection management databases, and photo-editing software.

Masters in some aspect of collections management, museum studies, library sciences, or other humanities field preferred.

Physical Demands

Regularly required to talk, hear, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Frequently lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities include color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Responsibilities include on-call with the ability to respond to various situations essential.

Work schedule is full-time, Monday through Friday, 37.5 hours weekly during business hours of 8:00am-5:00pm

Work Environment

Frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.