Oral History Coordinator

Delaware Historical Society; Wilmington (DE); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 49,000; Part time

Job summary

Delaware Historical Society is seeking a contracted Oral History Coordinator to assemble nine 1-hour interviews for an upcoming exhibition. The role encompasses planning, filming, editing, and metadata management, with travel compensation for production days.

The project runs through mid-2027 and supports education programming. The coordinator will work with the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, editing with Adobe Premiere Pro and delivering finished products, plus shorter clips for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• Experience producing oral history interviews.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and conduct oral history interviews with Mitchell Center staff.
• Set up, operate, and manage video/audio equipment during interviews.
• Edit and enhance interviews, including sound balancing and final assembly in Premiere Pro.
• Create and maintain accurate metadata, cataloging records, and descriptive information for interviews and materials.
• Organize, manage, and archive digital assets and transcripts.
• Ensure adherence to ethical standards and project documentation procedures.

Skills

MS Office

Adobe Premiere Pro

Participant interaction

Archival cataloging

Email/phone communications

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Hybrid/remote readiness

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, History, African American Studies, or related field

Tools

Adobe Premiere Pro

Job description

The Delaware Historical Society is seeking a contracted Oral History Coordinator to support the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage’s staff in assembling 9 oral history interviews about civil rights attorney Louis L. Redding. The oral histories will be featured in the upcoming special exhibition Breaking Barriers, Building Legacy: Louis L. Redding 125 | Mitchell Center for African American Heritage 10 opening on October 26, 2026. This exhibition, part of the Mitchell Center’s annual rotating series at the Delaware History Museum, showcases the pivotal work of civil rights attorney Louis L. Redding that had tremendous influence on the desegregation of education across the United States. The exhibition also examines his relationships with other Delawarean Civil Rights leaders like Jane and Littleton Mitchell, the namesakes of the Historical Society’s Mitchell Center established in October 2016.

The project to capture nine oral history interviews with family, friends, colleagues, and admirers of Louis L. Redding extends the engagement of the exhibition’s opening with additional content that will be added to the exhibition between October 2026 and June 2027.

The Oral History Coordinator will work with staff in the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage to coordinate and execute filmed oral history interviews. The Coordinator will also be responsible for editing interviews and delivering 1-hour finished products along with 2 short 5-7 minute clips from each interview for use online and in educational programming. Any travel scheduled during production will be compensated.

Over the course of several months, the contractor will produce:

• Nine (9) 1-hour filmed oral history interviews
• Eighteen (18) short film clips drawn from longer interviews
• Metadata and other cataloging information to support the long-term management of the film files.

Part-Time (5-10 hours/week)

$30 per hour (maximum $18,000 for 600 hours)

Essential Functions and Responsibilities.

To perform in this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Work with Mitchell Center staff to plan, coordinate, and conduct oral history interviews;
• Set up, operate, and manage video, audio, lighting, and recording equipment during interviews to ensure final products meet expected standards and best practices.
• Edit and enhance recorded video interviews including sound balancing and assembly of final products using Adobe Premiere Pro;
• Create and maintain accurate metadata, cataloging records, file naming conventions, and descriptive information for interviews and related materials.
• Organize, manage, and archive digital assets, including raw footage, edited files, photographs, transcripts, consent forms, and supporting documentation.
• Ensure adherence to oral history ethical standards, participant consent requirements, and project documentation procedures.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, History, African American Studies, or related field.
• Experience with producing oral history interviews.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite programs as well as an understanding of web-based and social media messaging and management.
• Familiarity and proficiency with Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Ability to interact with interview participants in a positive, enthusiastic manner.
• Familiarity with archival cataloging standards and conventions.
• Ability to stay on top of correspondence via email or telephone.
• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Positive attitude, an open mind, and flexibility.
• Flexible, hybrid workplace. Coordinator can work remotely primarily except for interview dates, which will be conducted in person.

Physical Demands:

• May need to lift boxes weighing up to 25 pounds or set up camera equipment.

This position description does not imply that the stated requirements are the only expectations for the position. Incumbents are expected to perform any other duties that may be assigned. The Delaware Historical Society has the right to revise this position description at any time. The Delaware Historical Society is an “at will” employer, and as such, neither this position description nor your signature constitutes any form of contractual agreement between you and the Delaware Historical Society.