Part-Time Archives Assistant - Hands-On Processing

American University; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 24,796 - 30,307; Part time

Job summary

American University Archives & Special Collections seeks an Archives Student Assistant to work on collections processing tasks, including arranging and describing archives, drafting finding aids, rehousing and labeling, and basic preservation measures. The role supports inventorying, data entry, and research using archival collections, with potential visitor greeting in the Reading Room.

Under supervision, you will track progress, use MS Excel/Word/Teams, and maintain attention to detail.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Excellent organization, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work with others and independently, and ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Ability to learn and adapt to new workflows, tools, and technologies.
• Desire to contribute to departmental projects through independent and collaborative work.
• Reliable and responsive to communication and feedback in a timely manner.
• Ability to lift items up to 40 pounds and retrieve materials from shelves seven feet high.

Responsibilities

• Organize, arrange, and describe new and legacy collections using provided tools, systems, and workflows.
• Handle archival materials with care and perform basic preservation measures.
• Adhere to archival standards for arrangement, description, and preservation.
• Track and document project progress using MS Excel, Word, Teams, and other tools to meet deadlines.
• Assist office staff with routine administrative functions, including welcoming visitors to Archives.
• Assist with reference requests by retrieving collections materials and staffing the reading room.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Written and verbal communication

Ability to learn new workflows/tools

Reliability and responsiveness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Teams

Job description

American University Archives & Special Collections seeks an Archives Student Assistant to work on collections processing tasks, including arranging and describing archives, drafting finding aids, rehousing and labeling, and basic preservation measures. The role supports inventorying, data entry, and research using archival collections, with potential visitor greeting in the Reading Room.

Under supervision, you will track progress, use MS Excel/Word/Teams, and maintain attention to detail.