Photographic Collection Cataloger

University of Alabama Libraries; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza seeks a dedicated Photographic Collection Cataloger to support a major two-year grant-funded initiative cataloging the Bob Jackson Collection.

Reporting to the Head of Collections & Registration, you will develop comprehensive catalog records in TMS, conduct in-depth research to identify people, places, events, and subjects in photographs, and document publication and use history.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in museum collections, archives, libraries, photographic collections or related setting.
• Experience creating or maintaining museum, archival or library catalog records and descriptive metadata.
• Familiarity with cataloging standards, controlled vocabularies, authority control and collections documentation practices.
• Ability to identify, evaluate and reconcile information from multiple sources while maintaining clear documentation of research findings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Cataloging & Metadata: Create and enhance detailed catalog records for photographic materials in TMS according to standards and project guidelines.
• Develop descriptive metadata, subject terms, keywords and authority records for names, places, events and subjects.
• Develop and apply standardized cataloging conventions and metadata structures with staff.
• Review existing records and enhance information as new research becomes available.
• Maintain research documentation and source citations for accuracy and reliability.

Skills

Strong research and writing skills

Attention to detail

Analytical and problem-solving

Independent and collaborative work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in history/related field

Master’s degree in history/library science/archival studies

Tools

TMS

Cataloging systems

Job description

Who We Are

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is one of the nation’s leading history museums and the most visited historic site in North Texas. Located within the historic Texas School Book Depository, the Museum preserves and shared the story of President John F. Kennedy, the assassination of President Kennedy, and the enduring legacy of the 1960s through exhibitions, educational programming, collection and public engagement.

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, The Sixth Floor Museum stewards an expanding collection of archival materials, photographs, oral histories, audiovisual media, publications and institutional records that document one of the most significant events in American history and its broader historical context.

In 2025, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Bob Jackson made a significant donation to the Museum of more than 22,000 photographic images and related materials spanning his career as a Dallas Times Herald photographer from 1960 to 1978. The Bob Jackson Collection, the largest photographic donation in the Museum’s history, provides an extraordinary visual record of Dallas during a period of significant growth and transformation. The collection includes Jackson’s iconic photograph of Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald, which won the 1964 Pulitzer Prize in News Photography, as well as his extensive coverage of Dallas life, culture, politics, social change and major national events.

The Opportunity

The Sixth Floor Museum seeks an experienced and detail-oriented Photographic Collection Cataloger to support a major two-year initiative to catalog and expand access to the Bob Jackson Collection, an extraordinary photojournalism collection documenting Dallas and national history from the 1960s and 1970s.

Reporting to the Head of Collections & Registration, the Cataloger will create and enhance comprehensive catalog records for the collection in TMS, conduct in-depth research to identify people, places, events and subjects represented in photographs and document publication and use history. The position will also research copyright and rights information and develop descriptive metadata and authority records that support research, exhibitions, education, licensing and future public access.

Working collaboratively with the Museum’s Collections and Curatorial teams, the Cataloger will help connect individual photographs to their broader historical context and make this significant collection more discoverable to researchers and the public.

This is a full-time, grant-funded, two-year position supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Key Responsibilities

Cataloging & Metadata

• Create and enhance detailed catalog records for photographic negatives, slides, prints and related materials in TMS according to professional museum standards and established project guidelines.
• Develop consistent descriptive metadata, subject terms, keywords and authority records for names, places, events and subject to improve discovery and access.
• Develop and apply standardized cataloging conventions and metadata structures in collaboration with Museum staff.
• Review existing documentation and previously created records, correcting or enhancing information as additional research becomes available.
• Maintain detailed research documentation and source citations to support the accuracy and reliability of catalog records.

Research & Documentation

• Research and identify individuals, locations, events, dates and subjects represented in photographs using newspapers, archival resources, publications, institutional records and other reliable sources.
• Research and document the publication history of photographs, including appearances in newspapers, magazines and other publications.
• Research copyright, rights and reproduction information associated with individual photographs and document known publication and use history.
• Prepare collection metadata and documentation to support online publication through the Museum’s website and digital collection platforms.
• Work with curatorial staff and other Museum colleagues to contextualize historically significant images and identify potential connections to exhibitions, education, research and public access.

Project Collaboration

• Coordinate with the Photographic Preservation & Digitization Specialist to ensure physical objects, TMS records and corresponding digital assets are accurately linked and appropriately documented.
• Collaborate with the Registrar and other Collections staff as needed to support metadata consistency and workflows.
• Carry out activities according to the approved IMLS project work plan, timeline, performance measures and professional standards.
• Track cataloging and research outputs and maintain production documentation necessary for grant monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Participate in project meetings and provide regular updates regarding progress, research findings, workflow challenges and project milestones.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in history, public history, museum studies, library science, archival studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in museum collections, archives, libraries, photographic collections, historical research or a related cultural heritage setting.
• Demonstrated experience conducting detailed historical, biographical and/or photographic research using primary and secondary sources.
• Experience creating or maintaining museum, archival or library catalog records and descriptive metadata.
• Familiarity with cataloging standards, controlled vocabularies, authority control and collections documentation practices.
• Ability to identify, evaluate and reconcile information from multiple sources while maintaining clear documentation of research findings.
• Strong research, writing, organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and consistency while working with large quantities of collection materials.
• Ability to manage production goals and priorities within an established project schedule while working independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in history, public history, museum studies, library and information science, archival studies or a related field.
• Professional experience researching or cataloging photographic or photojournalism collections.
• Experience with TMS or a comparable collection management system.
• Knowledge of Dallas, Texas and/or twentieth-century American history.
• Experience working on grant-funded cataloging, collections access or digitization projects.