Work, Intern, & Volunteer Opportunities at MHS
Employment
Museum Inventory Project Technician
Position status: Temporary, Two-year position, full-time, 35 hours per week
Hire Date: ASAP
Maine Historical Society seeks an entry level museum professional to work as a museum cataloger as part of a two-year, IMLS funded project.
The goal of the IMLS Inventory Project is to complete a comprehensive inventory of the MHS museum collection. Project activities include an object-by-object review of each museum artifact and associated object information, updating (or creating) electronic object records with correct and standardized information, making digital images as needed, and improving storage for the collection.
The Inventory Project Technician will work in the House and Museum Department as part of an inventory team, and under the supervision of the Inventory Project Manager. They will handle museum objects, accurately input collection information in PastPerfect – the museum collection database, make digital images and manage digital files, make improvements to object storage and housing systems, as well as other project related activities.
Qualifications:
- Previous museum experience or advanced degree in history, museum, or material culture studies.
- Experience safely handling museum objects.
- Computer skills and ability to enter accurate data. Experience with PastPerfect preferred.
- Technical skills with conservation and storage materials, including measuring, cutting, and making boxes and folders.
- Ability to make digital images and use Adobe Photoshop.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Good organization abilities, including attention to details.
- Knowledge of museum standards and policies for collection management.
- Knowledge of cataloging and museum registration standards and procedures.
To apply, send cover letter and résumé to hhurd@mainehistory.org or mail to:
Maine Historical Society
489 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
Attn: Inventory Technician Search
Volunteer Opportunities
NOTE: Maine Historical Society is grateful for its many volunteers at work in various departments. Currently all volunteer and intern positions have been filled through the summer of 2008. Anyone interested in a fall opening in the library, Maine Memory Network, or museum, should fill out a form and/or contact us in August, 2008. Thank you for your interest!
Jobs both active and sedentary are available in the Research Library, the Wadsworth–Longfellow House, the Garden, Museum Gallery, Maine Memory Network, Educational Department, Administration and Development, and Building and Grounds. Board and Committee members are an important part of our volunteer team.
Opportunities include collections processing, data entry, typing, indexing, scanning and photographing historic items, inventorying collections, assisting Museum and House visitors and Library patrons, and conducting general historical and genealogical research for those who cannot visit.
Many special skills are needed to assist in the smooth operation of our varied functions, programs and events, and might include experience in publishing, fundraising, library, archival or museum curatorship, graphic design or computers.
Most volunteer jobs will take place at the Society's Campus at 485–489 Congress Street, Portland, but some projects may be done at home — for example, typing, indexing, or data entry. Daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal or occasional commitments may be arranged.
Click here to for the online application form.
Or send a resume and cover letter to:
Volunteer Program
Maine Historical Society
489 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
Internships
MHS offers several exciting internship opportunities for high school, college and graduate students.
All internships are unpaid, but college credit can be worked out with most educational institutions. Internships vary according to individual needs and goals of the student and MHS.
If you are interested in any of the following programs, please fill out this online application form.
Or mail a resume and cover letter to:
Internship Program
Maine Historical Society
489 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
Multimedia Internships
The Maine Memory Network, a statewide repository of digital source documents, is seeking interns and work–study students to staff our digital imaging center. Training will include handling historical documents, digital reproduction (scanning and photography), and editing with Photoshop. Only basic knowledge of computers is necessary, and we will provide training. Click here for the online application form.
Library & Archives Internships
Library Facade at 485 Congress St.
Library and Archives Interns are exposed to original and secondary special library and archives materials held by Maine Historical Society.
The internship will give an overview to the archive repository with a balance between issues of access and preservation in both Technical Services and Reference Services. Duties could include ready reference, research, correspondence, processing, cataloging, sorting, arranging, describing, and other library and archives tasks.
Computer skills (Microsoft Windows, etc.) are highly preferable, but this is not simply a data–entry project.
The aim is to expose the intern to a variety of activities, projects, and collections encountered in the special collections of a statewide historical society and its Research Library, which is the "library of record" for the study of the history of Maine and its people. Click here for the online application form.
New England Regional Fellowship Consortium
Maine Historical Society is a member of the New England Regional Fellowship Consortium.
This collaboration of 17 major research libraries in New England includes the six state historical societies and five special collections libraries at Harvard, among others. It awards $5,000 stipends to serious researchers to support six or more weeks’ work in three or more of the member libraries, stressing research with original primary documents.
For FY 2007-2008, nine stipends were awarded. Please see the NERCF website for more information and application information.