Archivist Technician

Description:

The Smithsonian Institution (SI) is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Its Archives of American Art (AAA) collects, preserves and makes available primary sources that document more than two hundred years of our nation’s artists and art communities. This fosters research and connects the public to a uniquely American cultural heritage. With a collection of more than 30 million items, the Archives is the largest and most widely used resource in the world on the history of American art and is a leader in the digitization of and public accessibility to archival collections.
This position is in the Collections Processing department where the incumbent applies current, professional archival standards, best practices and methodologies to collections accessioning, preservation, arrangement, description, and digital project activities. The incumbent also regularly serves researchers in AAA’s Reading Room. The incumbent reports to the Head of Collections Processing and Digitization and works closely with the Registrar and Collections Manager, archivists, digital operations, and reference staff. Work requires regular and recurring lifting of boxes weighing up to 25 lbs., and working with collections that may contain dirt, dust and other particulates.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Archival accessioning and collections management activities
Assists AAA’s Registrar and Collections Manager with logistical operations for the accessioning of new acquisitions, such as sorting and rehousing new archival collections and barcoding, labeling, and shelving the containers. Assists Registrar with special projects related to rehousing, moving, and inventorying of existing collections in AAA’s Washington, DC storage spaces. May assist with entering folder lists and writing content descriptions in ArchivesSpace, an open-source archives information management application for the creation of collection finding aids.
Reference services in AAA’s Manuscript Reading Room
Serves four to six days per month in the Archives’ Manuscript Reading Room assisting researchers. Answers email, telephone, written, and in-person requests for information about AAA’s research collections and how they may access AAA’s collections. Works closely with the Head of Reference Services to determine tasks.
Technical support for digital collections
Assists on digital initiatives, including fulfillment of researcher requests for digital images. Work entails following well-established guidelines and written procedures, involving adding and revising descriptive, administrative, and structural metadata in AAA’s internal Collection Information System and ArchivesSpace; use of the Aeon patron request system; retrieval and preparation of items for digitization; post-digitization quality control; and generating Digital Object Identifier (DAO) links for web display. May identify and contribute digitized material to the Smithsonian Transcription Center and contribute content to other digital access projects such as subject tagging, alt-text, and reparative description activities.
Exhibition Loan Documentation
Assists Registrar and Collections Manager with external requests from museums and other organizations for items to be loaned for exhibition. This may include pulling items from collection storage, contributing to condition reports, creating item catalog records in the AAA Collections Information System, and submitting requests for item digitization.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Entry Level Opportunity for Recent Graduates.
Bachelor's or Master's required from an accredited university or college.
Knowledge of current archival principles, concepts, methodology, and procedures for performance in activities that comprise archival collections accessioning, arrangement, preservation, and description.
Knowledge of basic conservation and collections management practices for safe handling of various collection materials.
Knowledge of standard Microsoft Office software, and the application of additional software applications used for a variety of digital initiatives (ArchiveSpace, Aeon, SI Digital Asset Management System).
Knowledge of American art history, cultural, social, AND/OR political history sufficient to identify and provide primary source documentation on the visual arts in the United States.
Ability to plan and organize work tasks sufficient meet quotas and targeted completion dates with attention to detail and respect for the historical documents, photographs, and works of art.
Knowledge of grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, to prepare descriptive metadata that is grammatically correct, and professionally presentable to the public.
Ability to comprehend oral and written instructions, policies, procedures, explanations and guidelines and to apply both oral and written instructions to practical work situations with a minimum of supervisory attention after initial assignment.
Knowledge of the duties, priorities, policies, and program goals of AAA.
Ability to maintain a high level of tact and diplomacy with a variety of internal and external contacts.