Field Study Opportunity

Background

The Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, Maryland, is walking distance from the Annapolis historic district. The Archives is an independent agency within the Maryland State government with a number of responsibilities, first and foremost is to be the central depository for government records of permanent value. The Special Collections Department supervises the care, preservation, accessioning, and description of non-state agency generated records, which include personal letters, diaries, organizational records, newspapers, photographs, maps, and documents.

We will work with the student to design a project for the field study based upon their particular interests within the archival field, professional goals, and previous experience. The field study position may involve the student in all steps of special collections processing, including rough sorting, rehousing, arrangement, description, and metadata entry. This is an opportunity to work as part of a team in a small department while gaining professional skills. We receive collections in a variety of media, and our archivists work closely with our conservators to prepare our materials for long-term storage. There will be ample opportunities to learn from staff members first-hand.

Project Details

The position is available for graduate students seeking to work for academic credit and professional experience. The field study archivist works with Special Collections archivists and paper conservators to catalog and assess the condition of collections. Hours are flexible, to be scheduled Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm at the Maryland State Archives building in Annapolis.

Requirements

• Familiarity or experience with library cataloging standards and/or archival processing standards
• Strong writing and research skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently
• Working knowledge of spreadsheets (Google Sheets or Excel), database systems, word processing and basic html

Preferred Qualifications

• General interest in or knowledge of history, especially Maryland history
• Knowledge of preservation practices in an archival setting
• Ability to lift heavy boxes and climb ladders

Contact Information

Maria Day, Senior Director of Special Collections, Conservation & Library Services
Maryland State Archives
Phone: 410-260-6410
Email: Maria.Day@maryland.gov

Applicants will be contacted via e-mail if selected for interview.