The Hennepin History Museum seeks applicants for one contract oral historian position. This is a temporary position funded through a Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage grant.

Project Details
Oral History HIV/AIDS Oral History Project

The project will document the treatment of HIV/AIDs in Minnesota from 1980s to 2010 through oral histories. The goals will be to document the response the disease and changes in prevention and care. All interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed. The Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies in Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University Libraries, University of Minnesota will serve as the repository. Copies of all transcripts will be deposited in the HHM archival collections.

The HIV/AIDS Healthcare Providers Oral History Project will document treatment of HIV/AIDS in MN from its first identification in the early 1980s through 2010 and the introduction of the Affordable Health Care Act.  Through this oral history project, 10 individuals from the Twin Cities representing healthcare organizations that provided HIV/AIDS treatment from the 1980s to 2010 will be interviewed. The goals will be to document: a) response to HIV/AIDS, and b) changes in HIV/AIDS prevention and care systems.  Work on the project will include identifying existing collections of records that could further an understanding of this topic. All interviews will be audio recorded in formats that meet Minnesota and national oral history digital recording standards and all will be fully transcribed. The Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Studies in Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University Libraries, University of Minnesota will serve as the primary repository. Copies of all transcripts will be deposited in the Hennepin History Museum archival collections.

Qualifications:

  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Must be able to operate transcription equipment
  • Clear and concise communication skills, especially good oral communication skills
  • Bachelor degree in public history, social sciences, health sciences, public history, GLBTQ Studies or related field
  • 7 + years’ experience conducting oral histories from beginning to end (schedule and conduct interviews, research and develop questions and transcribe interviews)
  • Ability to work with Microsoft products
  • Must have experience scheduling multiple interviews on a work plan
  • Maintain tight work plan and timeline; meet project targets
  • Be able to work with project director to develop forms, such as oral history contributor  form, interview information form, an interviewee biography form
  • Must be able to work independently and maintain schedule
  • Must have experience working in diverse communities
  • Qualified candidate will be familiar with and committed to the oral history standards as defined in the Minnesota Historical Society, the “Principles and Best Practices” of the Oral History Association (2009), and the “Best Practices for Community Oral History Projects” in the Community Oral History Toolkit (2013)
  • Must be able to provide transcriptions that adhere to the “Transcribing, Editing and Processing Guidelines” of the Minnesota Historical Society and the “Transcribing Style Guide” of the Baylor Institute for Oral History.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Advanced degree
  • Oral history research experience in health sciences, technology and/or bioethics
  • Experience conducting oral histories within medical community
Submit applications to:
By email only: jada.hansen@hennepinhistory.org
No Phone Calls!