The Historical Society of Montgomery County
Archivist (Part Time)
The Historical Society of Montgomery County PA was established in 1881 and
incorporated in 1884. Its mission is to preserve the county’s rich heritage and to tell the
stories of the many people who have lived and worked there. The HSMC headquarters
on DeKalb Street in Norristown houses its museum and library collections. The society
also owns and manages the historic Montgomery Cemetery in West Norriton Township.
HSMC offers regular programs and special events throughout the year.
HSMCʼs archival collections consists of over 3000 cubic feet of materials, dating
primarily from 1784 to the present. Included are personal and family papers, records of
county businesses and organizations, local history and ephemera files, scrapbooks,
photographs, maps and atlases, newspapers and periodicals, and a wide range of other
materials, including governmental records.
Position Description
The primary responsibility of the Archivist will be the organization and care of the
archives. The Archivist will work as a member of a team with other staff, volunteers and
interns to promote the society and its mission, reporting to the Executive Director. This
position emphasizes organizational skills, excellent written and oral communication
skills and individual initiative. The Archivist will be responsible for the preservation,
arrangement and description of archival materials, developing finding aids, descriptions,
cataloging, inventories, space management plans and priorities, management of
resources and budget for supplies. In conjunction with the Executive Director and other
staff, the Archivist will also plan exhibit development and installations, developing
instructional programs and/or assistance at special events, and seek financial support
for collections and operations.
Secondary responsibilities include assisting researchers and the user community in the
societyʼs Reading Room, contributing content for the quarterly newsletters, representing
HSMC in the community, with donors, collectors, and the general public, and in the
library and archival professions. Other operational duties as needed, including general
housekeeping.
This is a part-time position (20 hours/week) with some flexibility in scheduling to
coordinate with other staff to ensure coverage during open hours; Mondays and
Thursdays 9 – 5, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1 – 9, and other hours as needed for
programming.
NOTE: This position requires the physical ability to lift and move boxes weighing forty
pounds, either with or without accommodation.
Qualifications
1. Experience/knowledge of PastPerfect and Microsoft Office software.
2. Bachelor of Science with a focus in archival studies, public history, library and
information services or the equivalent, a minimum of three years archival experience.
3. Knowledge of best practices, trends and issues in archives and special collections.
4. Experience planning and implementing educational programs that promote local
history through archival material.
5. Excellent written communication skill as evidenced by application materials.
Application Procedure:
Cover letter, resume, references and salary requirements should be submitted
electronically to: eaderman@comcast.net. Salary is dependent on qualifications.
Application deadline: April 20, 2012.