The Donald C. & Elizabeth M. Dickinson Research Center
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Summer Graduate Student Practicum
The Dickinson Research Center is seeking applications for the position of Summer Graduate Student Practicum to assist staff with processing collections within the Center, which serves as the library and archives for the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Position Description: Summer 2011 practicum for two graduate students planning a career in an archives to work with manuscript materials. The goal of the practicum is to provide the students with experience in arrangement and description, creating collection inventories and finding aids, processing collections, learning and utilizing preservation techniques, assisting researchers in the reading room, and providing administrative and organizational support. Students will work with experienced staff to obtain these goals. The practicum may begin as early as May 23, 2011 and end as late as August 24, 2011.
Qualifications: Candidates must be currently enrolled in a graduate program in Archives or Library Science. They must also have strong written communication skills and experience interacting with the public professionally, be able to work independently, be organized and flexible, be reliable and responsible for their time and work, and be able to climb ladders and lift 40 pound boxes. Applicants must also have basic computer skills, including experience using Microsoft Word and Excel. Highly Desirable: Successful completion of two archives courses, including an introduction to archives and basic processing. Previous experience processing archival collections. Recent graduates may also apply, however, successful candidates must commit to completing the practicum term.
Compensation/Salary: Full-time temporary position; up to ten weeks at $10-12/hr (based on experience). Some flexibility is possible. No health or retirement benefits. Please note: there is no relocation allowance available for students at this time.
Environment: The Dickinson Research Center collects, preserves, and provides access to materials documenting the American West not only for the public, but in support of the museum's research, educational, curatorial and exhibition activities. The Center is actively pursuing collections of personal papers and business and organizational records that reflect and document the following five subject areas: Entertainment (Western popular culture), Western Art, Ranching, Native American, and Rodeo. Additionally, the Center also maintains the institutional records of the museum. The facility consists of a reading room, closed stacks (4226 sq.ft.), and overflow storage (1019 sq.ft.).
Application: Send or e-mail a letter of application, resume, a writing sample (preferably a prepared finding aid), names, addresses and phone numbers of three references to:
Gerrianne Schaad
Director, Dickinson Research Center
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
1700 NE 63rd Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
gschaad@nationalcowboymuseum.org.
Consideration of applications will begin March 20, 2011 and continue until the position is filled.
