Job Posting: Project Archivist, Andy Warhol Photo Collection, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

http://jobs.code4lib.org/job/20268/

The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University is seeking a full-time archivist to lead the Warhol Photography Collection Project.

From 1976 until his death in 1987, Andy Warhol used his Minox 35EL camera to meticulously document his daily life. The Andy Warhol Photography Collection includes more than 3,500 photographic negatives and 3,600 contact sheets of multiple photographs. The Andy Warhol Photography Collection is a new addition to the Cantor’s existing collection of Warhol works and reaffirms the university’s preeminence in the study of the history of photography, from Eadweard Muybridge to Carleton Watkins to Andy Warhol to Robert Frank to Lee Friedlander.

The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University is a vital and dynamic institution with a venerable history. Founded in 1891 with the university, the historic museum was expanded and renamed in 1999 for lead donors Iris and B. Gerald Cantor. The Cantor’s encyclopedic collection spans 5,000 years, includes more than 40,000 artworks and beckons visitors to travel around the world and through time: from Africa to the Americas to Asia, from classical to contemporary. With 24 galleries presenting selections from the collection and more than 20 special exhibitions each year, the Cantor serves Stanford’s academic community, draws art lovers from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, and attracts campus visitors from around the world. Free admission, free tours, lectures, family activities, plus changing exhibitions make the Cantor one of the most well-attended university art museums in the country and a great resource for teaching and research on campus.

CORE DUTIES*:

Under the direction of the Associate Director of Collections, Exhibitions, and Curatorial Affairs, the Andy Warhol Photography Collection Project Archivist is responsible for planning the long-term access to the collection for scholars, students and curators. The Archivist is also responsible for the organizing, processing, digitizing and archival storage of the collection. In addition, they will work with Cantor’s curatorial staff on the exhibition and publication of the collection.

Specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following

• Develop and carry out a collection processing plan
• Develop and carry out a collection digitization plan
• Establish project schedule
• Establish archival housing, preservation procedures and processing guidelines of both physical and digitized materials
• Cataloging of the collection to the item level
• Oversee creation of a website for online access to the collection on the item level
• Meet the collection access needs of classes and scholars and researchers during the course of the Project
• Collaborate with Cantor’s curatorial staff on exhibition and publication of the collection
• Manage and facilitate the operational efficiency of a small, specific collection or help support the management of a major, extensive collection with multiple changing exhibitions.
• Register, assign and maintain records of accession, catalog numbers, condition, and location of all objects in museum collection. Prepare acquisition reports for review of curatorial and administrative staff.
• Compose concise description of objects, and record descriptions on physical files and databases and in collection catalogs. Recommend changes in record keeping procedures to achieve maximum accessibility for efficient retrieval of collection objects.
• Oversee handling, packing, movement, insurance, transportation and inspection of all objects entering or leaving establishment, including traveling exhibits; determine that damage or deterioration to objects has not occurred.
• Arrange for insurance of objects on loan or special exhibition, or recommend insurance coverage on parts of or entire collection.
• Coordinate incoming traveling exhibitions and term loans. Monitor travel, process loan documents and arrange for crating, packing, shipping and insurance; monitor objects during exhibition.
• Coordinate light sensitive and gallery rotations. Partner with others to implement timeline, distribute checklists and gallery layouts. Generate and provide installation/de-installation checklists to preparators as scheduled.
• May serve as a courier accompanying valuable objects of art in transit as required; supervise loading and unloading of crates at airport, borrowing museum and other venues. May oversee installation of objects at borrowing museums.
• May prepare and manage special project budgets as required.
• May train and supervise the work of associate or assistant registrars, students, interns, and volunteers.
• *- Other duties may also be assigned

Qualifications:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

• A four-year college B.A. degree in Art, Art History, or related field required. A Master’s degree in Library Studies (M.L.S.), with a concentration in archival studies or a Master’s degree in Museum Studies desired

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• At least 5 years of experience working in archives or special collections including demonstrated work as lead processor for restricted or complex collections

• Experience of cataloging and managing archives to recognized standards

• Ability to complete projects on-time and on-budget

• Ability to work independently in a production-oriented environment

• Demonstrated experience using judgment and initiative

• Strong analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

• Experience in working within collaborative projects with fixed deadlines

• Flexibility and adaptability; ability to think creatively

• Demonstrated experience with creation of blogs or websites

• Demonstrated knowledge of professional museum practices including registration methods, safe object handling and art preservation, packing and shipping, insurance, storage of art, security measures, and object numbering techniques.

• Knowledge of and demonstrated skill using collection management databases, FileMaker security measures, Microsoft Word and Excel; experience working with Museum electronic databases is strongly desired.

• Must have excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills.

• Ability and willingness to maintain high level of accuracy and attention to detail is essential, as is the ability to work well under pressure with a wide variety of museum professionals, vendors, students, docents, and other.