Project Archivist

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The Institute’s work is shaped by its history as the former Radcliffe College—a school founded to ensure that the standard of education embodied in Harvard was accessible to women, who were then excluded from the University. But the legacy of Radcliffe College is not simply coeducation at Harvard; it is the recognition that universities will always be greater when they draw wisdom and talent from the widest possible pool.

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This is a 2-year term limited position starting in May, 2026 and ending on April 30, 2028

Job Summary:

The Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America documents the lives of women of the past and present for the future and furthers the Harvard Radcliffe Institute’s commitment to the study of women, gender, sexuality, and society. The Archival Technical Services unit at Schlesinger Library fosters the discovery, use, and care of archival and manuscript materials through various activities including accessioning, processing, description, metadata creation, preservation, and collection management. Archival Technical Services’ priorities reflect the Library’s ongoing work to document the history and contributions of women and organizations currently under-represented in our collections. The Library has recently acquired the papers of a prominent Black feminist critic, writer, and publisher. The approximately 164 linear feet collection documents the Combahee River Collective, Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, Black lesbian and gay writing and activism, and many other related topics.

To process and make accessible this significant new acquisition, we seek a Project Archivist for a two-year term who is passionate about archival processing and its crucial role in fostering discovery and accessibility, and who is committed to equitable representation and inclusive description in archives. The Project Archivist processes this newly acquired collection, arranging and describing the papers according to national standards and best practices to provide widespread public access to the collection. This is an opportunity for a critical thinker to join an experienced unit of passionate archivists who are working collectively to evaluate and improve our practices while reaffirming our existing strengths. Reporting to the Lead Processing Archivist, they will participate in a team committed to ongoing reflection and improvement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Appraises, arranges, describes, preserves, and catalogs the papers, in both analog and digital formats, of a prominent Black feminist critic, writer, and publisher. This includes creating a processing plan and achievable timeline for the project, and consulting with conservation staff regarding fragile materials.

• Creates DACS-compliant archival description, including catalog record and finding aid, following national standards and Schlesinger Library procedures and applying best practices for inclusive and reparative description.

• Determines appropriate levels of arrangement and description, using a range of approaches to ensure flexible and efficient processing.

• Adheres to procedures outlined in departmental processing manuals and contributes to the improvement and documentation of departmental workflows and practices.

• May supervise student assistants and interns, including planning and assigning work.

Working Conditions:

• Work conditions involve a climate-controlled, indoor environment with specific temperature and humidity levels to preserve materials. The archivist may encounter dust and mold, necessitating the use of personal protective equipment like masks and gloves. Limited natural light is typical in the workspace, and frequent use of computers and other digital tools is required.

Physical Requirements:

The demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The physical demands of this position include lifting and carrying boxes up to 40 pounds, managing cartloads of material weighing up to 240 pounds, frequent standing, walking, climbing ladders, and bending to retrieve or reshelve collections. 

• Manual dexterity is required to handle delicate archival materials carefully. 

• Prolonged periods of examining documents under magnification and repetitive data entry tasks are also common.

Basic Qualifications:

• ALA-accredited MLS (master’s in library science) with a concentration in archives management, or MA in history or a related field.

• Two or more years of experience processing archival materials in a variety of formats.

• Knowledge of national data content and structure standards for archival control, such as DACS, EAD, MARC, LCSH, and AAT.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills:

• Coursework, professional experience, or demonstrated interest in Black feminism and/or feminist publishing history.

• Understanding of contemporary U.S. women’s history.

• Familiarity with, or interest in, current approaches and best practices in inclusive and reparative archival description.

• Experience with archival and library management systems, and proficiency with computer technology, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and XML.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as critical thinking and active listening abilities.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and to work both independently and collaboratively within a collegial, team-based environment.

• Commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace, and to working effectively with colleagues and researchers from a broad range of backgrounds.

• Appointment End Date: April 30, 2028
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Employment
• Flex Work Note: 

  This role is offered as a primarily on-campus position where the incumbent will be required to be onsite at our Cambridge, MA-based campus regularly. There may be occasional opportunities to work remotely. Specific schedule will be determined between the incumbent and manager.

  Any remote work must be performed in a state in which Harvard is registered to do business (CA*, CT, GA, IL, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VA, VT, and WA). *Note: Harvard employees working in California must be in exempt role.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 056. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

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Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.