Project Archivist

Wellesley College seeks an entry-level archivist with processing experience for a two-year project to process the Peggy McIntosh papers. Peggy McIntosh is best known as the founder of the National SEED project, and author of “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.” The job responsibility of the Project Archivist will be to process this approximately 200 linear foot collection that includes manuscript papers, audio visual materials, photographs, and ephemera.

This term position within Wellesley Centers for Women includes full benefits. The Project Archivist reports to the Katherine Stone Kaufmann '67 Executive Director of Wellesley Centers for Women while maintaining a strong partnership with the College Archivist and working closely with the Assistant Archivist.

Wellesley College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college for women founded in 1870 and opened for classes in 1875. The College Archives holds more than 7,000 linear feet of materials in a variety of formats and serves researchers throughout the Wellesley community and around the world.

The Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) is the largest academic research and action institute in the United States that is focused on women and gender and driven by social change.

Position Responsibilities

Arranges and describes (processes) materials with informational or historical value, that provide documentary evidence for the life and work of Peggy Mcintosh; formats include ephemera, electronic records, photographs, audiovisual materials, and personal and professional papers. The Project Archivist will be responsible for efficiently processing, arranging, and describing material following professional standards. They will document decisions and progress, follow existing workflows, and create a finding aid in ArchivesSpace.

Collaboration with the donor.

Meetings and trainings.

Basic Qualifications

Master’s degree in library science, history, or related field with a specialization or significant coursework in archives, OR graduate degree in any field with demonstrated knowledge of archives, such as Certified Archivist status or post-graduate training.

Current master’s candidates who have made significant progress towards a degree are encouraged to apply.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to manage large-scale and long-term projects, including developing workflows, writing documentation, and maintaining statistics
• One to two years of full time or equivalent experience with processing archival collections, including institutional records and manuscript collections
• Knowledge of or experience with standard archival principles and practices, especially metadata standards (DACS, EAD, LCSH) and best practices for processing analog and digital collections
• Experience with ArchivesSpace or other archives collection management software
• Knowledge of or interest in Feminism and/or DEI work preferred
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Relationship building skills
• There is an expectation that the vast majority of this work will be onsite or remote at Dr. McIntosh’s home. Flexibility can be discussed after the initial work is completed.
• Completion of this project will require some work in areas with mold, dust, and other hazard
• Protective gear will be supplied.
• Ability to lift boxes weighing up to 40 lbs.

Wellesley College offers a wide variety of benefits programs and resources to its employees, including:

• Generous paid time off
• Following one year of employment, Wellesley College will contribute up to 10.5% towards your 403B plan for eligible employees
• Resources to navigate student loan forgivenes
• Free use of the athletic/fitness facilities, including onsite fitness classes
• Free on-site parking in an enclosed parking garage
• All employees hired are strongly encouraged to be up to date with all vaccination and boosters against COVID‐19.