Type: One-year, grant-funded professional services contract
Schedule: Part-time; primarily onsite
Contract Amount: Not to exceed $50,000
The Louisiana Prison Museum & Cultural Center seeks a qualified museum, archives, public history, or collections professional for a one-year grant-funded contract to organize, inventory, catalog, and stabilize approximately 3,000–4,000 collection items.
This is a professional services contract, not a regular employee position.
The collection includes artifacts, photographs, documents, recordings, oral histories, and other materials related to Louisiana corrections history, public safety, institutional life, and Louisiana history.
Scope of Work
The selected contractor will work with the Museum Director to:
- Conduct or complete a baseline inventory of the Museum’s collection;
- Assign or confirm object identification numbers and location codes;
- Create or update core catalog records;
- Develop a comprehensive, searchable collection database or spreadsheet that Museum staff can maintain after the project ends;
- Identify duplicates, “found-in-collection” items, and items requiring further review;
- Assist with basic rehousing using appropriate archival materials;
- Prepare a shelf/location map and basic collection control tools;
- Recommend preventive conservation and storage improvements;
- Train Museum staff on basic handling, labeling, cataloging, location tracking, and database maintenance;
- Prepare a practical Collections Procedures Manual; and
- Provide regular progress updates.
Digitization of records or audiovisual materials is not part of this project.
Desired Qualifications
Preferred qualifications include experience in one or more of the following:
- Museum collections management;
- Archival processing;
- Public history;
- Cataloging or registration;
- Library/information science;
- Cultural resource collections;
- Preventive conservation or rehousing;
- Small museum or under-resourced collection work.
A graduate degree in museum studies, public history, library/information science, archives, history, or a related field is preferred but not required if the applicant has relevant practical experience.
Work Location and Schedule
Most collection handling, inventory, cataloging review, and staff training must be performed onsite at the Museum in Angola, Louisiana. Some work, such as drafting procedures, reports, and documentation, may be completed offsite with approval.
Applicants should provide a proposed schedule. The project is expected to be part-time over a one-year period.
Compensation
The contract amount is not to exceed $50,000. Applicants should provide a proposed fee structure, including hourly rate or project-based fee, estimated hours, and any assumptions.
How to Apply
Please submit:
- Cover letter describing relevant experience and approach to the project, not to exceed 2 pages;
- Resume or CV;
- Proposed work plan or schedule, not to exceed 3 pages;
- Proposed fee structure;
- Three to five examples of similar work or past performance, if available; and
- Three professional references.
The full proposal package, excluding resume/CV and references, should not exceed 10 pages.
Email materials to:
[email protected]
Subject line: Collections Contractor Proposal – [Applicant Name]
Applications/proposals are due by JULY 8 2026
The Louisiana Prison Museum & Cultural Center reserves the right to reject any or all responses, waive informalities, and negotiate the final scope, schedule, and fee structure with the selected contractor.
Pay: $50,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
