Job Summary
The HSMC is looking for a part-time curator to be responsible for the care of our three-dimensional artifacts. This includes accessioning, deaccessioning, preserving, conserving, and cataloging these artifacts. The curator would also take lead on changes to the existing exhibit and display spaces within HSMC.
Job responsibilities:
Provide preservation care to all three-dimensional artifacts
Make recommendations for the accession and/or deaccession of three-dimensional artifacts
Catalog and keep track of all three-dimensional artifacts
Create annual exhibit
Monitor environmental dataloggers once a month
Other duties as assigned such as:
Help with programs both on and offsite, including at historic Montgomery Cemetery
Contribute to social media outlets and the website
Qualification Requirements
A master’s degree in art history, history, archaeology, museum studies, or similar fields.
Experience in public relations, fundraising, and business administration, preferred.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Experience with PastPerfect.
Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Detail-oriented with the ability to multitask effectively and prioritize competing demands.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Availability to work from 1pm-8pm on Wednesdays and at least 3pm-5pm on Tuesdays.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. Ability to work in confined spaces such as collections rooms. The employee must regularly lift and move up to 25 pounds. Special vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Salary info: $26-28/hr
Deadline to apply: 9/30/26
Please send your resume, cover letter, references and salary requirements to: Erica Slason, Interim Executive Director – [email protected]
(Posted 8/21)
Director, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg
The State Museum of Pennsylvania (SMOP) seeks a strategic, collaborative leader to serve as its Director.
As a bureau of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), the Museum brings Pennsylvania’s natural and cultural history to life through collections of more than 12 million artifacts spanning cultural history, art, archaeology, geology, paleontology, and natural history.
Over the next several years, the Museum will undergo a $58 million transformation — the largest investment in the complex since 1964. This is a rare opportunity for a mission-driven museum leader to guide a statewide institution through a once-in-a-generation renewal. The Director will shape a reimagined visitor experience, deepen community engagement, collaborate with staff and steward collections through the transition, championing the importance of Pennsylvania’s history now and for the future. PHMC seeks a collaborative, experienced museum leader with a passion for public history who will serve as a visible, compelling spokesperson, sustain engagement during closure, build momentum for reopening, and thrive in the Museum’s public-sector environment.
The Museum has an annual operating budget of approximately $4 million, as well as a planned capital budget of approximately $80 million over 10 years to support continued exhibition development. Salary begins at $115,000 and includes a competitive Commonwealth benefits package.
Please click here to apply.
(Posted 8/21)
Assistant Archivist, Chester County History Center and County of Chester, West Chester
- Position Type: Full-time, Permanent
- Compensation: $45,000 with benefits.
- Hours: 35 (Monday–Friday). Occasional evening and weekend events as required.
About the Role
The Chester County History Center (CCHC), in partnership with the County of Chester, seeks a dynamic, customer-service-oriented Assistant Archivist to support the daily operations of the Chester County Archives and Records Services Department.
This is an entry-level position designed for someone looking to build a career in public history and archives. The Assistant Archivist will serve as a welcoming, helpful presence in our reading room while helping connect the preservation of historic records with 21st-century digital access. This position offers hands-on experience in public reference, digitization, collection processing, digital curation and community outreach.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
- Public Reference & Research Support: Daily Focus.
- Serve as a welcoming resource for diverse researchers, including genealogists, property historians, students, and academic scholars. Provide research assistance in the Archives reading room and respond to inquiries received by email, phone, and online portals.
- Digital Preservation & Curation: Technical Workflow.
- Assist with digitization projects following established preservation standards and best practices. Create accurate metadata to make digital records organized, structured, discoverable, and accessible to the public.
- Collections Processing: Archival Standards.
- Assist with the processing, arrangement, description, and preservation of historical county records. Help compile user-friendly finding aids and indexes.
- Digital Outreach & Public History: Community Engagement.
- Collaborate on the development of digital exhibits, public programs, and educational content. Contribute to the maintenance of the department’s website, digital storytelling platforms (such as ArcGIS StoryMaps), and social media presence.
Qualifications & Skills
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in History, American Studies, Library/Information Science, Public History, or a closely related field.
- Experience: Prior exposure to a library, historical society, or archival setting is highly valued. Relevant internships, volunteer experience, or graduate coursework will be considered.
- Technical Savvy:
- Familiarity with, or enthusiasm to learn, collections management databases and digital asset management systems.
- Proficiency with modern productivity and collaboration suites (e.g., Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint).
- A demonstrated interest in digital storytelling tools, online exhibit platforms, and generating accessible digital documents (such as ADA-compliant PDFs).
- Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills; a genuine passion for working with the public.
- Adaptability: Proven organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and inquiries independently.
- Physical Demands: Ability to retrieve, move, and shelve archival boxes and heavy record volumes weighing up to 35 lbs, with or without reasonable accommodation.
To Apply:
Candidates should submit a letter of application and résumé in PDF format addressed to Cliff C. Parker, Director, at [email protected] using “Assistant Archivist application” in the subject line. Candidates selected for an interview will be asked to provide a writing sample and contact information for three references. Closing date is September 3, 2026.
(Posted 8/21)
Lily Foundation Learning and Engagement Intern (Fall 2026), Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Division: Learning and Engagement Division
Supervisor: Chief Learning and Engagement Officer
Position Description: The Programs and Communication Assistant becomes an integral member of the Learning and Engagement Department at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP). The intern will be supervised by the Chief Learning and Engagement Officer. Please note that this is a paid, part-time, temporary position, running through mid-December 2026. Two days are required onsite, with additional hours from home available.
Responsibilities: Depending upon the candidate's past experiences and career goals, as well as HSP’s program schedule, the intern will perform a variety of tasks that will build or hone skills sets, including:
- Program Planning - From logistics to marketing, the intern will help organize upcomingFY27 events. Interns will work collaboratively with the Learning and Engagement staff inpromoting virtual, hybrid, and onsite public programs. They may also assist withprograms supporting teachers and students.
- Exhibit Installation – The intern will gain hands-on experience installing documentdisplay cases for the exhibit Changing Faces of Independence.
- Research - Using the archives of HSP, the intern will conduct research with originalhistorical documents to support programs and communications.
- Writing – The intern will gain experience writing for the general public in order to producea variety of materials, such as social media campaigns, program marketing materials, e-newsletters, blogs on historic subjects and/or document display labels. Routine updatesfor website projects is included in this work.
- Social Media Planning – Interns will assist with the development of HSP’s monthly socialmedia calendar. Interns will also contribute content to social media.
Preferred Qualifications:
- History coursework and programming experience desirable but not required;
- Experience in an education, retail, food service, or other public facing role;
- Experience using social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok;
- Ability to work Wednesday evening hours to accommodate programming;
- Interest in history, education, and libraries/archives
Work Environment:
HSP maintains a team-oriented environment. Interns have their own desk and computer located in office spaces adjacent to program staff. Due the amount of work each staff person oversees, interns are expected to be able to work independently and feel comfortable asking for assistance as needed.
Schedule: 18.5 hours/Week. The intern should plan to work at onsite two days (7.5 hours each) at HSP’s headquarters at 1300 Locust Street. Availability on occasional Wednesday evenings is essential. The other onsite day should be Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday. Additional 3.5 hours of writing and research can be completed outside of normal business hours at home.
Compensation: $16.50/ hour. This is a temporary position with funding to cover 18.5 hours for approximately 16 weeks, or 296 total hours.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands or arm; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance, color vision and depth perception.
To Apply: Please submit a letter of interest and resume in PDF format to Justina Barrett at [email protected]. Include “Learning and Engagement Intern” in the subject line.
About the Organization: Founded in 1824, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) is one of the nation’s most significant archives of historical documents. Our mission is to preserve and provide access to our collection of over 23 million manuscripts, published works, photographs, and graphic materials spanning centuries of American history.
As an actively collecting institution, our holdings support research, learning, and exploration across a diverse range of topics, with strengths in Pennsylvania history, family and community history, ethnic history, science and technology, and the arts. Through research services, educational programs, public events, exhibits, publications, and fellowships, HSP invites you to connect with the past and engage with the stories that define our shared history.
At HSP, we invite you to Make History Yours through the vast collections of Philadelphia’s Library of American History.
(Posted 8/17)
