The Huntington Library posted a new job position for H. Russell Smith Foundation Curator of Western American History. For full information, check out their website. 

Job Description

About the Role

The Huntington Library seeks a Curator of Western American History to serve as a creative and collaborative professional in stewarding, developing, and interpreting its exceptional collection of manuscripts, rare books, photographs, and maps pertaining to the history of the trans-Mississippi West. The collections in this area have been thoughtfully developed over the last century and remain a major focus of the institution. The Library holds 400 manuscript collections that pertain to the West, as well as hundreds of thousands of printed and graphic items.

The Curator of Western American History is part of the Library’s unified Curatorial Department staff. S/he/they report to the Head of the Library Curatorial Department and will work closely with other curators with intersecting collection areas and scholarly expertise, including those in the Huntington’s Art Museum.

The collections in this area geographically extend from Alaska and the Canadian Northwest, south to the borderlands of the United States and Mexico, and across the continent from the Mississippi and throughout the Pacific Rim. Chronologically, resources span the 16th century to the early 21st. The topical and thematic strengths of the collections relate to missionary practices among Indigenous populations; immigrant diasporas and populations; overland migration and settler colonial exploration and settler impulses; warfare and violence; and Latter-Day Saint migrations to the Intermountain and Far West, as well as into the Pacific. Materials on mining, water, the gold rush, railroads, corporate histories, banking and finance, migrations, and demography record the growth of urban and suburban centers in the West. Recent collecting concentrates on the transformation of the West in response to tourism, recreation, and leisure across the last century and a half.

The Huntington welcomes over one million visitors each year to its gardens, art galleries, and library exhibition halls, while also facilitating one of the largest scholarly fellowship programs in the United States. The Library’s reading rooms welcome 1700 visitors conducting research in the collections each year, with some 300 readers working in the field of Western American History. The successful candidate will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach. The successful applicant will also demonstrate an understanding of the role of special collection resources in contemporary scholarship, as well as an aptitude for the focused acquisition of collection materials in this field, and their imaginative interpretation through public exhibition for diverse audiences.

Essential Duties

• Stewards and develops the Library’s extensive rare and special collections in Western American History through gift and purchase, and informs the development of the general reference collections in this area.

• Interprets collections for the widest possible audiences (from scholars to the general public) through exhibitions, academic lectures, public talks, tours, conferences, publications, digital initiatives, and outreach activities.

• Provides research and reference assistance for the collection to users (in person and electronically) and participates in the review of Huntington fellowship applications for appropriateness to the collections.

• Works with Library Directory, Advancement staff, Library Director, and Head of Library Curatorial to identify and steward donors and to win and implement grants useful to the collections and the institution.

• Works closely with the ACMe (Acquisitions, Cataloging & Metadata) team responsible for the creation of access tools on collection priorities and the appropriate level of description for catalog records and finding aids, based upon an understanding of the materials and scholarly and research needs.

• Works with Reader Services to promote and develop tools to improve access and understanding of the collections, like LibGuides.

• Establishes priorities and initiates projects for the preservation and conservation of collections, in collaboration with the Head of Preservation, Preservation staff, and the Head of Library Curatorial.

• Advises colleagues in Education and Public Programs on appropriate interpretation of content and participates in programs across the institution.

• Keeps current with relevant historiographical concerns, issues, developments, and trends in professional communities.

• Represents the Library and contributes to appropriate professional organizations at the local, regional, national, and international levels.

• Contributes to departmental, division, and institution-wide activities and initiatives in collaboration with colleagues and support staff.

Candidate Requirements and Experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Specific subject knowledge of the histories of the American West usually obtained through a

• PhD (preferred) or advanced degree in a relevant discipline (History, American Studies, Anthropology, etc.)

• Demonstrated experience conducting advanced research with archival collections and primary sources.

• Familiarity with library and archival standards, experience with copyright, and managing restricted collections, obtained through an MLIS degree or equivalent experience.

• Knowledge of the rare book and manuscript trade.

• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral, and written communication skills, including public speaking skills.

• Reading knowledge of a non-English language relevant to the region and history of the American West.

• Understanding of preservation issues common in special collection libraries.

• Ability to effectively prioritize competing tasks and excel in a fast-passed, demanding, and engaging research library with a public mission.

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a diverse group of colleagues, researchers, donors, and other individuals and communities.

• Demonstrated collegiality, professional contributions, and a record of collaboration.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience in special collections or a research library.

• Experience in acquiring rare materials.

• Experience with digitization and digital humanities projects.

• An established record of scholarly and professional contributions.

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment.

• Some weekend and evening work is required.

• Some travel, locally, nationally, and internationally is required.

Compensation & Benefits

We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including:

• Pay Range: $85-90k annually. Negotiable and commensurate on experience.

• Medical, Dental, Vision

• 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match

• Hybrid remote work schedule available for applicable positions

• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays

• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants

• Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions

• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds

The Application Process

Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment. 

You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the “My Experience” section of the application

The Transnation & Global History Seminar (TGHS) at the University of Oxford has a call for papers (abstract deadline April 15) for their annual graduate conference. The conference topic is "Diaspora, Identity and Belonging" and it will be held on June 5-6 in Oxford and online. The conference will engage with diasporic histories and identities as a way to disrupt the fiction of geopolitical borders, unsettle the nation as a unit of analysis, and destabilise colonial logic which coerces (dis)placement. TGHS invites our fellow graduate and early career historians and scholars in adjacent disciplines to apply.

For more information, go to: https://www.oxfordtghs.com/conference

Nebraska State College System has a Tenure Track History faculty position available! The job is in Chadron, Nebraska.

For more information, visit their website: https://nscs.peopleadmin.com/postings/10579.

Job Title	History Faculty
Rank	To be determined based on qualifications
Tenure Information	Tenure Track
Nature of Work	Full-time faculty in the Justice Studies, Social Sciences & English Department with primary teaching emphasis in United States History, American Indian Studies, the North American West, Nebraska History,and related areas as assigned by the Dean. The faculty member participates in the department and the institution’s communities of learners to foster a culture of inquiry, critical self-reflection, evidence-based decision-making, and a learner-centered environment.
Examples of Work Performed	General Summary: Responsible for providing instruction in accordance with the philosophy and objectives of the College. Essential Duties: 1. Contribute to students’ academic growth and development, which includes all of the following. A. Teaching, which includes but is not limited to the following: i. Have knowledge of and enthusiasm for the subject ii. Maintain competence in the assigned field of specialization and exhibit professional competence in the classroom, studio or laboratory iii. Maintain a classroom environment conducive to learning iv. Maintain respect for the student and the student’s posture as a learner v. Organize course and subject matter to acquaint all students with the course requirements including specific objectives, and methods of evaluation vi. Organize course presentations through short-term and long-range outcomes vii. Present abstract ideas and theories clearly viii. Conduct classroom presentations and activities utilizing methods appropriate to reach students of varying educational/experiential backgrounds and learning styles ix. Actively engage students in lectures, discussions or laboratories x. Coordinate handouts, video and/or online materials and/or articles to update course content xi. Incorporate new methodologies in teaching and technology into classes xii. Encourage student to think for themselves xiii. Be flexible and innovative with teaching styles and approaches, as appropriate to the class xiv. Be reliable in meeting scheduled responsibilities xv. Be accessible to students; post and maintain office hours xvi. Provide regular and timely assessment of student progress xvii. Be fair in examinations and grading xviii. Participate in program assessment and catalog revisions xix. Periodically evaluate and develop new courses, where necessary, revise and update existing courses to maintain relevant and current content. xx. Participate in program review and updating requirements B. Advising students, which includes but is not limited to the following: i. Be knowledgeable about college policies and program requirements ii. Help students plan programs of study iii. Provide students with advice on academic issues and career counseling, tutoring, and other academic support resources iv. Assist in the development, implementation, and assessment of the departmental enrollment management plan, including serving directly in student recruitment, retention, and success strategies v. Schedule and maintain availability for student advising vi. Establish and maintain timely communication with advisees vii. Provide leadership and supervision for student organizations and activities 2. Professional achievement and continual preparation and study through scholarly and creative activity will vary according to the field, examples of which may include the following: A. Participate in academic organizations related to teaching assignment B. Give scholarly presentations, workshops or performances C. Produce scholarly materials such as original or applied research, manuscripts, articles, book reviews, musical arrangements, or works of art D. Engage in appropriate professional development to enhance performance as faculty member E. Seek external funding through approved grant and contract work related to discipline, as appropriate and assigned F. Provide evidence of achievement within and significance of contributions to field G. Provide evidence of quality and originality of thought or work and breadth and depth of perspective H. Be willing and able to continue individual development and professional productivity as a member of the faculty. 3. Professional services rendered outside the academic discipline in ways other than teaching that contribute to the work of the College vary from individual to individual. Service to the college and community, and profession related to the professional assignment includes the following: A. Participate in campus and community presentations B. Serve on discipline, department, school, and campus-wide committees and initiatives C. Take an active role in discipline, departmental, and school accreditation and reaccreditation activities, as appropriate and as assigned D. Periodically evaluate and develop new courses, where necessary, consistent with the role and mission of the institution, school and department E. Sponsor student organizations, as appropriate and assigned, and participate in student-based activities F. Provide leadership in professional organizations and/or good citizenship in the community at large G. Foster and sustain collegial relations with campus, community and profession Secondary Duties: Other duties as assigned by Dean
Required Qualifications	Ph.D. in History or closely related field; ABD considered (terminal degree required for tenure)
Preferred Qualifications	Experience teaching at the high school and/or college level Experience in research/scholarship Experience in effectively using technology to facilitate student learning and to expand student access Interest in teacher education/Social Studies standards Ability to contribute to the CSC Essential Studies Program Additional US History subfields (i.e., environmental history, colonial history, immigration and ethnic history, Western women’s history, etc.) welcomed

License and Certification Requirements	None
Other Requirements	Successful background records check
Salary Information	$54,343-TBD
FTE	1.000
FLSA	Exempt
Union Status	SCEA
Number of Vacancies	1

The ARLIS/NA Mountain West chapter has opened the registration for their symposium. The symposium will take place on February 24 at 12:00 MT. The link to register is here: https://uccs-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUrdu-urzsvGNyhpVkD_lt_SLktoNyBy0YR

Job Title: CURATOR 3
CURATOR 3 – Requisition ID: 17118
Recruitment Type: Open Competitive
Posting Close Date: N/A
Geographical Location: Reno, Sparks

Department: DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS
Division: DTCA – MUSEUMS AND HISTORY DIVISION
Business Unit: HR-NEVADA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Work Type: PERMANENT
*Pay Grade: GRADE 35
Salary Range: $51,803.28 – $76,921.92
Full-Time/Part-Time: Full Time

Recruiter: ADRIAN L FOSTER
Phone: 702 486-2911
Email: adrian@admin.nv.gov

Position Description:
The Nevada Historical Society (NHS) in the Division of Museums and History within the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of the Nevada Historical Society Q (NHSQ) Editor (Curator III). The NHS is an educational institution and public history center that incorporates the functions of a research library and archive, a museum, public programs venue, academic research, and educational offerings for all ages.

The Editor, working under the direction of the NHS Director, oversees the publication of the Nevada Historical Society Q, the only academic, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to Nevada History. The NHSQ is in the process of moving to a hybrid digital/print publication and the Editor will be helping migrate the NHSQ to an online access journal.

The job duties include coordinating online and print publishing cycles, managing content areas, upholding publication standards, establishing goals and expectations, actively seeking articles and content, coordinating work of subcontractors, proofreading, editing, and improving articles, checking content for accuracy and errors, complying with media law and ethical guidelines, meeting deadlines and budget requirements.

In addition, this position develops education programs working in conjunction with NHS programming and curators, schedules guided tours, school tours and outreach to schools and community organizations. The incumbent supervises, recruits, and trains interns, docents, and volunteers.

The Editor plays an active role in the day-to-day operations of the NHS. The incumbent can expect to spend part of their time in work that sustains the Nevada Historical Society’s public services and advances the overall mission and strategic plan of the Nevada Historical Society.

This includes managing visitors; developing new initiatives; assistance with grant-writing; maintaining and creating accurate data using agency software and databases including PastPerfect; operating admissions and museum store when needed; and other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in history, prehistory, natural history, museum studies, education, or closely related field plus three years of professional experience in a museum.

This experience must have included direct responsibility for museum collections involving the preparation of exhibit text regarding complex technical information, and/or developing, promoting, executing and evaluating educational programming; OR one year of experience as a Curator II in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.

The Examination
Application Evaluation Exam
The exam will consist of an application and resume evaluation. It is essential that applications/resumes include detailed information with time frames regarding education and experience. The most qualified applicants will be contacted by the hiring agency for interview. The hiring agency may require specific skills related testing as part of the interviewing process.

Special Requirements
Working outdoors is required.
Working nights, weekends, and holidays required.
This position has a 25 % travel requirement.
A pre-employment criminal history check and fingerprinting are required. Persons offered employment in this position will be required to pay for these items.

This recruitment may close at any time based on the number of applications received. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

*The salary range indicated in this announcement is based on the Employee/Employer retirement compensation schedule. An employer-only option is available at a reduced salary range.

The State of Nevada is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action in recruitment of its employees and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, domestic partnership, genetic information (GINA), or compensation and/or wages.

The Arizona History Convention

Holds its First Hybrid Conference

April 13-15, 2023

This year’s lineup will feature nearly 100 presenters speaking on a wide range of topics including climate change and the environment, civil rights and citizenship, race and gender, Arizona’s Indigenous people, historic preservation, border policy and immigration, the state’s musical and photographic heritage, law and politics, urban development, and boosterism.

Scholars from universities in Arizona, Oklahoma, Tennessee, California, and New York, as well as local avocational historians, archivists, museum professionals, and librarians will be presenting their latest findings.

The online portion of the program will be held April 13 and 14; the in-person conference will take place Saturday April 15 at the Tempe Community Center, located on the southwest corner of Rural and Southern.

The full program and registration information are now available on our website: https://arizonahistory.org/2023-convention

For more information or to arrange an interview, please email us at info@arizonahistory.org or contact Ken Leja at Ken.leja@gmail.com (928) 830-8236

Here are a few highlights from this year’s program:

• Shelly Lowe, chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities and citizen of the Navajo Nation, will give the keynote address.

• Dr. Maurice Crandall, Arizona State University and a citizen of the Yavapai-Apache Nation of Camp Verde, will give the plenary speech, titled, “Voices from the Past, Lessons for the Future: Indigenous Arizona.” His talk is sponsored by ASU’s School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.

• Experts will discuss two of Arizona’s most notorious cold cases—the Wickenburg Massacre and the Don Bolles murder investigation.

• We’ll be screening three documentary films providing new perspectives on some of Arizona’s iconic roads, including a new PBS series:

“Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road” 

https://www.documentary.org/project/route-66-women-untold-story-mother-road

• Many award-winning authors will be presenting, including:

John Boessenecker, Wildcat: The Untold Story of Pearl Hart, the Wild West's Most Notorious Woman Bandit

https://www.historynet.com/wildcat-book-review-john-boessenecker-sifts-reality-from-the-mythical-life-of-outlaw-pearl-hart/

Jim Kristofic, Medicine Women: The Story of the First Native American Nursing School

https://www.unmpress.com/9780826360670/medicine-women/

James McGrath Morris, Tony Hillerman: A Life

https://jamesmcgrathmorris.com/

Tom Zoellner, Rim to River: Looking into the Heart of Arizona

https://uapress.arizona.edu/book/rim-to-river

Wynne Brown, The Forgotten Botanist: Sarah Plummer Lemmon’s Life of Science and Art

https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/bison-books/9781496222817/

Associate Editor/Production Coordinator

South Dakota Historical Society Press

Applications accepted through Feb. 7, 2023

The South Dakota Historical Society Press, an award-winning publisher located in the heart of the Northern Great Plains, seeks an Associate Editor/Production Coordinator. This position will work closely with our books and quarterly journal. Editing duties include copyediting, proofreading, locating images and writing captions for them, and readying manuscripts for design. Production duties include working with our network of designers, typesetters, indexers, and illustrators to keep publishing projects on schedule, transmitting final proofs to printers, and securing copyright permissions. The Associate Editor/Production Coordinator works with our small editorial team, led by the Director of the South Dakota Historical Society Press and Research and Publishing program of the South Dakota State Historical Society.

Experience with project management, editing, and strong communication skills are desired. Capacity to work independently, excellent time management skills, and an eye for detail are a must.

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in history, English, or a related field (advanced degree preferred). They must also have a background in writing, editing, or publishing and be familiar with the Chicago Manual of Style. Knowledge of U.S. history, especially of the American West and the Northern Great Plains, is preferred. Experience using Adobe Photoshop and understanding of basic design principles would also be beneficial.

This position is not open to remote work. Candidates upon receipt of offer will be expected to move to the Pierre area; relocation expenses will be reimbursed. Limited travel may be required. This is a full-time position with salary in the $19-$22 per hour range (commensurate with experience) and State of South Dakota employee benefits.

To apply, please follow this link:

https://sodakprod-lm01.cloud.infor.com:1443/lmghr/xmlhttp/shorturl.do?key=KZN

We ask for a cover letter and resume or curriculum vitae, with contact information for three references. For more information about who we are, visit sdhspress.com.

58TH NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS

HISTORY CONFERENCE

SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA

Host: THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA            

The History Department at The University of South Dakota invites you to the Fifty-Eighth Northern Great Plains History Conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from September 27-30, 2023. The conference will take place downtown in the City Centre Holiday Inn on Eighth Street.

Proposals for individual papers and complete sessions in all fields of history – around the globe and across time – are welcome! To honor and commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of Wounded Knee 1973, the Conference Program Committee encourages proposals and panels on the modern Indigenous rights movement and the history of Native sovereignty.

Please send proposals to Molly Rozum at molly.rozum@usd.edu by Monday, 24 April 2023.

Individual paper proposals should include a one-paragraph abstract and a one-page curriculum vitae. Session proposals should include a one-paragraph session abstract and a short abstract and one-page curriculum vitae for each presenter in the session. Proposals for roundtables should include a session abstract and a one-page c.v. for each participant. Please indicate any audio-visual requirements.  Anyone willing to chair sessions or serve as commentator, or who has questions should send an email to Molly.Rozum@usd.edu.  

The Northern Great Plains History Conference welcomes graduate and undergraduate student participants. Prizes will be awarded to the best graduate and the best undergraduate paper.

Updated information about the conference will be available on the NGPHC

website: NGPHConference.org.

Research Travel Grants Offered by the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming

The American Heritage Center (AHC) at the University of Wyoming offers annual travel grants of up to $750 each to provide support for travel, food and lodging to carry out research using AHC collections. Application due date is March 31, 2023.

Subject areas in the Center’s collections include Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain West and a select number of national topics: environment and conservation, mining and petroleum industries, air and rail transportation, popular entertainment (particularly radio, television, film, and popular music), journalism, and U.S. military history.

The AHC’s Toppan Rare Book Library consists of more than 50,000 items, majority of which are printed books, although there are newspapers, magazines, broadsides, illuminated manuscripts, and other materials. Collecting subjects include the American West, British and American Literature, exploration and travel, religion, hunting and fishing, historic children's books, and examples of the book arts.

Funds must be spent within fifteen months following notification of the award.

Persons interested in AHC travel grants should complete an application at http://www.uwyo.edu/ahc/grants/index.html and email it to AHC Simpson Archivist Leslie Waggener at lwaggen2@uwyo.edu. Applications are due no later than March 31, 2023.

Information about the AHC

The AHC is a public research institution located on the campus of the University of Wyoming in Laramie. The Center houses collections of local, regional, and national significance. Its holdings emphasize the American West from the nineteenth to the twenty-first centuries. It has extensive collections in western political history, mining and petroleum, popular entertainment (including Hollywood and comics), environment and natural resources, journalism, and military history. The AHC also serves as the University of Wyoming's rare books library and university archives. With more than 90,000 cubic feet of materials and 3,500 collections, the AHC stands among the largest non-governmental repositories in the nation.

Research Fellowships at the American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming

The American Heritage Center (AHC) at the University of Wyoming invites applications forfellowships on topics related to the American West, western politics, women in public life, and economic geology. Applications are due March 31, 2023. For descriptions of the fellowships, please see http://www.uwyo.edu/ahc/grants/index.html. 

Each fellowship aims to support a 20-day research stay at the AHC. The fellowship includes a $3,000 stipend which is paid at the end of the Fellow's stay and the receipt of a precis outlining sources consulted, how those sources shaped the research findings, and how the Fellow will incorporate this information into a final product.

The annual competition is designed to encourage academic scholars to disseminate their findings from the AHC's abundant collections that relate to the fellowship's theme. Academic scholars at any level, from graduate students to tenured faculty, may apply.  Members of under-represented communities and multi-discipinary scholars are encouraged to apply.

Applications should include:

 Curriculum Vitae, including contact information, education, publications, scholarly activities, teaching experience, and any other relevant work experience.

 Research proposal of no more than two single-spaced pages that includes a brief statement of purpose for the project, specific reference to how the AHC's collections will significantly contribute to the project's success, and a timeline outlining the plan of research and dates for anticipated products.

 Names and contact information of three references.

Proposals will be awarded based on the following criteria:

 Extent to which the proposed project draws upon the collections of the AHC.

 Research project's potential contribution to the understanding of the fellowship's theme.

 Potential for professional presentation and/or publication upon completion of the Fellow's research.

 Applicant's ability to complete the research project in a timely fashion.

A selection committee composed of AHC staff and University of Wyoming faculty choose each year's fellows. Recipients are informed by email.

Please email all application materials in pdf form by March 31, 2023, to AHC Simpson Archivist Leslie Waggener at lwaggen2@uwyo.edu.

Information about the American Heritage Center:

The AHC is a public research institution located on the campus of the University of Wyoming in Laramie. The Center houses collections of local, regional, and national significance. Its holdings emphasize the American West from the nineteenth to the twenty-first centuries. It has extensive collections in western political history, mining and petroleum, popular entertainment (including Hollywood and comics), environment and natural resources, journalism, and military history. The AHC also serves as the University of Wyoming's rare books library and university archives. With more than 90,000 cubic feet of materials and 3,500 collections, the AHC stands among the largest non-governmental repositories in the nation.

To learn more about the AHC, please see www.uwyo.edu/ahc. For more information about the fellowships, see  http://www.uwyo.edu/ahc/grants/index.html or contact Leslie Waggener at lwaggen2@uwyo.edu.