What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Assistant - Provenance position at Field Museum?
Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.
Join our team and enjoy a benefits package that truly supports your well-being and lifestyle:
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including medical, dental, vision plans, and even pet insurance.
- Financial Security: Life and disability benefits plus a 403(b) savings plan to help you plan for the future.
- Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, paid sick leave, and paid holidays to ensure you have time to recharge and spend with loved ones.
- Exclusive Perks: Enjoy great employee discounts and complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions.
We're dedicated to enhancing your life both at work and beyond!
The Field Museum is seeking a Provenance Research Assistant. Under the direction of the Provenance Research Director, the Assistant will undertake provenance research on collection histories and the ownership of items in the Museums collections. The Research Assistant will use primary and secondary sources and online databases as part of their research. Further, the assistant will make use of museum records including, but not limited to, departmental ledger books, accession and loan files, catalogue cards, the collections database (KE EMu), archival collections, including field notes and correspondence, and relevant literature. Other responsibilities will include documenting collections, and corresponding with other institutions, researchers, and archives. The researcher will work 35 hours per week at $22/hour.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Undertakes provenance research on collections including independent research on collectors, expeditions, objects, and human remains
- Research legal and ethical details pertaining to collections and collecting activities
- Make use of museum records including, but not limited to, departmental ledger books, accession and loan files, catalogue cards, and the collections database (KE EMu), archival collections, including field notes and correspondence, relevant literature, and oral histories
- Compile research reports for each object or group of objects that include ownership history
- Help develop provenance documentation standards for the Field Museum
- Supplement existing provenance data in tables
- Support the analysis of the collection of provenance data at the Field Museum
- Collaborate in the development of a bibliography of natural history and anthropology collections at the Field Museum
Qualifications:
- Masters degree in anthropology, history, humanistic social sciences, or a related field.
- Excellent administrative, analytical, research, and organizational skills
- Ability to work independently and as a team member
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
- Good problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and a self-starter
- Reading knowledge of at least one foreign language (preferably, German or French)
- Experience researching archives and online sources of research information
- Demonstrated experience with provenance research
- Prior experience with the collections management system KE EMu is preferred
Pay: 22.00/ hourly
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The Field Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination, embracing diversity, and fostering mutual respect. We value the unique perspectives each team member brings, which empowers our ability to innovate and overcome challenges.
At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you encounter any difficulty when using or accessing our online application, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for completing your application, participating in interviews, or any other part of the selection process, please reach out to us at recruitment@fieldmuseum.org.
Salary : $22
