Blog and Newsletter

Planning for the 2018 NHD season has begun! The state contest will take place on April 7, 2018 at the University of Maine. NHD is currently looking for judges to assist in assessing middle and high school student research projects. Anyone involved in the historical field, including librarians, archivists, curators, educators, etc., is welcome to participate. It is a daylong event, but the experience in helping Maine students is very rewarding. An orientation will take place the day of the contest and breakfast
and lunch will be provided.

You can sign up to volunteer at www.me.nhd.org - please register by March 16, 2018 . Any questions can be directed to State Coordinator John Taylor (john.m.taylor@maine.edu).

Colby College Museum of Art hosts New Docent Training

Do you love art? Do you love introducing others to new ideas and ways of seeing the world? If so, this opportunity is for you. The Colby College Museum of Art will be holding our annual New Docent training from Monday, January 29 through Friday, February 2nd, 2018, 10 am–4 pm everyday at the Museum. 

The training will include free lunch each day. Please RSVP for the weeklong training by Monday, January 15th. Learn more about becoming a Colby Museum Volunteer Docent visit http://www.colby.edu/museum/about/get-involved/.

Barbara Alfond Manager of Exhibitions and Publications, Colby College Museum of Art Full-Time, Exempt, Salaried, Administrative Staff Appointment The manager of exhibitions and publications manages all administrative aspects of the planning and implementation of the Colby Museum of Art exhibitions and print and digital publications. Working closely with the deputy director, director and chief curator, and the curatorial and education departments, the manager of exhibitions and publications does this by aligning the appropriate staff from across the museum and implementing effective project management and procedures.  The manager of exhibitions and publications serves as an intermediary between museum leadership, the curatorial, education, collections, and installation departments, and external parties related to the development and facilitation of the museum’s exhibitions and related publications and communications. The position is responsible for initiating and maintaining institutional partnerships in service of the exhibitions and publication programs. The ideal candidate will be highly organized and motivated, have exceptional writing and editing skills, and enjoy working in a dynamic, inspiring environment. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Implement a coherent vision for the Colby Museum of Art’s exhibition and publication programs emphasizing scholarship, diverse subjects, accessibility, and varied audiences Coordinate effective communication between museum leadership, curatorial, collections, education, and installations colleagues to streamline a collaborative approach to realizing the museum’s exhibition and publication programs Manage the museum’s exhibitions programs as a whole, including administration related to exhibition travel itineraries, production schedules and meetings, and coordination with internal and external partners Generate artist agreements and exhibition contracts, monitor to ensure obligations are met in a timely manner Facilitate editing exhibition texts and labels in collaboration with the curatorial and education departments,   faculty, and students Help create and execute communications and marketing for exhibitions, provide approved copy, reproductions, and credits to relevant departments for use in marketing, advancement, grant applications and reports, educational materials, website and digital forums Manage the museum’s print publication program, including coordination with authors, designers, editors, and publishers Oversee production of the museum’s current digital publication, The Lantern, maintain publication schedule and standards, provide final copy-edit of content, implement future digital publications as needed Serve as a liaison and provide editorial coordination and copy-edit/review as appropriate for press releases, calendars, and other written communications Maintain budgets related to the Colby Museum of Art exhibitions and publications Cultivate effective working relationships and connections with publishers, designers, and editors and closely follow trends in museum publishing and digital publications and resources Perform additional duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience Minimum three to five years of experience in a museum or related arts setting, with experience managing complex projects Proven project management track record working within a team in a demanding environment and managing team deliverables Prior experience with production processes for digital and print publications and exhibitions Strong design sense and experience working with contract designers and editors Proven leadership skills, ability to contribute to a motivating work environment and to foster teamwork and coordinate groups Ability to work under own initiative, with a proactive approach to problem solving and flexible approach to all challenges Demonstrated experience delivering absolute accuracy in budget oversight High level of proficiency required with Google and MS Office suites including databases, schedules, spreadsheets, mail merge with MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, Acrobat, and Embark or other collection management software Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail; ability to multi-task and meet deadlines Strong written and verbal skills; ability to communicate and interact at all levels of the organization Ability to make an impact through work as a member of a team and diverse community KEY RELATIONSHIPS: This position reports to the deputy director of the museum with a close working relationship with the director and chief curator, curatorial and education departments, and collections and installation staff. Position will also interact with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and outside constituencies. WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: General open office and campus environment. Position involves sitting, although frequent movement is necessary. Computer usage involving repetitive hand/wrist motion is also necessary. Occasional travel may be required. TO APPLY: Interested candidates should apply electronically by visiting https://www.colby.edu/administration_cs/humanresources/employment/barbara_alfond_mgr_12_2017.cfm, and clicking the "Apply Now" button on the Colby College website. Please submit a letter of interest including salary requirements, resume, and relevant publication or writing sample (these can be submitted as one or two documents and emailed to: hr@colby.edu). Also include the contact information of three professional references. Materials should be addressed to:

Barbara Alfond Manager of Exhibitions and Publications - Search Committee Office of Human Resources Colby College 5500 Mayflower Hill Waterville, ME 04901-8855

Engagement & Development Coordinator, Brick Store Museum

The job of the Engagement & Development Coordinator is to support the mission of the Brick Store Museum through public outreach and programs, collaborating on the fundraising team, and coordinating the Museum’s public activities and income-generating opportunities. A successful candidate will have a genuine, outgoing personality and a sense of humor. S/he should be computer savvy, highly organized, able to multi-task and meet deadlines, and able to create and maintain exemplary filing systems and records.  As the first face and/or voice most visitors and donors will see at the Museum, the Coordinator is expected to be community-oriented with an eye toward the engaging the public in fundraising, programs, and museum operations.

This is a full-time, 35 hours per week, position with benefits; beginning at $15/hour.

 

Responsibilities:

• This position has several components:
• Visitor Services:
• ·         Weekly cash-out of Visitor Services cash register and preparation for bank deposit;
• ·         Oversee Visitor Services desk, including for Museum admission; Museum store; and Visitor Services volunteers;
• ·         Scheduling regional tour groups and special group visits to the Museum;
• Marketing and Outreach:
• ·         Point person for media contacts;
• ·         Send out weekly calendars, information and press releases to local media;
• ·         Works with Executive Director to select annual advertising opportunities;
• ·         Produce history, art and cultural content for Museum blog and online exhibitions;
• ·         Assist with social media content;
• Development:
• ·         Maintain and initiate all development records, including those pertaining to Membership, Annual Fund and Capital Campaign drives;
• ·         Manage development and fundraising communications, including Annual Fund, Business Partner Program, and Annual Membership Program (with volunteer assistance);
• ·         Assist with grant writing and identification as part of the grant writing team;
• Public Programs & Events:
• ·         Coordination and scheduling of lecture series and speakers;
• ·         Coordinate weekly (during the summer) Kennebunk Beach Walking Tour Guides and Historic District Tour Guides;
• ·         Coordinate the Museum’s Bridge Marathon with assistance from a volunteer committee;
• ·         Collaborate with Executive Director and Collections Manager on annual program of events;
• ·         Assistance with annual educational programs (i.e. school field trips, etc.), and exhibition installations, as needed.
• Museum Operations:
• ·         Coordinate Program Center rentals by outside organizations and individuals;
• ·         Intake and orientation of new volunteers;
• ·          Work with Executive Director to develop vendors for Museum Store;
• ·         Work with Museum Team to develop community of local artists to support the new Modern Art Gallery;
• ·         Office support: i.e. Answering phones; maintaining office supplies; greeting visitors.

 

Desired Skills and Attributes:

• ·         Knowledge of museum development software PastPerfect, and website platform Wordpress
• ·         Understanding of nonprofit museum operations;
• ·         Creative problem-solving;
• ·         Self-directed with a bright, positive attitude;
• ·         Knowledge of Word programs (including Excel and mail merge), Photoshop, Publisher, and social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
• ·         Understanding of Square or other iPad-based processing systems;

Qualifications:

• ·         Bachelor’s Degree in History, Art, Business, Museum Studies, Education or similar. Master’s Degree preferred; and/or 3+ years in the museum field;
• ·         Night and weekend hours are probable due to the nature of the work.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Cynthia Walker, Executive Director, at cwalker@brickstoremuseum.org, by January 15^th, 2018.

Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship Applications Solicited

MAC is soliciting applications for the 2018 Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship for Minority Students (http://www.midwestarchives.org/motley). The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to minority students pursuing graduate education in archival administration and to encourage ethnic diversification of the MAC membership and of the archival profession as a whole. Two $750 scholarships, accompanied by one-year memberships to MAC, will be awarded.

In order to be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must be of African, American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander, or Latino decent; must be a student currently enrolled in or accepted in a graduate, multicourse program in archival administration; and must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in his or her academic program. If the program is not listed in the SAA Directory of Archival Education, http://www2.archivists.org/dae, the applicant must provide proof of the multicourse standard by submitting copies of course descriptions from the institution’s current departmental catalog. Applicants are not required to be residents of or attend school in the MAC region.

Applications are due March 1, 2018 and must include the following documents:

 Completed Application Form (pdf), available at http://www.midwestarchives.org/motley

 Transcript from the applicant's most recent academic program

 Essay of not more than 500 words outlining the applicant's interests and future goals in archival administration

 Two letters of recommendation.

Completed applications should be sent to:

Rachel Howard

Digital Initiatives Librarian

University of Louisville Libraries

Archives and Special Collections

Louisville, KY 40292

Telephone: 502-852- 4476

Email: rachel.howard@louisville.edu

Applications must be emailed or postmarked by March 1, 2018.

Awards will be announced no later than June 1, 2018.

MONHEGAN MUSEUM OF ART & HISTORY ANNOUNCES  PUBLICATION OF THE JAMES FITZGERALD CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ

  In recognition of the 50th anniversary of painter James Fitzgerald’s death in 2021, the James Fitzgerald Legacy at the Monhegan Museum of Art & History has released the first volume from the James Fitzgerald catalogue raisonné project, entitled James Fitzgerald: The Drawings and Sketches. This first in-depth presentation of Fitzgerald’s preliminary studies discusses his drawing process and enables readers to experience the evolution of Fitzgerald’s process from initial sketch to finished work.

Written by Robert L. Stahl, Director of the James Fitzgerald Legacy at the Monhegan Museum of Art & History, the 340-page catalogue is illustrated with more than 750 images. The book brings together images from multiple sources, reflecting Fitzgerald’s wide range of subject matter from locations such as Maine’s Monhegan Island and Mount Katahdin, Ireland, New York, and others. The catalogue highlights rarely seen sketches from collections at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art in Washington, D.C. and the Monhegan Museum of Art & History, and presents them alongside the corresponding paintings allowing for greater access to Fitzgerald’s work by the general public.

James Fitzgerald: The Drawings and Sketches includes contributions by E. Bruce Robertson, Professor of History of Art and Architecture and Director of the Art, Design & Architecture Museum at UC Santa Barbara, and Karen A. Sherry, an independent art historian specializing in American art

About the James Fitzgerald Legacy at the Monhegan Museum of Art & History

The Monhegan Museum of Art & History was given the James E. Fitzgerald Estate by Anne M. Hubert, his surviving heir, in 2003. The estate includes the Hubert Collection of paintings by James Fitzgerald, the artist’s library, and an archive of original papers and artist’s materials pertaining to his life and work, along with his house and studio on Monhegan, which were built and occupied by artist Rockwell Kent during the first decade of the 20th century.

Anne M. and Edgar F. Hubert, close friends and patrons of Fitzgerald’s during his lifetime, became his heirs and benefactors at his death. They catalogued his output, promoted his art, organized solo exhibitions, and worked diligently to place his work in museums. Largely through their efforts, more than 150 of Fitzgerald’s paintings are part of 28 museum collections from Maine to Alaska. In 1992, the Huberts donated a treasure trove of the artist’s ephemera and sketchbooks to the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art in Washington, D.C.

The James Fitzgerald Legacy operates within the framework of the Monhegan Museum of Art & History to preserve, protect, and promote the artist’s estate.  In 2009, the Legacy initiated a catalogue raisonné project to identify and document all extant work by Fitzgerald. Through this process, the Legacy has developed a database that preserves information about the artist’s history along with detailed information regarding his work. To date, more than 2,350 works have been documented. In 2012, the Legacy launched its website, JamesFitzgerald.org, where entries from the catalogue raisonné are presented in a searchable format. Approximately 900 works have been added to this website, allowing a wide audience unprecedented access to James Fitzgerald’s work.

 

About artist James E. Fitzgerald

James E. Fitzgerald (1899-1971) was born in Boston, Massachusetts. By the age of four, his parents recognized his artistic talents and built a studio space for him in the family’s attic. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1918-1919, Fitzgerald enrolled first in the Massachusetts School of Art (1919-1923) and subsequently attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, both in Boston (1923-24). In 1924, he made his first visit to Monhegan Island.

In 1928, Fitzgerald sailed as an able-bodied seaman on the Dorothy Luckenbach out of New York City, working his way to the West coast. Although he had intended to reach Alaska, his travels took him to Monterey, California, where he settled, married, and built a home and studio. While in Monterey, he became a part of the circle of friends who gathered at the Cannery Row marine biology laboratory of Edward ‘Doc’ Ricketts. The group included John Steinbeck, Krishnamurti, John Cage, and Joseph Campbell, among others. He continued to travel east and paint on Monhegan during those years, and he eventually decided to settle there in 1943. Its remoteness led to the dissolution of his marriage, and Fitzgerald, who in the 1940s had exhibited at Vose Gallery in Boston, gradually withdrew from the commercial art world.

On Monhegan, Fitzgerald became part of the year-round community, purchasing first the studio and then the house built by Rockwell Kent in the first decade of the 20th century. For the last 25 years of his life, Fitzgerald visited Mt. Katahdin in the off-season to paint, and in the late 1960s he visited Ireland several times, where he died on the island of Aranmore suddenly in April 1971.

About the Monhegan Museum of Art  & History

The Monhegan Museum of Art & History is located in the historic Monhegan Island Light Station, 12 nautical miles off the coast of Maine and was created to steward and showcase the art and artifacts that represent the collective values of its community and to educate and communicate its meaning. The Monhegan Lighthouse Keeper’s House contains exhibits of Monhegan’s history. The Assistant Keeper’s House has an art gallery that displays annual art exhibitions featuring the museums’ art collection that spans more than 150 years.  Additionally, the Rockwell Kent/James Fitzgerald Historic Artists’ Home and Studio display a collection of works by Fitzgerald. The museum is open daily from June 24 through September and the Kent/Fitzgerald Home and Studio are open two days a week and by appointment throughout the summer.

                                              

 

The New Brunswick Museum (NBM), the oldest operating public museum in Canada, is seeking a dynamic leader to fill the role of Chief Executive Officer in Saint John.  The NBM was established by an Act of the New Brunswick Legislature as the provincial museum, with the mandate to research, collect, preserve and interpret the natural, human and cultural heritage of the province of New Brunswick and related regions. The Museum is governed by a Board of Directors, responsible for the planning, policy and financial management. It has over 50 full time equivalent positions in its two present facilities, one of which is a 60,000 square foot exhibit gallery. Over the next few years, the NBM will be embarking on a comprehensive facilities renewal process. The Chief Executive Officer is accountable to the Board of Directors. His or her mandate is the management of operations and the provision of leadership in long range planning, funding development, policy and planning, public relations, service delivery and project management.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will possess the following skills, abilities and attributes: ·         A university degree in public or business administration, history, archaeology, anthropology or any other related field of study supplemented by a minimum of eight (8) years of progressive management experience; ·         Demonstrated skills and work experience in financial and project management, and in strategic planning; ·         Experience in working with an appointed Board of Directors; ·         Experience in coaching and managing a diverse work team; ·         Strong interpersonal and public relations skills that will enhance community participation; and, ·         Experience with partnership building, fundraising and community engagement is also required. An equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered. Written and spoken competence in English and French is required. Please state your language capability. Applicants must clearly demonstrate the essential qualifications to be given further consideration. Please ensure that preferred language for assessment is identified on your resume. ASSET QUALIFICATIONS: Preference may be given to candidates that possess experience managing a museum and/or heritage facility or a government operated facility. Subject to the response to this competition, candidates may be required to demonstrate on their application of the asset qualifications in addition to the essential qualifications in order to be given further consideration. EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: The successful candidate will possess the following behavioral competencies: ·         Coaching and Team Development ·         Organizational Awareness ·         Organizational Commitment ·         Relationship Building ·         Results Orientation ·         Strategic Thinking Resumes should be in chronological order specifying education and employment in months and years including part-time and full-time employment. This competition may be used to fill future vacancies at the same level.

SALARY: $90,766 to $102,206 annually We encourage applicants to apply on-line at https://www.ere.gnb.ca, by email to maryse.mcfarlane@snb.ca or by mail at the following address on or before August 25, 2017 indicating competition number THC-17-12. TOURISM, HERITAGE AND CULTURE HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES P.O. BOX 6000, FREDERICTON, NB E3B 5H1 (506) 453-3115 We thank all those who apply however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. As per the Civil Service Act, candidates registered with the Equal Employment Opportunity Program and veterans, who demonstrate they are among the most qualified, shall be given preference at the time of appointment. We promote a scent-reduced environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Institutions seeking funding to preserve American historical prints in their collections are invited to submit applications to the American Historical Print Collectors Society for a Wendy Shadwell Print Conservation Grant. The artwork to be treated must be at least one hundred years old and the institution must be a member of the AHPCS. Non-members seeking funding are encouraged to join the Society.  For an online membership application form, please go tohttp://www.ahpcs.org/choose-membership.html

Wendy Joan Shadwell passed away on October 23, 2007.  Wendy was a long-time curator at the New-York Historical Society, the author of many scholarly articles, and a past president of the AHPCS.  She left a substantial bequest to the American Historical Print Collectors Society to encourage interest in American historical prints. An area of special concern to Wendy was the “Preservation of Early American Prints,” and the Wendy Shadwell Print Conservation Grant Program has been established to further that aim.

Proposals for the Shadwell Conservation Grants are reviewed twice a year and are due March 31 and September 30, 2017.  Awards will be announced following the board meetings of the AHPCS in May and November.  For more information about the grants please contact Roger Genser, Chairperson, Shadwell Print Conservation Subcommittee, PO Box 5133, Santa Monica, CA 90409 genserprints@verizon.net or refer to the AHPCS website,http://www.ahpcs.org/wendy-shadwell-grant

The Islesboro Historical Society is looking for recommendations for somebody to conduct an appraisal of our collection (the last one was prepared about 2004) and to identify and inventory items that should be stored and maintained in a climate-controlled environment. Our 1894 building is unheated and we're increasingly concerned about some of our items. Please contact our president, Patrick O'Bannon, at pobannon5@gmail.com if you have recommendations. We'll be monitoring this page as well. Many thanks!!

The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum located in Bethel, Maine is seeking a Community Outreach Coordinator to join our team. The right candidate shall be self-motivated, able to work in a dynamic group environment, shall possess excellent oral and written communication skills, has computer proficiency including Adobe Photoshop, and is social media savvy.

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

-Liaison with community partners

-Managing and maintenance of Museum memberships

-Creation, development and implementation of media campaigns

-Producing quality advertising photography

-Coordinating all aspects of museum events, including: logistics, correspondence, and printed materials.

-General office management duties

-Volunteer Recruitment, organization and leadership

Experience:

-Equivalent degree or three plus years of business/development experience. Marketing experience highly desirable.

-Proven success in meeting and exceeding performance goals.

-Must have documented successful partnership cultivation experience and a keen understanding of fundraising/income development.

Compensation is dependent upon experience.  This position is approximately 30 hours per week.

Qualified candidates should send resume and at least three business references to Barbra Barrett at bbarrett@mainemineralmuseum.org