Blog and Newsletter

The Association of Maine Archives and Museums publishes quarterly print newsletter that is sent out to members in February, May, August, and November. We also maintain the blog on this page for members to share their announcements more immediately.

Quarterly Print Newsletter

Submissions: If you are a member interested in submitting articles, dispatches, opportunities, and/or photos to the print newsletter, please review these guideline and deadlines.

Advertising: If you are interested in advertising in the print newsletter, please review these specifications and deadlines.

Read now: Click here to view the current and past issues of the print newsletter (members-only; log in first).

News Blog

Members and non-members of MAM may post news of interest to the field using the blog below. To post an event, see the event listings. To post a job or internship opportunity, see the job/internship board. MAM reserves the right to edit or reject postings as it deems appropriate. This service is free to members; non-members are charged $20.

Posts to this news blog are automatically shared to the MAM Facebook page to get even more exposure!

MEMBERS: Log in, then click "Add Post." If you have trouble logging in, email info@mainemuseums.org.

NON-MEMBERS: To submit your bulletin board post, please email info@mainemuseums.org.

  • 07 Oct 2014 8:01 PM | Anonymous member

    Congresswoman Chellie Pingree's office has reached out to MAM to share information about upcoming Federal grant deadlines with Maine museums, archives, and cultural organizations.

    National Leadership Grants for Museums (awards $50,000-500,000)
    National Leadership Grants for Museums support projects that address critical needs of the museum field and that have the potential to advance practice in the profession so that museums can improve services for the American public. Deadline: December 1.

    Museums for America ($5,000-150,000)
    The Museums for America (MFA) program supports projects that strengthen the ability of an individual museum to serve its public. Deadline: December 1.

    Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums ($10,000-25,000)
    The Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums program is a special funding opportunity within the IMLS National Leadership Grants for Museums program. These small grants encourage museums to prototype and evaluate specific innovations in the ways they operate and the services they provide. Deadline: December 1.

    Museum Grants for African American History and Culture ($5,000-150,000)
    Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) support projects that improve the operations, care of collections, and development of professional management at African American museums. Deadline: December 1.

    Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services ($5,000-50,000)
    These grants are intended to provide opportunities to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge through strengthened activities in areas such as exhibitions, educational services and programming, professional development, and collections stewardship. Deadline: December 1.

    Congresswoman Pingree's office has also indicated that her office is willing to write letters of support, an important piece of every grant proposal. Requests can go to Andrew Colvin, Grants Coordinator for Congresswoman Chellie Pingree's office:  Andrew.Colvin@mail.house.gov  


  • 03 Oct 2014 12:40 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The Bowdoin College Archives invites applicants for a full time position as Archives Assistant in the George J. Mitchell Dept. of Special Collections and Archives.

    Major duties include processing manuscript collections and archival records; assisting with the management of the College's records management program and archival a/v media collections; performing basic reference services in Special Collections & Archives; and digitizing library resources, editing digital image files, and coordinating vendor-supplied digitization activities.

    The successful applicant will have a bachelor's degree; effective oral and written communications skills; the capacity to attend to accuracy, attention to detail, and discretion; and, the ability to work in a team environment, solve problems, and understand complex hierarchical arrangements. The position also requires technical skills appropriate to digitizing textual and visual objects and to editing image files.

    To see the full job posting and submit an application, please see: https://careers.bowdoin.edu/postings/search .

  • 24 Sep 2014 9:47 AM | Anonymous member

     We are seeking a dynamic, highly-qualified leader for the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.  On land, on water and underwater, LCMM offers an amazing array of programs, exhibits and learning experiences, underwater discoveries and lake adventures that engage people of all ages in the rich history and archaeology of Lake Champlain.  LCMM hosts over 11,000 people annually in its fourteen exhibit buildings and on its working waterfront in Ferrisburgh, Vermont.  The 1776 replica gunboat Philadelphia II is a favourite with visitors.  The Schooner Lois McClure has travelled over the last ten years to New York, Canada and Vermont, educating over 20,000 people per year about the lake’s history.  Innovative boat building, after-school rowing programs, On-Water ecology classes and teacher training are part of the mix.  Our Maritime Research Institute engages in world-class nautical archaeology projects, exploring and documenting the lake’s 300+ historic shipwrecks and other underwater cultural sites. . . . And then there are shipwreck tours at beautiful Basin Harbor and the Burlington waterfront, where you don’t get wet using remotely operated vehicle technology.

    The Executive Director will play a key role in:

    • ·      Building a vision for the future that is both challenging and sustainable
    • ·      Leading with innovation and passion
    • ·      Keeping our programs and educational experiences robust and exciting
    • ·      Creating financial stability and sustainability
    • ·      Cultivating effective alliances with local and regional organizations, universities and other museums

    Position is based at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Ferrisburgh, Vermont.  To apply, send letter of interest and résumé to LCMMExecApplicant@gmail.com.

    Competitive salary and benefits.

     

    The application deadline is October 15, 2014.

    No phone calls accepted.

    Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is an equal opportunity employer.

    www.lcmm.org



  • 19 Sep 2014 3:32 PM | Anonymous member

    Freeport Historical Society (FHS) is seeking applicants for the position of office manager.  The position will be part-time (24hrs/week) and temporary(through 1/31/15).  However, the right applicant may be invited to continue in an expanded role beyond this date.

    For more information, consult the FHS website, www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org or call 207-865-3170.  A resume and cover
    letter should be sent to  director@freeporthistoricalsociety.org.

  • 19 Sep 2014 3:25 PM | Anonymous member
    Chief Curator
    Maine Historical Society seeks a Chief Curator who will be responsible for leadership and management of Maine Historical Society's curatorial program, including design and implementation of innovative exhibition strategies, care, management, and development of artifact collections, and oversight of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Garden.

    Communications Manager
    Maine Historical Society seeks a creative, collaborative, and experienced Communications Manager to help us share the unique and fascinating history of Maine with local residents and visitors from around the world. The Communications Manager is responsible for developing and implementing a marketing and communications plan that supports the Society's mission by expanding awareness, engaging the public, and attracting new audiences. Reporting to the Director of Institutional Advancement, the Communications Manager works directly with staff in each department to create consistent and inspiring content across all forms of marketing including social media, the MHS websites, weekly email updates, newsletters and print and news media. The position is part-time, 21 hours/week.

    More info here: https://www.mainehistory.org/about_opportunities.shtml


  • 18 Sep 2014 1:29 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    2014 AASLH Online Conference 

    September 18-19, 2014

    Registration opens early August!

    Held every year in conjunction with the Annual Meeting, the AASLH Online Conference provides an opportunity for you, your colleagues, and volunteers to attend the annual meeting virtually.

    2014 Online Conference Sessions:

    Many Small Surveys, One Big Impact – Using examples from collaboration among fifteen Minnesota Historical Society sites, panelists explore evaluation challenges, provide do-it-yourself tools, and discuss how to use results effectively.

    Telling a Whole History: Methods of Interpreting Domestic Servants in Historic House Museums - Discuss methods and strategies for revitalizing interpretation in historic house museums to include the voices of domestic servants.

    Museum Management Tune Up - In this session, you’ll evaluate your own skills in the following areas: employee assessment and review, communication, time management, and work relationships.

    Your Most Valuable Partnership: Engaging Your Board to Ensure Success and Sustainability - Join colleagues from around the country to identify strategies you can use right away to ensure your board is engaged and effective.

    Field Services Alliance Presents Navigating Legal Landmines in Museums and Archives - This session addresses legal concerns surrounding oral history, collections, and digital copyright to help increase your legal literacy in recognizing and understanding the various concerns organizations face in these areas.

    Support Young Children, Grow Future Audiences – This session considers the impact building relationships with young children and their families will have on the future of your institution. 

    More info at:  http://about.aaslh.org/am-online-conference/


  • 16 Sep 2014 10:25 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Call for Applicants:

    2015 Archives Leadership Institute at Luther College

    “Leaders emerge according to their ability to carry out activities 

    that move the profession forward.”  (A*CENSUS, p. 408)


    • Are you looking for a way to recharge your professional life?
    • Do you crave a challenge that will empower you to affect change?
    • Would you like to expand your network of peers while building relationships that will impact you for the rest of your career?


    The Archives Leadership Institute (ALI) at Luther College is a dynamic program that provides advanced leadership training and mentorship for 25 innovative archival leaders, giving them the knowledge and tools to transform the profession in practice, theory and attitude.  


    The 2015 application is now open!  Applications will close on November 30, 2014 (no extensions). Details about the application process and what characteristics the ideal ALI participant has can be found at www. archivesleadershipinstitute. org


    The Archives Leadership Institute has been funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) since 2008 and was held at the University of Wisconsin Madison until 2012. Luther College has been selected to develop and host ALI for years 2013, 2014, and 2015.

      Learn more about who should apply, the expectations of ALI participants, and how the application process works:  http://www.archivesleadershipinstitute.org/p/apply.html 


      If you have any questions, please visit www. archivesleadershipinstitute. org or contact Rachel Vagts at <director@ archivesleadershipinstitute. org>.


    • 13 Sep 2014 10:00 AM | Anonymous member

      The Friends of Evergreen in partnership with the Tate House Museum and the City of Portland Department of Public Services will host a Cemetery Stone Cleaning Workshop at Stroudwater Burying Ground, Westbrook Street, Portland on September 13 from 10:00 AM-2:00PM. Participants will learn how to document gravestones according to standards for historical and conservation purposes, including photography techniques for gravestones. Discussions will cover safety, conservation techniques according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, condition assessment of the gravestone and proper cleaning techniques. All participants should dress for work, including work gloves, for this hands-on workshop.

      The land known as the Stroudwater Burying Ground was purchased by Colonel Thomas Westbrook in 1727. The land was inherited by Westbrook’s partner, Samuel Waldo as Westbrook was indebted to him at the time of his death and then subsequently deeded to the parish by Waldo in 1786.The earliest recorded stone is from 1739. There are many citizens of note buried at the Stroudwater Burying Ground including George and Mary Tate who built the nearby Tate House at 1270 Westbrook Street,  Thaddeus Broad, owner of the Broad Tavern in Stroudwater and Lillian Stevens who was the president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.

      This workshop is made possible through a Maine Community Foundation Grant.

      Pre-registration is required and the workshop fee is $10 ….

      For more information and to register:

      Contact Betty Janus at the Tate House Museum

      1267 Westbrook St.

      Portland ME 04102

      207-774-6177 or

      info@tatehouse.org

    • 05 Sep 2014 12:32 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
      The Maine State Archives, an agency within the Department of the Secretary of State, is currently seeking candidates for the position of Archivist III, located in Augusta.  This position is responsible for leading the development of digital content and web-based delivery systems and for coordinating with Archives staff and contractors to implement the Archives' information systems; collaborates with information technology groups to manage the organization's electronic records for the Maine State Archives; defines and develops industry standard descriptive data and metadata for archival preservation, document conversion, and digital data persistence; and assists in shaping the Archives' online presence and strategic marketing for the Maine State Archives.

      For further information:  including complete job description, minimum qualifications, pay grade, benefits and how to apply, go to the Archives Job Opportunities website:  http://www.maine.gov/sos/arc/arcjobs.html

      This position is open for recruitment: September 5, 2014  - September 19, 2014


    • 19 Aug 2014 7:28 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

      Northeast Historic Film – Executive Director

      The Board of Directors of Northeast Historic Film (NHF) announces an extraordinary opportunity for a dynamic, visionary and accomplished leader who can share our passion for collecting, preserving and sharing significant archival moving images and who is ready to lead the organization into the future. The new Executive Director will build on a 28-year history that has seen NHF become recognized as the premier archive of New England’s moving image heritage.

      Background

      Since incorporating in 1986, Northeast Historic Film has become one of the most renowned moving image archives in North America.  Our holdings constitute a record of twentieth-century culture: on the factory floor and the farm, in the woods and at sea, at home, and on the streets of towns and cities.

      NHF is an independent moving image archives and study center. With the support of many donors, we built a three-story cold storage facility, developed distribution strategies, engaged scholars with an annual symposium now in its fifteenth year, and took responsibility for the history and art of over a thousand families and organizations, opening content to hundreds of thousands of users. 

      In 2013, we received The Silver Light Award, the highest honor of the international Association of Moving Image Archivists. NHF’s collections contain 10 million feet of film and more than 8,000 hours of video, a unique and irreplaceable treasure. We have influenced generations with the compelling record of life in New England in productions such as From Stump to Ship: A 1930 Logging Film and the films of Elizabeth Woodman Wrightundefinedworks that would not survive or be used and appreciated without Northeast Historic Film. 

      Explore NHF’s moving image collections at http://oldfilm.org/collection.

      NHF is located in the 1916 Alamo Theatre in Bucksport, Maine. The 125-seat auditorium is a cultural gem for the region with outstanding projection facilities.

      Organizational Overview

      After 28 years as a founder-led organization, this is an important time of transition for NHFundefinedsetting the stage for an exciting future. Like all other moving image archives, NHF faces a radically changed technological landscape that will require creating digital access to holdings, developing new alliances, and connecting with new audiences. Navigating these changes will require a leader ready to lead the shift to new technologies, develop the business model, and seek expanded avenues of support.

      To ready the organization for the next chapter, the NHF Board of Directors launched a Transition Campaign in early 2014 that includes a $350,000 fundraising goal to support the transition. As of early August, over $175,000 in transition funding had been successfully raised from the board, friends, and foundations.

      Meanwhile, with the support of a challenge grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, community members completed a successful campaign, raising $105,000 to fund the digital conversion of the Alamo Theatre’s projection facilities.

      NHF has an operating budget of $524,000 for the current year and a staff of 5.5 FTEs, augmented by interns and volunteers.  NHF has over 250 members and a solid and growing base of support that includes an annual fund of $40,000 (for 2013) and an endowment recently valued at just over $300,000. We have an engaged 10-member Board of Directors with a breadth of experience and national perspective. NHF is a founding member of the Association of Moving Image Archivists and a member of New England Archivists.  

      A more complete description of Northeast Historic Film can be found at www.oldfilm.org.

      Leadership Priorities

      As NHF approaches our thirtieth anniversary, we are proud of what we have accomplished and are committed to hiring an Executive Director who is ready to lead NHF to the next level.

      The NHF Board of Directors has identified the following priorities for the next Executive Director:

      • Develop financial support by building on existing relationships and expanding the sources of funds.
      • Work with the Board and staff to develop a vision for audiovisual preservation and access in the 21st century. 
      • Deepen understanding of existing and potential audiences. Increase public access to our collections and appreciation for their content.
      • Create a sustainable business model that appropriately monetizes assets. These assets include knowledge, skills, facilities, and collections.
      • Lead a staff capable of implementing a preservation program that serves the longtime security of the collections.
      • Cultivate personal relationships and partnerships with leaders of New England’s educational and cultural community.
      • Develop individual and institutional alliances that result in broader understanding of NHF and commitment to the organization’s sustainability. 
      • Explore the future of the Alamo Theatre in relation to our mission.
      • Position NHF as a clearly-defined brand: we are a unique organization and an essential cultural resource.

      Requirements

      To lead NHF requires a comprehensive set of skills and abilities. As the Board considers candidates, the following have been identified as priorities for the successful candidate:

      • Proven fundraising ability and prior success in building fruitful relationships with donors
      • Energy for articulating the organization’s case to inspire staff, donors and partners
      • Appreciation for the key issues of media preservation and the ability to prioritize appropriately
      • Ability to lead a major analog repository to a new position as an archival resource with digital access
      • Experience developing and nurturing partnerships
      • Enthusiasm for New England and for the preservation of regional culture

      Minimum requirements include the following:

      • BA or BS
      • 5 or more years of relevant management experience
      • Proven fundraising skills and experience
      • Experience with arts, education and cultural engagement
      • Strong communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and persuasively and connect with diverse audiences
      • Highest level of recommendations from references and peers

      Compensation

      Comprehensive benefits package and competitive salary commensurate with experience

      Location

      NHF’s archives, cinema, and administrative offices are located at the mouth of Penobscot Bay in Bucksport, Maine, with access to Acadia National Park, waterfront and inland recreation, and vibrant coastal communities. We are 30 minutes from Bangor International Airport and 2 hours from Portland.

      While it is anticipated that the Executive Director will work out of NHF’s Bucksport office, the Board is open to considering options as we look to the future and explore operational models together.

      To Apply

      Interested candidates should send a cover letter, résumé, and the names of 3 references (indicating relation to the candidate, phone number, and e-mail address) to Starboard Leadership Consulting at the following address:search1@starboardleadership.com.

      Paper copies may be sent to: Mary Pettegrow, Starboard Leadership Consulting, 84 Harlow Street, Bangor, Maine 04401, but electronic submissions of material are preferred. No phone inquiries, please. Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2014 .

       


    Never miss an event or important update - Sign up to receive news from MAM!

    Join now! Start receiving benefits of membership.

    Donate! Support Maine's collecting institutions with a tax-deductible gift.

    Use the MAM member app by Wild Apricot to register for events, manage your member profile, and access the member directory.



    Maine Archives and Museums

    P.O. Box 95, Portland, Maine 04112

    info@mainemuseums.org 


    Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software