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Position Description:

The University of Louisville Archives and Special Collections seeks an archivist to process and provide access to the Barry Bingham Jr. Courier Journal Photograph Collection.

The Barry Bingham, Jr. Courier-Journal Photograph Collection comprises approximately three million images spanning the majority of the twentieth century and documenting a wide-ranging variety of events and topics relating to Louisville and Kentucky. Coverage of everything from the Kentucky Derby to the life of hometown hero Muhammad Ali are included, as are local politics and visits by national politicians; a variety of social justice movements, high school, collegiate, and professional sports; celebrities, disasters and scandals; an extensive variety of intimate local-interest stories, and much more. The collection consists of photographic prints, negatives of various sizes, glass plate negatives, and slides that were shot for the Louisville Courier-Journal and Times newspapers from the early 1900s to the early 2000s (the bulk being post-1937). The material is labeled and mostly in order by date and photographer.

The CJ Collection Archivist will oversee the processing of the collection to a completed finding aid with a full print folder list and negative assignments list. This work will include culling prints, putting boxes in order, refiling out of order materials, rehousing materials into custom boxes, and providing reference services to the Courier-Journal staff.

Subsequent work will include a digitization project and the creation of programming around the collection.

Primary Responsibilities

The CJ Archivist’s first responsibilities will be to coordinate the processing of the entire collection, which will include:

• Implementing and amending a collection processing plan
• Arranging materials for organization and ease of use by researchers, including Courier-Journal staff
• Re-housing materials into appropriate archival enclosures for preservation
• Compiling and maintaining a DACS-compliant finding aid in ArchivesSpace
• Hiring, training and supervising student assistants
• Providing reference services to Courier-Journal staff and other researchers

Subsequent responsibilities will include:

• Developing and coordinating programming around the collection, which may include exhibitions, lectures, and support for community projects taking inspiration from the collection
• Planning and executing a digitization project
• Developing and maintaining a relationship with the Courier Journal donor community

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Library Science, History, Curatorial Studies, or a related field
• Minimum of two years’ experience processing archival materials, including photographic materials
• Knowledge of archival theory, practice, and standards that govern the arrangement and description of primary source materials.
• Ability to establish priorities, set and meet goals and deadlines, and manage project schedules.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing 
• ability to work independently, collaboratively in a team environment.
• Supervisory experience of students, volunteers, or staff
• Demonstrated attention to detail and highly organized.
• Experience with common computer applications such as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, Teams, etc.)

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience processing large collections.
• Experience or familiarity with ArchivesSpace.
• Experience or familiarity with DACS, Dublin Core, and other metadata standards.
• Knowledge of preservation standards for photographic materials.

This is a full-time term faculty position at the rank of Instructor or Assistant Professor. The minimum starting salary for this position at Instructor is $46,000/year and at Assistant Professor is $50,000. Salary is negotiated at the time of offer and is dependent on the experience and professional achievements of the successful candidate. Term faculty positions are on 12-month contracts renewable each year. The position reports directly to the Archivist for Photographic Archives. The successful candidate will receive a comprehensive benefits package, an annual vacation of 22 working days, and support for professional development.

University of Louisville Libraries are sincerely committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. For more information, please see the Libraries' Diversity and Inclusion website, the Office of Diversity & Equity, and the University of Louisville Reaffirmation of Commitment to Equal Educational & Employment Opportunity. We are a member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and participate in the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Diversity Alliance, which unites academic libraries committed to increasing the hiring pipeline of qualified and talented individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

Archives and Special Collections library (ASC) is located within Ekstrom Library on the University of Louisville’s Belknap Campus. ASC collects, organizes, preserves, and makes available for research rare and unique primary and secondary source material, particularly relating to the history and cultural heritage of Louisville, Kentucky and the surrounding region, as well as serving as the official memory of the University of Louisville. ASC prides itself on its collections that reflect the diverse communities of Louisville. Highlights of our materials include one of the largest LGBTQ+ collections in the south, the Louisville Underground Music archive, papers related to civil-rights activist Anne Braden, and the papers of influential African American locals like Lyman T. Johnson, Lois Morris, Grace James, and Frank L. Stanley.

The University of Louisville is a Carnegie Research/High university and recipient of the Carnegie Community Engagement classification for Curricular Engagement & Outreach and Partnerships. The University has a national reputation for its high-quality undergraduate program; over twenty nationally recognized research, graduate, and professional programs; 22,000 graduate and undergraduate students; and a strong commitment to the community in which it resides. UofL is located in the state’s largest urban area.

Most notably recognized for Muhammad Ali, the Louisville Slugger, and the Kentucky Derby, Louisville is a compassionate, progressive home to nearly 1 million people from around the world. The richness of its history and the diversity of its communities make Louisville an ideal place to live, work, and play. Louisville offers Southern hospitality, originality, and smaller-city advantages like shorter commutes and lower cost of living, alongside major city amenities like world-class performing arts, great sports, incredible dining, a nationally ranked public school system, and a nationally acclaimed parks system. Centrally located on the banks of the Ohio River and Interstate highways I-65, I-71, and I-64, Louisville is merely hours away from major cities like Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis, and Atlanta, however, there is no need to travel far with iconic attractions and unique experiences only Louisville can offer.

Applications received by June 14, 2024 are given full consideration in the initial screening. Applications are accepted until the position is filled. Submit AS ONE PDF a letter of interest detailing your familiarity, aptitude, and/or experience with the required and desired qualifications; CV/resume; and name, address, phone number, and e-mail address of three references via the online application at UofL’s Human Resources site https://uofl.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UofLCareerSite  

If you have questions about the position or the application process, please contact:  Elizabeth Reilly, Archivist of the Photographic Archives, Archives & Special Collections, eereil01@louisville.edu 

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Louisville is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, pregnancy, or veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact the Employment team at employment@louisville.edu or 502.852.6258.

Assistance and Accommodations

Computers are available for application submission at the Human Resources Department located at 215 Central Avenue, Ste 205 - Louisville, Kentucky 40208.

If you require assistance or accommodation with our online application process, please contact us by email at employment@louisville.edu or by phone 502-852-6258.