Position at New York Historical Society

Conservator for Exhibitions and Loans
The New-York Historical Society

The New-York Historical Society is seeking a well-organized, self-
motivated, articulate individual to perform minimal to major
item-level treatment on diverse library and paper-based museum
material for in- house exhibition and out-going loan.  This
full-time position with full benefits reports to the chief
conservator and is available September 2002.

Responsibilities:

    *   Participate in exhibition and loan committee selection and
        approval process.  Advocate preservation of collections.

    *   Solicit information about exhibition or loan material in
        order to make sound professional decisions.

    *   Document condition, propose treatment and treatment time
        estimate for each item selected for exhibition or loan plus
        cost estimate for loans.

    *   Execute treatment of committee approved items according to
        current professional standards adopted by the American
        Institute for Conservation (AIC) so that the least
        disruptive treatment is performed, permanent research value
        is retained, and the treatment is as reversible as
        practical.

    *   Photograph progress of treatment as appropriate using
        digital and film photography.

    *   Coordinate item retrieval, transport and return and work
        schedule with library and museum department heads,
        collections manager, registrar, exhibitions department, art
        handlers, and in-house or guest curators and designers.

    *   Design and build mounts for a variety of formats including
        books, photographs, manuscripts and foldout maps.

    *   Hinge or enclose flat paper for matting and framing.

    *   Transport or courier, install and deinstall select items
        displayed in exhibition cases in-house and off-site.

    *   Monitor environmental conditions for in-house exhibitions
        (light, temperature, relative humidity, security, pests,
        cleanliness.) Evaluate environmental conditions for loans.

    *   Treat new acquisitions as directed by the chief conservator.

    *   Adhere to lab health and safety guidelines.

    *   Oversee and direct part-time assistant.

Requirements:

    *   Graduate degree and certificate from recognized conservation
        program or exceptional experience.

    *   Minimum one year exhibition experience and two years in a
        professional conservation lab.

    *   Knowledge of the technology, structure, and history of books
        (bound volumes, albums, sketchbooks, letterpress,
        pamphlets), manuscripts, maps, architectural drawings,
        photographs, prints, original art, ephemera.

    *   Ability to identify materials and techniques:  skins,
        papers, fibers, inks, paints, colorants (pigments, dyes,
        toners), adhesives, coatings, carriers, and others.

    *   Knowledge of book and paper repair:  cleaning, mending,
        humidification and flattening, rebacking, recasing, sewing
        structures and techniques, washing and buffering, lining,
        inpainting.

    *   Ability to choose appropriate type and degree of treatment
        and treatment materials.

    *   Technical skills:  computer (PC platform), software (MS
        Word, Excel, FileMaker Pro), camera (digital and film),
        binocular microscope, digital light meter, ultrasonic
        welder, fume hood, suction table, floor model board shear,
        and assortment of treatment tools.

    *   Ability to safely handle heavy and oversize material.

Send Resume and three references to

    The New-York Historical Society
    Library Conservation Dept C
    Two West 77th Street
    New York NY  10024
    Fax:  212-875-1591

No phone calls, please.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:10
                 Distributed: Wednesday, July 31, 2002
                       Message Id: cdl-16-10-018
                                  ***