Position at Field Museum

Assistant Conservator and Associate Conservator, Save America's
Treasures Project
The Field Museum, Chicago

The Anthropology Department of the Field Museum
<URL:http://www.fieldmuseum.org> has received a two year Save
America's Treasures grant to increase the accessibility of its
extensive North American Ethnographic and Archaeological collections
through collection inventory and rehousing, poisons testing and
mitigation, mitigation of conditions conducive to chemical and
physical deterioration, object treatment, and indexing of archives.
This work is preparatory to the move of these collections into the
department's new Collections Resource Center.

The Museum is offering two positions, an Assistant Conservator and
an Associate Conservator, to conduct this work with a five-person
project team, working under the supervision of the Chief Conservator
in consultation with the Head of Collections, and appropriate
Curators. Duties of the Assistant Conservator include:

    1.  Provide advice on the stability of collections objects and
        on appropriate supports for same.

    2.  Assist the SAT team in collection inventory by identifying
        evidence of mold, insect and other biological pests, and
        evidence of other sources of physical, chemical and
        procedural damage to the objects. Determine sources of
        damage and develop mitigation procedures.

    3.  Conduct, supervise and document the removal of museum dust
        and insect debris from objects in the collections.

    4.  Conduct, supervise and document systematic arsenic and other
        poisons testing program and bagging, if necessary, of
        poisoned objects.

    5.  Document, examine, and perform conservation treatments and
        procedures on objects that are considered too fragile to
        handle in their current condition.

    6.  Supervise interns and volunteers.

    7.  Assist in the operation and activities of the conservation
        laboratories related to the project.

Duties of the Associate Conservator also include:  1. Prepare
progress reports on the SAT project as required.  2. With SAT
management team, develop procedures and priorities to prepare
portions of the North American ethnographic and archaeological
collections for installation in the new Collections Resource Center.

Candidates must have a degree in Conservation or equivalent
training. A specialization in objects conservation and experience
with anthropological collections is preferred. Demonstrated written
and verbal communication skills, and demonstrated conservation
skills and knowledge are required. Candidates for Associate
Conservator must also present evidence of management and
administrative skills, and ability to foster team development.

These are two year positions. A salary of $31,000-$40,000 per annum,
depending on position and experience, and a competitive benefits
package are offered. The positions are open until filled.

Please send cover letter, curriculum vitae and names of three
references to

    Ruth Norton
    Chief Conservator
    Department of Anthropology
    The Field Museum
    1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
    Chicago IL 60605,
    rnorton [at] fieldmuseum__org.
    312-665-7880
    Fax: 312-665-7193


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 16:41
                Distributed: Wednesday, January 8, 2003
                       Message Id: cdl-16-41-036
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