Start date: September 26, 2022 End date: March 27, 2023
Hourly gross wage: $16.00
Position Title: Research Assistant (YCW-BCH)
Department: Colchester Historical Society, Archives
Reports to: Archivist
Duties: The purpose of this project is to increase awareness and accessibility of resources in the Colchester Historeum Archives that involve visible minority communities and lack appropriate description and/or terminologies. The Research Assistant will be responsible for gathering, organizing, and compiling material pertaining to the history of Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian Communities in Colchester County, Nova Scotia.
The Research Assistant will be responsible for building subject-specific research files and producing finding aids and lists of resources. They will likewise be responsible for updating and/or creating descriptions and access points of any relevant material in the holdings to increase awareness and accessibility of records in the Archives that may be relevant to the Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian communities.
The Research Assistant will be responsible for entering descriptions, finding aids, and access points into the Historeum’s database and the online public platform, MemoryNS. The Research Assistant will work collaboratively with the Archivist in developing policies and procedures to ensure the implementation of best practices throughout this project and in the long-term.
The objective to increase accessibility to subject-specific material will not only increase access for the public but also assist the Archives in maintaining its operations and key functions.
This position will be located at the Colchester Historeum, 29 Young Street, Truro, Nova Scotia.
Specialty statements: Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer or will result in termination of your employment.
Checks may include one or all of the following: Reference Checks, Criminal Background checks, Child Abuse Registry and education.
Salary Range: $16/ hour for a 35-hour week plus 4% vacation pay
Period of Employment: 25 weeks
Start date: September 26, 2022
End date: March 27, 2023
Deadline for Application: September 4, 2022
Resumes and Cover Letters can be sent to: Joanne Hunt, Interim Archivist archivist@colchesterhistoreum.ca
Mission and Mandate of the Host Organization
Mission: The Colchester Historical Society continues to preserve and present Colchester County’s past by striving to offer an authentic and inclusive perspective of local history and culture through community and visitor engagement in its operation of the Colchester Historeum, a museum and archives located in Truro, Nova Scotia. Using contemporary methods of interpretation, collections management, and education, we encourage conversation, understanding and meaningful connections between all individuals.
Mandate:
The Colchester Historical Society Archives exists to:
• gather, compile and preserve written, printed photographic, electronic and audio documents of historical value and interest relating to Colchester County.
• gather and record stories until now unwritten, which exist only in the memory of older people;
• arrange and describe these materials according to archival principles and make them accessible to the general public on a regular basis, unless access is restricted by legal requirements or written agreement with the donor;
• provide adequate and appropriate conditions for the storage, protection and preservation of archival material;
• provide assistance to genealogical and historical researchers;
• provide educational and outreach programming whenever possible to increase public awareness and appreciation of Colchester Historical Society Archives history and development, and
• provide maps, historical and genealogical books for sale to the public.
Truro, Nova Scotia
Truro, Nova Scotia is a town with a population of approximately 12,250. The downtown has recently undergone a revitalization project with major renovation to the library and the addition of a Civic Square greenspace. The Civic Square is host to weekly events and in the winter months houses a skating rink. The Historeum is located in the Civic Square block between the Farmer’s Market and new library making it a prime location for local visitors and tourists. Truro is conveniently located in the heart of Nova Scotia and a recent graduate living in the area could have the opportunity to explore places like Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Cape Breton on the weekends. This is a great opportunity for a recent graduate who would like to explore Nova Scotia and the rest of the Maritimes.
All applicants must:
The following are considered assets to this position:
Colchester Historical Society 29 Young Street Truro, Nova Scotia B2N 3W3
Joanne Hunt archivist@colchesterhistoreum.ca Preferred Contact: Email
