Job Location: Hudson, NY
Job Title: Research Assistant/Associate
Institution: The Olana Partnership
About the Institution: Olana is the greatest masterwork of Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900), the preeminent American artist of the mid-19th century and the most important artist’s home, studio, and designed landscape in the United States. Church designed Olana as a holistic environment integrating his advanced ideas about art, architecture, landscape design, and environmental conservation. Olana’s 250-acre artist-designed landscape with five miles of carriage roads and a Persian-inspired house at its summit embraces unrivaled panoramic views of the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains and welcomes more than 170,000 visitors annually. The landscape is open for guided touring, and reservations are highly recommended. The landscape is open daily 8 AM-sunset.
Olana State Historic Site, administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, is a designated National Historic Landmark and one of the most visited sites in the state. The Olana Partnership is the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit cooperative partner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation at Olana State Historic Site.
Job Description:
The Research Assistant/Associate will be a core member of The Olana Partnership (TOP) curatorial team, working closely with the Associate Curator and Exhibitions Manager. The Research Assistant/Associate provides research support for collections and exhibitions projects and responds to queries from both TOP staff and external scholars and researchers on all aspects of Olana State Historic Site’s history and collections. In collaboration with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the Bureau of Historic Sites (BHS), the Research Assistant/Associate maintains and facilitates access to Olana’s research collection and reference library. This is a part-time position and the flexible title reflects TOP’s interest in evaluating qualified candidates at a range of experience levels.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide ongoing research support for major curatorial projects such as exhibitions, publications, and collections conservation initiatives
- Respond to research inquiries from TOP staff and external scholars and researchers, coordinating research visits and access to collections and library resources on-site and at the off-site BHS facility when required
- Assemble research files and briefings on frequently asked questions and emerging topics of interest to support the evolving interpretation of Olana
- Contribute to editing and fact-checking of written materials including exhibition texts, interpretive signs, social media posts, and press releases
- Orient and train TOP staff on the use of reference materials to conduct independent research
- Process new materials for and perform ongoing maintenance of Olana’s research collection and reference library
Qualifications:
- BA in history, art history, or related subject; Master of Library and Information Science a plus
- Experience using online and library research tools and conducting archival research
- Familiarity with database programs, particularly TMS Collections; proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
- Strong written and oral communication skills with attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
- Organization and self-motivation with ability to prioritize across multiple projects
- Curiosity and ability to become passionate about sharing Olana with the world
- A valid driver’s license
- Ability to lift and carry 40 pounds
This Position is: In-Person
Position Type: Part-Time
Salary Range: $20-$25/hour
Salary Type: Non-Exempt
Benefits: Paid time off
How to Apply: jbatterton@olana.org
Job Closing Date: 5/31/2024
