Project Archivist, Houghton Family Papers

About The Corning Museum of Glass

The Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) was established in 1951 by Corning Glass Works (now Corning Incorporated) as a gift to the nation commemorating the companys 100th anniversary. CMoG is an independent not-for-profit museum dedicated to exploring a single material: glass. Welcoming more than 300,000 annual visitors from around the world, the Museum's campus is home to the worlds most comprehensive collection of glass, the worlds foremost library on glass, and one of the premier glassworking schools in the world. CMoG was named by the New York Times among the U.S. museums to see for 2025, and Newsweek readers voted CMoG one of the Top 3 Best Art Museums in America.

Glass is a versatile, ancient material that is still being explored and understood by artists, scientists, and historians today. The story of glass is a story about art, history, culture, technology, science, craft, and design. 50,000+ objects representing more than 3,500 years of history are included in the Museums collectionranging from a portrait of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh to a 200-inch telescope lens to contemporary sculpture. The Museum regularly publishes journals, educational videos and scholarly publicationsmany of which can be accessed online from anywhere in the world.

We believe that prioritizing diversity, opportunity, belonging, and accessibility strengthens our Museum and enhances our ability to connect with all communities. We are actively fostering an inclusive culture that values and respects a wide range of perspectives and experiences. Creating a culture of belonging is central to our mission and helps ensure the Museum is welcoming to all.

SUMMARY

The Project Archivist, Houghton Family Papers is a one-year assignment. This position is responsible for arranging and describing several large collections associated with the Houghton Family, including the Arthur A. Houghton, Jr. Papers, a related collection of legal records from Sayles & Evans, and the Elisabeth Houghton Papers. The Project Archivist will identify and make recommendations regarding conservation needs in the Houghton Family collections.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Archives and Manuscripts

Arrange materials by existing order and/or develop logical series and sub-series to accommodate collection materials. *Work closely with the Supervisor, Archives and Manuscript Collections to determine the best approach for arrangement and description.Provide regular progress updates to the Supervisor, Archives and Manuscript Collections.Rehouse materials and perform routine preservation actions while arranging materials.Identify sensitive information for restriction and remove extraneous and duplicate materials. *Identify materials needing conservation treatment or reformatting and record relevant information.Following DACS and local descriptive guidelines, create finding aids in ArchivesSpace. *Create agent records in ArchivesSpace. *Label and barcode boxes.

General Library

Assist with the transport of collection materials between the processing workroom and the secured stacks.Attend and contribute to library staff meetings and archives team meetings.Support the preservation of the collection by demonstrating and promoting the proper handling and storage of special collections materials.Enhance discovery of the Houghton Collection through development of social media, research guides, and other tools for education and discovery.

General

Actively and intentionally support the Museums commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. *Actively support the Museums Advancement initiatives.Serve on Library and professional committees as appropriate.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

ALA-accredited masters degree with coursework in archives preferred and/or demonstrated relevant archival processing experience.1-2 years processing experience preferred.Knowledge of and experience implementing archival standards and best practices, including DACS and MPLP-informed description.Proficiency with ArchivesSpace preferred.Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and cloud services such as Microsoft 365; Ability to learn new job-related software and services such as MS Teams, OneDrive, and Adobe Sign.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Respect and exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the Corning Museum of Glass in all interactions with colleagues, staff, volunteers, and the public.Always represent the Museum in a professional manner.Adhere to all prescribed organizational and departmental policies and procedures.Demonstrate ability to innovate and adapt to change.Strong organizational and time management skills.Strong written and verbal communications skills.Meet deadlines and handle multiple projects simultaneously.Perform work requiring significant attention to detail.Work independently, as well as with a team.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position, operate/use equipment, and detect/distinguish. The employee is frequently required to move about and communicate. The employee is occasionally required to ascend/descend to get materials from an upper shelf that may require use of a step ladder, position oneself, reach, and detect/distinguish photographic degradation, mold, as well as other agents that may harm the collection. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to distinguish color.

The employee is frequently required to move/transport up to 50 pounds.

The work environment is usually indoors climate controlled, occasionally work in high precarious places, and exposure to odors, fumes, or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

The employee shall be fully acquainted with and comply with all safety policies and procedures of the Corning Museum of Glass.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Maintain confidentiality of information related to the Corning Museum of Glass and employees that may be encountered, either formally or informally, during the normal course of business.

DISCLAIMER

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed and is not an inclusive summary of job duties and responsibilities. The omission of specific statements of duties or responsibilities does not exclude them from the position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the Corning Museum of Glass as the needs of the Museum and requirements of the job change.

SALARY RANGE

$28 per hour - $30 per hour

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