Mission Statement
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum is committed to interpreting the history and culture of African Americans who contributed to the rich history of Maryland. Through its collections, programming, and advocacy, the museum engages and educates our shared communities.
BACKGROUND
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture opened in June 2005, in the heart of downtown Baltimore. The 82,000 square foot building houses 10,000 artifacts showcasing 400 years of Maryland African American history and culture. The museum is the premier experience and best resource for information and inspiration about African American Marylanders. As the gateway to history through living culture, the museum showcases groundbreaking collections, exhibitions, performances, public and educational programs for all ages, and bridges the gap between the past and the present.
The Lewis is the second largest African American museum on the east coast. The museum is named after Reginald F. Lewis, a native of Baltimore and the first African American to close a billion dollar international leverage buyout deal in 31 countries. He was one of the first African Americans to open a law firm on Wall Street.
Position Summary
The Registrar & Collections Manager is a detail-oriented position that is responsible for the care, preservation, security and storage of the Lewis Museum’s collections, maintaining the records of the collection, and creating, organizing and maintaining all records relating to the permanent collection and records relating to incoming and outgoing loan agreements. This position manages the process for inspection, identification, description of condition, transporting, reporting, assembly, installation, packing, shipping, dispersal and recording of incoming and outgoing museum objects and administers the process for receiving approved loans agreements for such exhibitions, objects and images. This position reports to the Director of Interpretation, Collections, and Education.
Primary Responsibilities
- Ensure proper care and preservation of the museum collections by managing the museum collections storage rooms, environmental conditions data and analysis, curatorial housekeeping, and conservation projects
- Develop and maintain an organized and comprehensive inventory system for artifacts, collections, photographs, images, graphics and other materials donated, acquired or loaned to the Museum
- Contribute to exhibition planning and installation, including overseeing incoming and outgoing loans.
- Assign and supervise work of Collections staff, special Collections projects staff, curatorial interns and volunteers.
- Recruit and train Collections and cataloguing volunteers
- Responsible for developing, organizing and maintaining all records of permanent collections relative to care, identification, location and custody of objects.
- Supervise or review all accession, donor contact, title documents, cross reference and collections retrieval records.
- Maintain staff research library, periodical library and information files.
- Supervise the Collections Curatorial Technician and other staff, interns or volunteers performing registrational duties.
Duties Include
- Maintain and update the Museums’ CMS PastPerfect
- Conduct professional inspections of incoming and outgoing museum objects, prepares condition and damage reports, including photographic records, insurance papers, packing and unpacking shipping requirements
- Keep records on loans to and from the museum
- Serve as a liaison between donors, lenders, vendors, and carriers for transporting museum objects
- Responsible for photographic documentation of collections
- Support and supervise exhibition installations and de-installations at the Museum and at other locations as needed
- Supervise art handlers working on installation and de-installation of exhibits
- Arrange framing and conservation
- Participate in exhibition budgeting process by preparing shipping, crating, courier, art handling, customs, insurance and storage estimates.
- Arrange arts insurance coverage for loans, including application of the museum policies, government indemnities, and lender insurance; assists in processing claims.
- Create and manage computerized and paper records, including loan files, receipts, and certificates of insurance, purchase orders, invoices, lender correspondence, loan agreements and exhibition contracts.
- Couriers’ art and objects for the museum in the United States and abroad and in that capacity oversees transport, packing, unpacking, installation and handling of works of art.
- Assist in planning, development, budgeting and research for departmental projects, such as preparation of and updating of facilities reports, disaster plans, etc.
- Attend and present at the Collection and Acquisitions Meetings quarterly
- Perform regular inventories to meet state audit requirements
- Maintain and regularly update the Online Collections Portal
- Provide educational overview of Museum collections
Skills & Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in African American Studies, History, Art History, Museum Studies, American Studies, or a closely related field
- At least 3 years of professional experience managing art and artifact collections in a museum environment
- Thorough knowledge of collections management standards and best practices
- Demonstrated experience managing the care, preservation, and documentation of museum collections, especially in museum registration, collections management software, object handling and housing, loan procedures, and exhibition installation
- Excellent project management skills
- The ability to perform moderate physical activity, such as climbing ladders, lifting, kneeling, and standing or walking for extended periods of time
- The ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours, including courier trips
- Being organized, detail-oriented, able to work independently and take initiative, an effective writer and public speaker, and eager to contribute to the Institute’s work.
Preferred:
- Master’s degree in African American Studies, History, Art History, Museum Studies, American Studies, or a closely related field
- Familiarity with the history and material cultures of the African diaspora
- Extensive knowledge of professional museum principles, practices and procedures, especially in art, image, documents and object care and handling and collections management.
- Excellent planning, organization, and problem-solving skills
- Proficient with Google Suite and MS Word
- Excellent writing and sound communication skills
- Knowledge of the most up-to-date cataloging and collections management software and record keeping systems.
Salary Range & Benefits
$58,000 – $65,000
The Lewis Museum offers an excellent State of Maryland benefits package which includes health insurance, 10 days annual, 10 days sick leave, and 3 personal days. .
Applications will be accepted until Monday, April 4, 2022.
Reach out to Patricia Scott: patricia.scott1@lewismuseum.org
Categories: Job Postings