About the position
The North Carolina Collection (NCC) is looking for a graduate assistant to conduct scholarly research about African-Americans in North Carolina using archival and print resources in the Wilson Special Collections Library and other archival repositories. Research will initially be focused on the lives and contributions of enslaved and free people who worked on and contributed to the success of Hayes, a large agricultural enterprise and community in Edenton, NC, dating to the 1760s. As time allows, research will also focus on the lives and work of other African-American artisans and business leaders in the state. Most of this work will be done remotely.
The position will begin on August 17, 2020 and end May 31, 2021. The assistant will be paid $16.78/hour and receive student health insurance coverage.
Primary responsibilities include:
- Engaging in research using available online and print resources, and requesting copies of materials not available online
- Identifying topics to feature in short- and long-term physical displays and online exhibits
- Writing interpretive text for displays and exhibits
- Identifying potential purchases of material culture related to the Africa-American experience in North Carolina by searching auction sites
- Contributing the NCC social media postings on a regular basis
- Possibly providing Gallery support when facilities re-open (answering phones, greeting/directing patrons, etc.)
Desired qualifications include:
- Interest in and knowledge of the history and culture of North Carolina, especially in the experiences of African-Americans in the state
- Experience working with archival collections
- Familiarity with library discovery tools including the online library catalog and electronic databases
- Comfort with web tools and other digital technology
- Reliability and flexibility
Applicants must be enrolled as graduate students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
To apply
Send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for a reference to Linda Jacobson, North Carolina Collection Gallery, Wilson Library, CB#3930, ljacobso@email.unc.edu.