Memorialization Public Historian

The Montpelier Foundation (TMF) and Montpelier Descendants Committee (MDC) seek a Public Historian for the Memorialization Project at James Madisons Montpelier. We hope you see yourself as part of our dynamic team at James Madisons Montpelier. This is an amazing opportunity to collaborate with descendants of enslaved people historians landscape architects architects archaeologists anthropologists interpreters and dedicated leadership & this contracted position the Public Historian will research interpret and preserve African American history at Montpelier and across Central Virginia to build on a database of over 2000 existing documents at Montpelier. This position is based on a 35-hour work week.

The Public Historian will work closely with Montpelier Descendants Committee (MDC) members the Memorialization Project Director for the MDC and the MDC oral history team to build the historical foundation for a nationally facing monument that will honor enslaved people across the landscape at Montpelier. The Public Historian will lead an essential effort to make underrepresented histories of the African Americans who contributed to the building of the nation visible through descendant engagement research interpretation and project management. They will strengthen and deepen The Montpelier Foundations relationships with descendants of enslaved individuals through working in small groups facilitating workshops virtually and in-person and through working with individuals and community organizations.

The Public Historian will have a primary role in the development and support of public programming related to memorialization including assisting with the planning of Juneteenth activities at Montpelier to ensure that the MDC and TMFs vision for engagement with a wider and more diverse public audience is realized.

Responsibilities

The Public Historian will work closely with the MDC Executive Director Memorialization Project Director Senior Research Historian the MDC oral history team TMF Leadership Team TMF Director of Archaeology and the MDC community to connect and interpret historical documentation materials and evidence about the African American people who were enslaved at Montpelier and the surrounding plantations. These histories are critical to the story of the US and the Public Historian will add to a database of historical archives primary and secondary source materials and personal family artifacts (where granted permission). The Public Historian will be responsible for working with the interpretation team and descendants to help guide the interpretation of African-American history at Montpelier and regionally virtually and in-person through training workshops and readings following best practices.

The Public Historian will work with the Senior Research Historian and the Director of Education and Visitor Engagement at Montpelier to provide historical information for public tours; plan develop and implement programming that celebrates African American cultural contributions (historic and contemporary); engage with the descendant community at conferences symposia and community days; support the Memorialization Project Director by assisting with logistics for community outreach events around memorialization. The Public Historian will also work with the team that is currently leading community engagement across all counties surrounding Orange County to transfer data to the memorialization project.

The Public Historian will also play an important role by assisting with the planning and organizing of signature and special community engagement events.

• Terminal degree in US History American Studies or African American Studies with a concentration in African American History Public History Historic Preservation Museum Studies Anthropology or a related field.

• Experience with archival materials and primary source research.

• Experience in the transfer of knowledge through storytelling interpretation exhibit and/or multimedia development.

• Experience with data collections organization of and transfer of data.

• Excellent writing and editing skills.

• Background in and experience with developing and utilizing research methods.

• Outstanding communication skills.

• Strong ability to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of descendants of enslaved communities historians interpreters curators historians administrative staff and the public.

• Ability to create and manage organizational systems that include and protect sensitive data shared by descendant families.

• Excellent computer skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with genealogy African American research preferred.

• Experience with public speaking presentation development and effectively communicating with diverse audiences.

• Ability to lead team members in research writing projects and genealogical research.

• Experience with assisting in the planning organizing and implementation of large-scale events.

To apply please send a cover letter and resume (or CV) to Jennifer Sohnn Human Resources and Finance Manager Montpelier Foundation and Allison James Memorialization Project Director .