Blog and Newsletter

The Abbe Museum offers unique career opportunities that empower individuals to connect with our mission and our audience in a profound way.

As a Guest Services Associate, you will be making a significant contribution to Maine’s first and only Smithsonian Affiliate, a Museum beloved by visitors from around the world. The Smithsonian is the guardian of some of our nation’s most valuable scientific, historic, and artistic treasures and is a leader in research, innovation, and discovery. The Abbe Museum fits snugly within this realm, offering our visitors unique and inspiring experiences every single day. Guest Services Associates help the Museum to encourage a more tolerant and culturally-aware society by inspiring visitors to think more deeply about the history and contemporary lives of individuals from other cultures.

The Abbe Museum experience is inclusive and welcoming to all. We foster a strong staff culture of collaboration and teamwork, in a service-focused environment. Staff in public-facing departments must always present a welcoming and inclusive museum visitor experience. Do you enjoy interacting with people? Do you believe that customer service is an important part of a positive experience? We hope you'll consider joining the Abbe’s growing Guest Services team.

Reporting to the Associate Manager of Guest Experience, Guest Services Associates act as an integral source of patron knowledge about the Museum, its history and current strategic direction, and its exhibitions and programs. 

Ideal candidates have a heart for service, are driven, self-sufficient, and committed to promoting the Abbe's new Customer Service Pledge and to finding surprising and welcoming ways to interact with patrons of all types. Check out A Day in the Life of an Abbe Museum Guest Services Associate for a peek into what the job entails. Incentives will be given to exemplary job performers.

This is a seasonal position, from May 1st through October 31st, 20-40 hours per week at $10 per hour. For more details about daily tasks and how to apply, please contact the Associate Manager of Guest Experience, Debbie Miles, at debbie@abbemuseum.org or 207-288-3519.

The Brick Store Museum is a small history and art museum located in Kennebunk. All staff members, as well as interns, are often called on to do any number of things such as assisting with public programs, basic office work, and visitor services.  All internships provide an introduction to standard museum practice and hands-on experience in museum/archive work.

Interns will receive a $300 stipend at the completion of the internship.

Archival Internship

The Archives Intern will learn how collections are stored, managed, cataloged and cared for in an archival setting.   Duties will vary according to availability of projects and student interest. Projects will include any combination of processing—arrangement description, and re-housing materials—as well as cataloging archival collections into our PastPerfect database; and researching collections for visitor requests.  The intern will report to the Collections Manager.

Qualifications preferred: Degree or expected degree in history, archive and library science and/or museum studies.  Archival experience, word processing, and database skills useful.

Education/Special Events Internship

The Education/ Special Events internship will provide opportunities to develop educational curriculum for programs and exhibitions.  Duties will vary according to availability of projects and student interests.  Projects will include preparing materials for fall school field trips, conducting summer walking tours, developing educational programs and public programs for specific exhibits and developing outreach programs for local schools.  The intern will report to the Collections Manager

Qualifications preferred: experience supervising children; good written communication skills background in educational theory and practice; understanding of Maine’s Common Core Standards, computer skills, and basic office skills.

The Museum generally requires at least 10 hours of service per week, and would be happy to work with your schedule. Should you be interested in an internship at the Brick Store Museum, please contact us via phone (207-985-4802) or via email (info@brickstoremuseum.org).

DATE:          Saturday, January 23, 2016

TIME:           9:00 a.m. to 12 noon

(Please arrive at 8:30 to sign in)

LOCATION: Houlton Higher Education Center

                     18 Military Street

                     Houlton, Maine

COST:          $49 per person

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED.  To register, send check payable to Presque Isle Historical Society in the amount of $49 for each registrant with their name and contact information to:

                PO Box 285

                Presque Isle, ME 04769

About the Instructor:

Kimberly Smith is the grant writer for the City of Presque Isle and Presque Isle Historical Society.  She is a member of the American Grant Writers’ Association and has been writing grants for almost 20 years. Kim has served as an adjunct instructor for Northern Maine Community College, Husson University’s Graduate Program, and the University of Maine at Presque Isle.  Smith holds a Master’s Degree in Business from Husson University and has served as the Executive Director of three non-profits, one of which was a grant-making organization. 

SPONSORED BY:  Houlton Higher Education Center and Adult Education Houlton/Hodgdon

PROCEEDS BENEFIT: Presque Isle Historical Society

For more information, please contact Presque Isle Historical Society at (207) 762-1151 or by e-mail at pihistoricalsocety@hotmail.com. 

The Maine State Museum in Augusta seeks to hire a Museum Specialist III – Curator of Historical Collections. This is professional curatorial work in the Maine State Museum’s History Division. It will be concerned with conceiving and refining exhibit themes as part of a team process; researching and developing exhibits; helping enhance the museum’s permanent collections through refining the purposes of collection development and the seeking and ‘telling’ of personal and community histories through objects; overseeing such routine collection processes as acquisition, documentation, loan review, deaccession, conservation, and proper storage; and participating in normal administrative duties such as attending policy, oversight and planning meetings, contributing to policy and planning reviews, and generally representing the museum and assisting in its advancement.

RESPONSIBLE COLLECTION AREAS:

This curator may be responsible for history collections such as domestic use items, toys, tools, transportation items, personal possessions, industrial, military, technological, and recreational objects, and related archival materials, as housed or exhibited in the Maine State Museum, Maine State House, and Blaine House. Special personal knowledge about or interest in certain collection areas may help guide responsibilities.

For additional information and application instructions, see the State of Maine’s web page at http://www.maine.gov/fps/opportunities/ and select the job title: Museum Specialist III – Curator of Historical Collections. Applications must be received or postmarked by February 5, 2016.

The application period for the Society of American Archivists’ (SAA) Mosaic Scholarship is currently open, with a deadline of February 28, 2016.

The Mosaic Scholarship was established to provide financial and mentoring support to minority students pursuing graduate education in archival science, to encourage students to pursue careers in archives, and to promote the diversification of the American archival profession. The award is given to applicants who demonstrate excellent potential for scholastic and personal achievement and who manifest a commitment both to the archival profession and to advancing diversity concerns within it.

Up to two scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded, contingent on available funds. In addition, each scholarship recipient receives a one-year complimentary membership to SAA and complimentary registration to the Society’s Annual Meeting.

For more information on the scholarship, eligibility requirements and application instructions, please visit: http://www2.archivists.org/governance/handbook/section12-mosaic.

Good Luck!

The Mosaic Scholarship Selection Committee:

Aditi Worcester (Chair), Escondido Public Library

Sofía Becerra-Licha, Berklee College of Music

Alex Champion, National Archives and Records Administration

Brittney Farley, Florida State University

Andrea Jackson, Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library

Helen Kim, Getty Research Institute

The Congressional Commission to Study the Potential for a National Women’s History Museum has been tasked to develop an independent, bi-partisan plan that highlight themes and collections related to women’s history, and make recommendations on the museum’s location in our nation’s capital and how it might be financed, operated, and maintained. The report to Congress is due on November 18, 2016.

As part of the public outreach process, the Commission is convening a “Scholar Summit on Women’s History and Public History” on January 26, 2016, at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC. There is no registration fee. However, if you wish to attend, please email the Commission’s Summit coordinator Deanna Sibbald at dsibbald@comcast.net.

If you are unable to attend or wish to know more about the Commission’s work, please visit their website at: http://www.womenshistorycommission.org/. While there you can complete a short survey the commission has created to solicit public input.
 

Want to play a role in keeping Freeport's past present?

Freeport Historical Society (FHS) is seeking applicants for the position of Office manager. This position will be part-time, with an increased schedule during the summer months.

• 32 hours/week May-October; 24 hours/week November-April
  
• $11/hour
  

The Office Manager reports to the FHS Executive Director and assists both the Executive Director and Collections Manager in a variety of administrative duties, including:

• Working with volunteers
  
• Greeting visitors
  
• Arranging logistical details for public events
  
• Ordering office supplies
  
• Maintaining accurate records and databases
  

Successful applicants will possess:

• Proven experience providing excellent customer service
  
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications and QuickBooks
  
• Comfort with working in the digital world of the modern office
  
• Experience handling phones and other office machinery
  
• An ability to multi-task
  
• The ability to work a flexible schedule as needed, including some weekends
  
• A current, valid driver’s license
  
• A bachelor’s degree and an interest in history are preferred.
  

Click here for more information about this position.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter by January 15, 2016 to Jim Cram, Executive Director, at director@freeporthistoricalsociety.org.

Freeport Historical Society is a non-profit organization in Freeport, Maine dedicated to preserving the town’s past and keeping that past alive in the present. The Society is a vibrant organization with a key role in the local community.

Do you know a good archives story?​

Have you ever had something interesting or unexpected happen while in the archives? Something funny, weird, wise, or unforgettable? Tell us about it during NEA's first StorySLAM: Moths in the Archives: Stories from the Stacks.

Based on the StorySLAM competitions developed by NYC non-profit literary society The Moth, there are only four groundrules to the NEA competition at the Spring 2016 Meeting:

-- First rule is all stories must be true

-- Second rule is all stories must be told, not read.

-- Third rule is there is a 5-minute time limit.

-- And fourth rule is to keep it anonymous -- don't betray confidentiality restrictions

Bring your wit and wisdom to the masses of New England archivists who are just waiting to hear a good story. And at the end of the evening, scores will be tallied and a winner announced. Submit an outline of your story to be considered eligible for the NEA competition.

Questions? Contact Matt Spry (sprymatt@gmail.com) for information about the NEA event at the Spring 2016 Meeting. And get some great storytelling tips on The Moth's website.

New England Archivists

Communications Committee

The Kingfield based Ski Museum of Maine is looking for a part time, energetic, well organized individual to manage the daily affairs of the museum. The qualified candidate should have excellent time management and organizational skills along with excellent communications skills and the ability to work independently. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Quickbooks; social media platforms, email marketing and database management. Familiarity with the Past Perfect database system as well as previous work experience in the ski industry or museum operations a plus. Please reply to: Ski Museum of Maine, PO Box 359, Kingfield, Maine 04947 or send resume via email to info@skimuseumofmaine.org.

Looking for an opportunity to work in a place of wonder and exploration?

We currently are recruiting for a part-time Museum Educator/Assistant (up to 29 hours per week) to work at the L.C. Bates Museum at Good Will-Hinckley. Hours for this position vary weekly. The L.C. Bates Museum houses unique natural history and culture collections. This position primarily involves working with children and families presenting natural history programs, but would also involve working in all aspects of the museum including greeting visitors and presenting tours, cleaning, preparing exhibitions, presenting outside activities, and presenting educational outreach programs at schools.

 Qualifications:

• Enjoy working with school groups of children as well as adults
• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Be dependable and enthusiastic
• Excellent Organizational Skills
• Have a working knowledge of Maine Natural History and/or wildlife and/or teaching experience

 We require a minimum of a High School Diploma, satisfactory references, background and health checks, and a valid Maine Driver’s License.

 Interested applicants please submit a cover letter and updated resume via e-mail to HR@gwh.org or fax to 238-4020 or mail to Human Resources, PO Box 159, Hinckley, ME 04944. Please reference “Museum Educator” in your correspondence.

 View more information about the L.C. Bates Museum at www.gwh.org.