06/01/1977 26170

MUSEUM CURATOR, HISTORY 2

DEFINITION: This is full professional curatorial work in any one or more of the fields of History of Decorative Arts, History of Fine Arts, History, or History of Science, Industry, and Technology.

An employee in this class performs curatorial work of a full professional nature in caring for the collections in any one of the state museums or historic sites devoted to Decorative Arts, Fine Arts, History or Science, Industry and Technology; or performs work of comparable difficulty and complexity in advising and assisting field museum or historic site personnel in curatorial functions related to one or more collections in the above categories. Work involves collecting, identifying, classifying, preserving, cataloging, storing, and utilizing artifacts and objects of historic and/or aesthetic significance or interest. An important aspect of the work involves field work and research to locate, identify, and encourage the donation or sale of artifacts and objects suitable for augmenting the collections at the state museum, at one of the field museums or historicsites, or for exhibit purposes. Work includes provision of professional advice and guidance to preparators, artists, or personnel or contract volunteers involved in the construction of fixed exhibits at field museums and in the planning, design, and preparation of exhibits; and also includes performance of a variety of educational and informational tasks in the assigned subject matter areas. work is performed with wide latitude for professional judgment subject to review and evaluation of methods and results by the supervisor.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Performs tasks at the full professional level, such as collecting, accessioning, recording or cataloging, restoring, preserving, and utilizing artifacts or objects of historic and/or aesthetic interest or significance, in managing a collection in any one of the state museums or historic sites devoted to the History of Decorative Arts, History of Fine Arts, History, or Science, Industry, and Technology; or performs work at an equivalent level in advising and assisting personnel at various field museums or historic sites in the above curatorialfunctions related to one or more historic sites in the above curatorial functions related to one or more collections in the above categories.

Performs field work and research involving location, identification, and promotion of the donation or sale of artifacts and objects of historic and/or aesthetic interest or significance, including location and study of documents related to collections, exhibits and historic restorations in museums under development.

Plans, designs, and participates in the construction, installation and maintenance of exhibits in the assigned area(s) at the state museum, or of fixed exhibits at the field museums and historic sites; provides advice and guidanceto preparators, artists, or personnel on contract involved in construction of fixed exhibits at field museums, and in the planning, design, and preparation of exhibits.

Prepares and maintains files of research data and visual materials to document and interpret the collections, exhibits, and historic restorations to which assigned.

Implements procedures for incoming artifacts to field museums and historic sites under development in accordance with the Commission's registration manual and other regulations and guidelines.

Composes and delivers lectures, writes articles for publication, prepares and teaches courses, composes correspondence in reply to inquiries, and otherwise engages in educational and informational activities related to the assigned field(s).

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of American and Pennsylvania history, with particular reference to social, cultural, military, and industrial and technological developments as they relate to the collection and care of artifacts and objects reflecting such developments.

Knowledge of the principles, practices, methods and techniques used in the care, cataloging, preservation, and restoration of artifacts, objects, and sits of historic and/or aesthetic significance or interest, and in the preparation and construction of museum exhibits involving such collections.

Knowledge of techniques and source materials for research in the assigned specialty area(s).

Skill in locating, identifying, and classifying artifacts and objects of historic and/or aesthetic value.

Skill in performing historical research, utilizing primary source documents.

Skill in planing museum exhibits in the specialty area(s).

Skill in expressing ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and private groups and individuals concerned with the assigned specialty area(s).

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: One year as Museum Curator, History l;

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One year of curatorial work in any one or more of the fields of History or Decorative Arts, History of Fine Arts, History, or History of Science, Industry, and Technology, and a master's degree in American History, including or supplemented by either a museum studies course at the graduate level recognized by the American Associate of Museums or a museum internship;

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Any equivalent combination of experience and training which would afford the applicant the required knowledges, skills, and abilities.