Collection Processing

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Disclaimer: This volunteer position requires an application that will be provided by the Dallas Jewish Historical Society once we receive notification of your interest in volunteering. Please read the full description carefully.

This position will report to the DJHS Archivist, but will occasionally also assist the Executive Director and Administrative Assistant with various clerical tasks. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the Dallas Jewish community, while earning experience in a nonprofit setting!

Collections processing volunteers will play an integral role within the organization - to organize and make available materials that have been donated to the historical society by members of the Dallas Jewish community. This is a hands-on position that will require a combination of sitting and standing, as well as some lifting and moving of boxes weighing up to 50 pounds. Training will be provided for all tasks and assignments, so no previous archives experience is required. However, we do recommend the following:

• strong organizational skills
• strong attention to detail
• proficiency with Microsoft Office
• an interest in history, historical preservation and/or collections management

Duties will include:

• conducting background research on each collection, as well as the person/family/entity that donated the collection using community reference files and other reputable resources
• creating written and electronic records for collections in process
• describing each item within a collection, as well as the collection as a whole
• creating item numbers and labeling objects
• properly packing objects for storage
• generating finding aids and box lists for each collection
• verifying and updating storage locations, as needed
• occasional scanning or photography of documents and objects

Requirements:

We require a commitment for a minimum of 3 months, with no less than 4 hours per week. Volunteer hours must be served in increments of no less than 2 hours. Each volunteer opportunity is unique and specific projects will be based on the experience, education, and interests of each applicant.Please contact our Volunteer Director and Archivist, Jessica Schneider, to find out more about the application, interview and scheduling process.

Background of the organization:

The Dallas Jewish Historical Society works to collect and preserve the papers, photographs, and artifacts that illustrate the history of the Jewish community in Dallas. We strive to keep the past alive through innovative programming, community outreach, and by making our collections accessible to our patrons and researchers. Our archive includes textual documents, maps, photographs, slides, artwork, objects, textiles, and an extensive oral history collection in various formats from vinyl to digital. Programs include the Lecture Series, the Oral History Program, Historic Bus Tours, and Photo Socials.

Our community engagement efforts and daily tasks result in a surplus of projects that include everything from filing to data entry, to research, to occasional editing and revision of outgoing communications.