Archivists, curators, museum and archives technicians, and conservators search for, acquire, appraise, analyze, describe, arrange, catalog, restore, preserve, exhibit, maintain, and store items of lasting value so that they can be used by researchers or for exhibitions, publications, broadcasting, and other educational programs. These may consist of historical documents, audiovisual materials, institutional records, works of art, coins, stamps, minerals, clothing, maps, living and preserved plants and animals, buildings, computer records, or historic sites.
Archivists and curators plan and oversee the work of maintaining collections and, along with technicians and conservators, work directly on collections. Archivists and curators may coordinate educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, workshops, lectures, and classes, and may work with the boards of institutions to administer plans and policies. They also may conduct research on topics or items relevant to their collections. Although some duties of archivists and curators are similar, the types of items they deal with differ. Curators usually handle three-dimensional objects, such as sculptures, textiles, and paintings, while archivists mainly handle documents, or objects that are retained because they originally accompanied and relate specifically to the document.
Archivists determine what portion of the vast amount of records maintained by various orgainizations, such as government agencies, corporations, or educational institutions, or by families and individuals, should be made part of permanent historical holdings, and which of these records should be put on exhibit. They maintain records in their original arrangement according to the creator's organizational scheme, and describe records so they can be located easily. Records may be saved on any medium, including paper, microfilm, or computer. They also may be copied onto some other format to protect the original from repeated handling, and to make them more accessible to researchers who use the records.
Archives may be part of a library, museum, or historical society, or may exist as a distinct archival unit within an organization. Archivists consider any medium containing information as documents, including letters, books, and other paper documents, photographs, blueprints, audiovisual materials, and computer records, among others. Any document which reflects organizational transactions, hierarchy, or procedures can be considered a record. Archivists often specialize in an area of history or technology so they can better determine what records in that area qualify for retention and should become part of the archives. Archivists also may work with specialized forms of records for example, manuscripts, electronic records, photographs, cartographic records, motion pictures, and sound recordings.
Curators, sometimes called collections managers, oversee collections in museums, zoos, aquariums, botanic gardens, nature centers, and historic sites. They acquire items through purchases, gifts, field exploration, intermuseum loans, or, in the case of some plants and animals, hybridization and breeding. Curators also plan and prepare exhibits. In natural history museums, curators collect and observe specimens in their natural habitat. Much of their work involves describing and classifying species. They conduct more research than other curators, who spend much of their time managing collections.
Most curators specialize in fields such as botany, art, paleontology, or history. Those working in large institutions may be highly specialized. A large natural history museum, for example, would have specialists in birds, fishes, insects, and mollusks. Furthermore, in large institutions, most curators specialize in particular functions. Some maintain the collection while others perform administrative tasks. Registrars, for example, are responsible for keeping track of and moving objects in the collection. In small institutions, with only one or a few curators, they are responsible for almost everything, from maintaining collections to directing the affairs of museums.
Museum directors formulate policies, plan budgets, and raise funds for their museum. They coordinate activities of their staff to establish and maintain collections.
Conservators oversee, manage, examine, care for, and preserve works of art, artifacts, and specimens. They coordinate the activities of workers engaged in the examination, repair, and conservation of museum objects. This may require substantial historical and archaeological research. They use xrays, microscopes, special lights, and other laboratory equipment in examining objects to determine their condition, the need for repair, and the appropriate method for preservation. Conservators usually specialize in treating various items paintings, objects and sculptures, architectural material, glass, or furniture, for example.
Museum technicians assist curators and conservators by performing various preparatory and maintenance tasks on museum items. Archives technicians help archivists organize and classify records.
Archivists, curators, and conservators increasingly use computers to catalog and organize collections, as well as to perform original research.
Archivists and curators preserve and maintain articles of lasting value.
The working conditions of archivists and curators vary. Some spend most of their time working with the public, providing reference assistance and educational services. Others perform research or process records, which often means working alone or in offices with only one or two other persons. Those who restore and install exhibits or work with bulky, heavy record containers may climb, stretch, or lift, and those in zoos, botanical gardens, and other outdoor museums or historic sites frequently walk great distances.
Curators may travel extensively to evaluate potential additions to the collection, to organize exhibitions, and to conduct research in their area of expertise.
Archivists and curators held about 19,000 jobs in 1992. About 3 out of 10 were employed in museums, botanical gardens, and zoos, and approximately 1 in 5 was in public and private education, particularly in college and university libraries. Over one-third worked in Federal, State, and local government. Most Federal archivists work for the National Archives and Records Administration; others manage military archives in the Department of Defense. Most Federal Government curators work at the Smithsonian Institution, in the military museums of the Department of Defense, and in archaeological and other museums managed by the Department of Interior. All State governments have archival or historical records sections employing archivists. State and local governments have numerous historical museums, parks, libraries, and zoos employing curators.
Some large corporations have archives or records centers, employing archivists to manage the growing volume of records created or maintained as required by law or necessary to the firms' operations. Religious and fraternal organizations, professional associations, conservation organizations, and research firms also employ archivists and curators.
Conservators may work under contract to treat particular items, rather than work as a regular employee of a museum or other institution.
Employment as an archivist, conservator, or curator generally requires graduate education and substantial practical or work experience. Many archivists and curators work in archives or museums while completing their formal education, in order to gain the hands-on experience that many employers seek when hiring.
Employers generally look for archivists with undergraduate and graduate degrees in history or library science, with courses in archival science. Some positions may require knowledge of the discipline related to the collection, such as business or medicine. An increasing number of archivists have a double master's degree in history and library science. Approximately 65 colleges and universities offer courses or practical training in archival science as part of history, library science, or other discipline; some also offer a master's degree in archival studies. The Academy of Certified Archivists offers voluntary certification for archivists. Certification requires the applicant to have experience in the field and to pass an examination offered by the Academy.
Archivists need analytical ability to understand the content of documents and the context in which they were created, and to decipher deteriorated or poor quality printed matter, handwritten manuscripts, or photographs and films. Archivists also must be able to organize large amounts of information and write clear instructions for its retrieval and use.
Many archives are very small, including one-person shops, with limited promotion opportunities. Advancement generally is through transferring to a larger unit with supervisory positions. A doctorate in history, library science, or a related field may be needed for some advanced positions, such as director of a State archives.
In most museums, a master's degree in an appropriate discipline of the museum's specialty for example, art, history, or archaeology or museum studies is required for employment as a curator. Many employers prefer a doctoral degree, particularly for curators in natural history or science museums. In small museums, curatorial positions may be available to individuals with a bachelor's degree. For some positions, an internship of full-time museum work supplemented by courses in museum practices is needed.
Museum technicians generally need a bachelor's degree in an appropriate discipline of the museum's specialty, museum studies training, or previous museum work experience, particularly in exhibit design. Similarly, archives technicians generally need a bachelor's degree in library science or history, or relevant work experience. Technician positions often serve as a stepping stone for individuals interested in archival and curatorial work. With the exception of small museums, a master's degree is needed for advancement.
When hiring conservators, employers look for a master's degree in conservation, with an undergraduate background in science and art. There are only a few graduate programs in the United States. Competition for entry to these programs is keen; to qualify for these programs, a student must have a background in chemistry, studio art, and art history. These graduate programs last 3 to 4 years; the latter years include internship training. A few individuals may enter the profession through apprenticeship programs, available through museums, nonprofit organizations, and private practice conservators. In order to advance, those who enter the profession through apprenticeship programs usually must take courses in chemistry, art history, and studio art. The length of apprenticeship training varies widely, depending upon one's specialty.
Students interested in museum work may take courses or obtain a bachelor's or master's degree in museum studies. Colleges and universities throughout the country offer bachelor's and master's degrees in museum studies. However, many employers feel that, while museum studies are helpful, a thorough knowledge of the museum's specialty and museum work experience are more important.
Curatorial positions often require knowledge in a number of fields. For historic and artistic conservation, courses in chemistry, physics, and art are desirable. Since curators particularly those in small museums may have administrative and managerial responsibilities, courses in business administration and public relations also are recommended.
Curators must be flexible because of their wide variety of duties. They need an aesthetic sense to design and present exhibits, and, in small museums, manual dexterity is needed to erect exhibits or restore objects. Leadership ability is important for museum directors, while public relations skills are valuable in increasing museum attendance and fundraising.
In large museums, curators may advance through several levels of responsibility, eventually to museum director. Curators in smaller museums often advance to larger ones. Individual research and publications are important for advancement.
Continuing education, which enables archivists, curators, museum technicians, and conservators to keep up with developments in the field, is available through meetings, conferences, and workshops sponsored by archival, historical, and curatorial associations.
While Federal Government archival jobs are not expected to grow, new archival jobs are expected in other areas, such as educational services and State and local government. Archival jobs also will become available as institutions put more emphasis on establishing archives and organizing records and information. Museums and botanical and zoological gardens, where curators are concentrated, are expected to grow in response to increased public interest in science, art, history, and technology.
Despite the anticipated increase in the employment of archivists and curators, competition for jobs is expected to be keen. Graduates with highly specialized training, such as a master's degree in library science with a concentration in archives or records management, may have the best opportunities for jobs as archivists. A job as a curator is attractive to many people, and many have the necessary subject knowledge; yet there are only a few openings. Consequently, candidates may have to work part time, or as an intern, or even as a volunteer assistant curator or research associate after completing their formal education, and substantial work experience in collection management, exhibit design, or restoration will be necessary for permanent status. Job opportunities for curators should be best in art and history museums, since these are the largest employers in the museum industry.
The job outlook for conservators may be more favorable, particularly for graduates of conservator programs. However, competition is stiff for the limited number of openings in these programs, and applicants need a technical background. Students who qualify and successfully complete the program, and who are willing to relocate, usually find a job.
Earnings of archivists and curators vary considerably by type and size of employer. Average salaries in the Federal Government, for example, are generally higher than those in religious organizations. Salaries of curators in large, well-funded museums may be several times higher than those in small ones.
Salaries in the Federal Government depend upon education and experience. In 1993, inexperienced archivists and curators with a bachelor's degree started at about $18,300, while those with some experience started at $22,700. Those with a master's degree started at $27,800, and with a doctorate, $33,600 or $40,300. In 1993, the average annual salary for archivists employed by the Federal Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $46,000 a year, curators averaged $48,000, museum specialists and technicians averaged $29,800, and archives technicians averaged $26,700.
According to a survey by the Association of Art Museum Directors, salaries generally are highest for museum workers in Western and Mid-Atlantic States and in metropolitan areas with populations over 2 million. The following tabulation shows average salaries for employees in art museums in 1993:
Director......................................................$91,300
Chief curator................................................. 49,800
Curator....................................................... 45,100
Curatorial assistant.......................................... 22,000
Senior conservator............................................ 50,600
Archivists' and curators' interests in preservation and display are shared by anthropologists, arborists, archaeologists, artifacts conservators, botanists, ethnologists, folklorists, genealogists, historians, horticulturists, information specialists, librarians, paintings restorers, records managers, and zoologists.
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Reprinted with Permission of U. S. Department of Labor