Project Archivist (Patrick Duncan Archive)

Based at University of York campus (with some remote working options available)

Department

The Borthwick Institute for Archives was founded in 1953, and became part of the University of York at its inception in 1963. Today, the Borthwick Institute holds over 780 archive collections, amounting to just over 950 cubic metres of archives.

The Patrick Duncan Archive documents the life, career, networks and activism of Patrick Baker Duncan (1918-1967), a significant figure in the struggle against apartheid. It covers Duncan’s transition from a colonial official to committed activist, journalist and author, and his sustained work for racial equality, democracy and environmental justice.

‘People, Power, Planet: The Patrick Duncan Archive’ project will make this rich collection fully accessible for the first time through a detailed archive catalogue, improved descriptions, digitised items, a supporting microsite and digital storytelling. These resources and outreach activities will support new research and engagement for schools, universities, and community or diasporic groups interested in human rights, Southern African history, journalism, and political and environmental activism.

This cataloguing and outreach project archivist  post, funded through an Archives Revealed grant, will work with community partners, stakeholders and volunteers to facilitate the cataloguing, selected digitisation and transcription, repackaging and interpretation of this globally significant archive, and will undertake the import of the catalogue descriptions into our cataloguing system, AtoM. The Archives Revealed programme is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Archives.

The post-holder will be based in Archives and Research Collections (Borthwick Institute for Archives), at the University of York. The post-holder will work closely with a team of other archivists and will liaise with and report to a Project Board comprising Borthwick archivists, and collection managers, academics and stakeholders from within and outside the UK.

Role

• Create arrangements, descriptions, and authority records (NCA Rules, ISAAR(CPF)) for uncatalogued material, ensuring inclusive practices for culturally sensitive content.
• Undertake research to support descriptive cataloguing, authority records, and outreach resources.
• Structure and import catalogue data into AtoM and disseminate to UK/European aggregators.
• Identify Data Protection implications and implement appropriate administrative measures.
• Report progress to the Project Board, colleagues, and user communities.

Skills, Experience & Qualifications Needed

• Recognised postgraduate qualification in archives, or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of international cataloguing standards, UK Data Protection requirements, and 20th-century South African politics and history.
• Proven experience delivering large, complex archival arrangement and description projects.
• Experience using specialist archival cataloguing software.
• Excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and strong concentration skills.

Interview date: To be confirmed

For informal enquiries: please contact Dr Charles Fonge (charles.fonge@york.ac.uk) or Laura Yeoman (laura.yeoman@york.ac.uk).   

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