Project Archivist

Project Archivist

Laurel Hill has an exciting opportunity for an experienced part-time Archivist. Reporting to the Special Projects Assistant, the Archivist will help plan and undertake a comprehensive inventory of Laurel Hill West Cemetery and Funeral Home records.

Laurel Hill West Cemetery,187-acres located in Bala Cynwyd, was founded in 1869 and is the location of the Laurel Hill Funeral Home. The cemetery is an active burial site, accredited arboretum, educational and community resources, and unique recreational space. Archival holdings include documents pertaining to running an active cemetery business, records related to the deceased interred in the cemetery and the funeral home records of three 19th century Philadelphia funeral homes. Cemetery records include board minutes, rules and regulations, lot owner and burial records, maps and architectural plans, financial, endowment and legal documents and correspondence with lot owners and their heirs. The collection also includes photographs, marketing materials and promotional items. Integral to the collection are the biographical and genealogical materials related to cemetery’s deceased.

This is a part-time, one-year, grant-funded position starting in 2027.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities

• Develop a plan for inventorying cemetery and funeral home collections.
• Complete comprehensive inventory of all Laurel Hill West and Funeral Home records.
• Work with Cemetery’s Collections Committee to identify duplicate records for deaccession.
• Perform basic preservation activities including rehousing and minimal physical processing (as needed).

• Supervise archival volunteers as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree with archival coursework or training
• Knowledge of archives and records management, including experience processing archival records
• Knowledge of basic preservation standards for archival collections
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time and lift and move up to 40lbs frequently
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team environment
• Tolerance to mold and dust

Compensation

• $30/hour, Temporary, part-time position; Monday-Friday, schedule to be determined;  maximum 20 hours per week-800 hours