Research Fellow

Research Fellow for A Tale of Two Ships: Developing a Research & Interpretation Plan for Revealing Hidden Histories of One Ship with Two Identities
A project of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission

About the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) vision is to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational, and economic future of North Carolina. Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries, and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state's history, conserving the state's natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.

North Carolina State Shipwreck Site 31CR314: Queen Anne’s Revenge/La Concorde
Since 1997, the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has been responsible for the management, protection, preservation, investigation and presentation of state shipwreck site 31CR314. The remains of this early 18th century wreck have been identified as the remains of Blackbeard the pirate’s flagship – Queen Anne’s Revenge, which was previously a French slave ship, La Concorde. It was captured by the pirates and renamed, at the end of 1717. The vessel ran aground and was abandoned off Beaufort Inlet in June 1718. Since 2004, the shipwreck site has been on the National Register of Historic Places.
DNCR’s Office of State Archaeology undertakes field operations at the site, and its QAR Lab, is tasked with conservation, documentation, and investigation of artifacts -both those in situ and recovered from the wreck site. Since 2003, the QAR Lab, under a 2002-partnership agreement with East Carolina University (ECU) is in Greenville, NC, at ECU’s West Research Campus. Archaeological investigations, including conservation of artifacts, is undertaken in accordance with professional archaeological and archaeological conservation guidelines and standards of practice. On completion of work at the QAR Lab, artifacts are transferred to the designated long-term repository at DNCR Maritime Museum (NCMM) in Beaufort, for exhibition and curation.

About the NC African American Heritage Commission

The North Carolina General Assembly created the African American Heritage Commission (AAHC) in 2008 to "assist the Secretary of Cultural Resources in the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of African American history, arts, and culture." The commission works across the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state, and region to achieve the mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting North Carolina's African American history, arts, and culture, for all people. Key to fulfilling this mission is communicating inclusive stories and information to a broad, diverse audience. As such, the AAHC strives to serve audiences across a variety of platforms, including: literature, the web, social media, various forms of mass communication, public programs, and traveling exhibitions.

The AAHC works to serve its stakeholders by providing technical assistance to African American heritage practitioners and organizations across North Carolina. The AAHC also sponsors, supports, and partners with organizations producing African American-centered heritage events through the state. Finally, the AAHC administers initiatives with statewide impact, including Freedom Roads and the federally-funded Green Books’ “Oasis Spaces” project.

A Tale of Two Ships Project
A Tale of Two Ships: Developing a Research & Interpretation Plan for Revealing Hidden Histories of One Ship with Two Identities is a federal project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), led by the AAHC. The project aims to develop a plan for continuing collections research and interpretation using archives and artifacts, to reveal and retell the many still hidden histories of North Carolina shipwreck 31CR314), identified as Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge (QAR), that was previously the French slave ship La Concorde (LaC). This research and interpretation plan will be included as part of a revised LaC/QAR Management Plan for North Carolina’s state shipwreck site (31CR314). Including this new collections and interpretation plan as part of an overall revised Management Plan (2019), will provide a framework to reveal and retell hidden histories of LaC as well as QAR for the benefit of public audiences for years to come, in ways that are in line with the overall missions of DNCR, AAHC, QAR Lab and the various museums these agencies support.

Primary Purpose of Position
The primary purpose of this position is to act as a history Research Fellow for A Tale of Two Ships. The Research Fellow will be charged with the principal duty of contributing to and presenting the “Plan for Collections Research and Interpretation, using Archives and Artifacts, to Reveal and Retell the Many Still Hidden Histories of North Carolina Shipwreck 31CR314”.

The Research Fellow will perform secondary and archival-based research at the QAR Lab in Greenville, NC. Fellow duties related to these efforts will include: investigating existing collections materials; gaining a comprehensive understanding of past research around LaC/QAR; and exploring and identifying information and resources related to French slave vessel, LaC. The Research Fellow will also perform archival research in Nantes, France to investigate further the scope and potential of French archives for more about the origins of LaC, its provisioning and people. Finally, the Research Fellow will develop content, based on their research, for the web, public programs, a research and interpretation plan and an academic paper or poster presentation.

The History Research Fellow will do the following:
• Contribute to writing and presenting the “Plan for Collection Research and Interpretation, using Archives and Artifacts, to Reveal and Retell the Many Still Hidden Histories of North Carolina Shipwreck 31CR314)”.
• Perform secondary and archival-based research at the QAR Lab in Greenville, NC to investigate existing collections materials; gain a comprehensive understanding of past research around LaC/QAR; and explore and identify information and resources related to French slave vessel, LaC.
• Perform archival research in Nantes, France to (1) investigate further the scope and potential of French archives for more about the origins of LaC, as well as its provisioning, and peoples and (2) consult with and develop contacts with conservators, curators, archaeologists, and educators with similar research interests.
• Create web content related to LaC and “hidden histories” for DNCR/QAR website. This shall be done with input from “A Tale of Two Ships” core project team and DNCR marketing team.
• Collaborate with “A Tale of Two Ships” core project team to develop and facilitate one (1) community-based Education & Outreach event: a Saturday “Open House at the QAR Lab” in April 2019.
• Develop academic conference paper or poster presentation centered around research findings; present paper or poster at two (2) conferences: Association for the Study of African American Life & History Conference (October 2019) and Society for Historical Archaeology Conference (January 2020).
• Contribute to project internal and progress reports.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience conducting academic historical research. Must have the ability to analyze and interpret primary and secondary source materials in various settings.
• Must have the ability to read French.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills required.
• Must have the ability to manage communication with various departments/channels, including: AAHC and QAR Lab staff, as well as DNCR legal and marketing teams.
• Valid driver’s license, ability to travel within the state of North Carolina and work some evenings weekends, for meetings, research and events, required.
• Passport (or ability to procure one) required.
• Must have the ability to work both independently and as a team member. As well as having excellent time- and project management skills.

Management Prefers

• Ability to speak and write French.
• Currently enrolled at, or recently graduated from, an HBCU or MIHE.
• Graduate student with demonstrated experience studying the 18th century U.S. History, African American history, Africana Studies, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the 18th century Atlantic World or Material Culture of the Middle Passage, Public History, anthropology, archaeology or Maritime Studies.
• Knowledge of and experience researching African American history and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
• Demonstrated experience developing and facilitating programs for public audiences.
• Experience creating content for WordPress and/or Drupal web platforms.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

A bachelor's degree in history with one year of experience in a related graduate program; or a bachelor’s degree in history with two years of progressive experience in a historical agency that has included research experience.
-OR-
An equivalent combination of training and experience.

Nature of Supervision Given

• Research Fellow will report to project Co-Principal Investigator (based at QAR Lab), as well as AAHC Acting Director.
• Research Fellow will be based at QAR Lab in Greenville, NC.

Hours & Stipend

• Research Fellow will be provided with a stipend of $6,000, to be paid in increments through the Summer of 2019.
• Fellowship duration: Twelve (12) weeks (May-July 2019), as well as travel required for trainings/orientations, outreach and education events and conferences.
• 40 hours/week
• Project’s budget will provide additional funds for expenses, including for travel and conferences

To Apply:

Submit resume, cover letter and transcript to ncaahc@ncdr.gov. Please use subject line Summer Research Fellow.

Application Deadline: 6:00 p.m. on October 30, 2018