Research Historian – 2-year term position

Posted on
January 21, 2020
Company: Alexandria Archaeology/City of Alexandria
Type: Full Time
Description:

The Waterfront Research Historian will compile, develop, and research a comprehensive waterfront history study. The study will be a critical document towards understanding and mitigating the impacts of new waterfront construction while also providing a detailed examination of how the waterfront evolved from a small hamlet to full-fledged and later industrial port city. This study is also part of fulfilling the Archaeological Protection Code, administered by Alexandria Archaeology. Passed in 1989, the code requires that City Archaeologists review all ground-disturbing projects to ensure that information about the past is not lost as a result of development. In 2018 alone, City Archaeologists reviewed more than 1,300 site plans and building permits as part of an integrated, community archaeology program.

The Opportunity – Examples of Work

  • Provides research assistance to OHA Director, City Archaeologist, and City Historian on Alexandria's seaport history; 
  • Establishes chain-of-titles for waterfront blocks, drawing upon relevant deeds, plats, titles and utilizes additional material to develop block-by-block histories including tax and census records, will books, maps, newspapers, probate records, mutual insurance policies, archaeological data, etc.;
  • Creates GIS shapefiles and associated data sets to organize, analyze, and visualize the land creation and use history of urban waterfront blocks;
  • Develops a historical context for the interpretation of the waterfront, identifying the owners, occupations, and built elements of original and expanded waterfront lots;
  • Compiles historical sketches on the landowners and occupants, including white tenants, free blacks, and enslaved residents;
  • Integrates secondary source material with original, primary source research to create a comprehensive waterfront documentary study; 
  • Archives copies of primary source material, maintaining an index and finding guide;
  • Lectures and speaks to groups and organizations on waterfront history; 
  • Compiles statistics and prepares monthly progress reports; and
  • Performs related work as required.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in history or closely related field and three years of experience in professional historical research work involving the use of research methodology; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's degree in history or closely related subject and three years of experience in historical research involving the use of research methodology. Experience with conducting large-scale, primary source documentary research that culminates in substantive history reports. Minimum one year of experience in each of the following: chain-of-title research; using GIS to answer historical questions, including creating and working with shapefiles, geodatabases, data entry, map production and georeferencing, storymaps; and conducting complex, independent primary source document research. A valid driver's license and the ability to pass a required City driving class as well as the ability to lift individual boxes with 30 lbs. of weight with or without accommodation.

For more information and to apply:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/alexandria/jobs/2686181/research-historian?keywords=historian&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

 

 

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Alexandria, VIRGINIA