The Heritage Museum

Job Descriptions

We are looking for a few good men, women, and student volunteers who are excited to learn more about the community they live in. The Director has goal specific projects that will increase public benefit, historic preservation and education. Please take a look at the following job descriptions and wish list to see if any one of them sounds exciting to you. If you wish to serve on one of our boards please contact the museum at 503-838-4989

Individuals and groups are welcome to volunteer on short term, goal specific, projects. Expectations are to commit 1 to 2 hours per week, depending on the scope of the project.

Our new extended Museum business hours are:
Wednesday 1:00 – 5:00
Thursday 1:00 – 5:00
Friday 1:00 – 5:00
Saturday 1:00 – 5:00

Artifact Interpretation & Labeling

Tasks:
Write educational and informational labels for collection objects on exhibit in English or Spanish. Learn standard display labeling techniques. Write brief or in-depth labels for a specific exhibit.

Qualifications:
Interest in history and historic objects. Detail oriented, strong writing and vocabulary skills, some research may be involved. Other archive related tasks might be assigned depending upon ability. Training will include introduction to museum labeling and exhibit techniques, and cataloging methods. Must be able to climb stairs.

Benefits:
Skill building for students enrolled in classes, or with an interest in the museum field. Set your own hours. Having the opportunity to learn local area history first hand. Attend annual events for volunteers and members. Possible school credits available, check with your instructors. Receive a letter of recommendation to take to your next (or first) employer.

Ephemera Clerk Trainee

Tasks:
Cross-Reference and Update County Wide Archive Files. Organize and update local history files housed at our museum. Identify new information and fill out submittable forms for updating the county wide on-line index.

Qualifications:
Interest in history and historic objects. Must be able to climb stairs. Other archive related tasks might be assigned depending upon ability. Training will include introduction to museum archives, cataloging methods, digital imaging, and preservation and conservation techniques.

Position Benefits:
Skill building for students enrolled in classes, or with an interest in the museum field. Set your own hours. Having the opportunity to learn basic museology practices. Attend annual events for volunteers and members. Possible school credits available, check with your instructors. Receive a letter of recommendation to take to your next (or first) employer.

Curriculum Development Trainee

Tasks:
Develop a program following state standards to teach local history in classrooms and/or at museum site.

Qualifications:
Interest in teaching local history to elementary students. Have the ability to creatively blend hands on learning with state guidelines using objects and written history within the museum. Must be able to climb stairs and lift 30lbs.

Position Benefits:
Become a legacy among local educators. Make a difference in the lives of youth. May fit practicum standards for WOU students and high school senior projects. Set your own hours. Learn the area’s history first hand. Attend annual BBQ for volunteers, interns and members. Possible school credits available, check with your instructors. Get a letter of recommendation to take to your next employer.

Publication Editor

Tasks:
Create publications distibuted by the Heritage Museum Society. These include historic district walking tour maps, quarterly newsletters, and other printed materials such as an interpretive book featuring a local artist; a photo history of the area; and others. Interview Artist, scan artwork and photos, perform publication layouts or use existing templates. Work with the Education Media Center and the WOU Print Shop for scanning and final print of publications.

Qualifications:
Interest in journalism, history and art objects. Detail oriented interviewing, writing and vocabulary skills. Training will include publication layout, digital imaging, and interview techniques. Must be able to climb stairs.

Position Benefits:
Learn new skills with published results. Meet an interesting people, set your own hours. The opportunity to learn area history first hand. Attend annual BBQ for volunteers and members. Possible school credits available, check with your instructors. Get a letter of recommendation to take to your next employer.

Artifact Processing Technician Trainee

Tasks:
Enter information into a computer database regarding artifacts donated to the museum. Training includes using a museum software database, learning museum cataloging methods and terminology. Good typing skills and attention to detail is required. Work will be done in a daylight basement with little supervision.

Qualifications:
Interest in history and historic objects. Must be able to climb stairs and sit at a computer for 2 hours at a time. Some research may be involved. Strong problem solving skills are a plus.

Position Benefits:
Skill building for students enrolled in classes pertaining to the museum field and youth new to the workforce. Pick your own hours. Have the opportunity to learn area history first hand. Stay cool in the hot summer months. Attend annual BBQ for volunteers and members. Possible school credits available, check with your instructors. Get your first letter of recommendation to take to your next employer.

Artifact Processing Tech 2

Tasks:
Process incoming artifacts.

Qualifications:
Handwriting must be neat and legible. Accurate measuring and technical writing of descriptions of objects is necessary in this position. Follow a written procedure for accession processing. Interest in history and historic objects. Must be able to climb stairs. Other artifact related tasks may be assigned depending upon ability. Training will include introduction to museum cataloging, digital imaging and conservation techniques.

Position Benefits:
Skill building for students enrolled in classes pertaining to the museum field and youth new to the workforce. Pick your own hours. Having the opportunity to learn area history first hand. Attend annual BBQ for volunteers and members. Possible school credits available, check with your instructors. Get a letter of recommendation to take to your next employer.