Medina County Historical Society seeks a Curator – Part Time.

The responsibility of being a curator at the Medina County Historical Society is to organize, document and care for the Historical Society’s collection at the John Smart House, the McDowell-Phillips House, and the future Medina County History Center. The specific activities are:

New Acquisitions: To accept, access and catalog all new acquisitions, using the Historical Society’s Collections Policy as a guideline as to what to accept from a donor i.e., Provenance to Medina County or museum-quality type of item as outlined in the  MCHS Organizational manual. New acquisitions are then accessed and cataloged, using the Past Perfect  5.0 version system . All items are then marked and safely stored or placed on display.

Current Collections: It is the Curator’s responsibility to continue with the projects of inventorying, cataloging, and storing existing collection items that have not been previously entered into Past Perfect. Volunteers can assist with this project provided they have been trained in Past Perfect and MCHS Procedures.

The Curator is responsible for the movement of items within the collection with  clear documentation of their location, condition, etc. Only the Curator or his/her volunteer assistant will oversee the movement of items.  The Curator is normally the chair of Collections committee and therefore should include a monthly summary of all projects involving the collection.

The Curator is responsible for the design, setting up and takedown of any special displays with approval from the Board of MCHS and with assistance from volunteers. Annual re-sets or room (s) of the JSH and MPH shall be planned during the winter closing and ready for spring openings. Holiday decorating by Volunteers  may require movement of items to be coordinated with the Curator.

The Curator is responsible for the documentation of all in-going and out-going loans of any items from the collection. The Curator must be familiar with the MCHS collection of genealogy and local history information and be prepared to help any visitors who wish to do research and/or refer to the Medina County District Library for further resources and assistance.

The Curator should be prepared to assist with public presentations about the MCHS collection and the history of the county.

The Curator is expected to interact with volunteers, members and donors of items that can come to the museum with little or no advance notice. Our practice is to request photos prior to accepting or evaluating an item. Working in a non-profit all-volunteer organization requires tact and patience to accept helpful suggestions ;and at times other Trustees may have a compelling reason to have an item assessed given provenance to Medina County. At all times, the reputation  of our organization as a community asset  must be respectfully maintained.

The Curator should deal primarily with the collection and not get involved with programming, events, etc. Due to the various methods of numbering and cataloging items over the years, our system can pose some challenges, to say the least.

Interpersonal skills and strong ability to communicate with all Members, Trustees of all ages and technical ability are required... ex.  In Person ,Phone skills, Text, Email, and museum visitors.

Required Skills/Experience

• Prefer an undergraduate degree with preferences towards history, library science, humanities, or museum studies.

• Strong organizational skills are required for filing, collection itemdescriptions, labeling and storage including the Past Perfect I.D number.

• Prior Experience with non-profit organizations, historic collections, and/or work with archives is required.

• Experience in Microsoft Word and Excel, Past Perfect or similar museum software preferred. Digitization experience is a plus.

• Experience in managing collections and designing displays with existing museum artifacts.

• Composing descriptions and social media communications for special exhibits

• Energetic, personable, courteous, and professional when engaging visitors, board members, and the community.

• Have a high attention to detail that requires minimal oversight and correction.

• Be open to suggestions and actively strive for best practices in protecting museum artifacts and documents.

• Flexibility to work on several projects simultaneously, and to work independently or with a volunteerteam as needed.

• Knowledge of Medina County history and geography is preferred.

• A defined 20 hour per week schedule is required for the board.

Reporting: This position reports to and works closely with the Board President, and Executive committee.  The Curator shall provide a monthly report of collections projects and activity for each  board meeting and sent to the President 3 days prior. The Board meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm.  January-November.

Work Environment: Office type environment when doing administrative tasks, some work within collection storage areas (basement, attic, barn). Must be able to lift twenty pounds and bend, stoop, stand for periods of time occasionally and climb stairs, step ladder, as necessary. Must have a reliable mode of transportation and work with agreed upon weekly schedule.

MCHS is an equal opportunity employer.

Salary range: $35,000. No other benefits are provided.

Job classification: Part-time

To apply: Interested individuals must submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references including daytime phone and email contact information. Send to 206 N. Elmwood St. Medina OH  44256, or email [email protected]. Deadline to apply is July 31, 2026.

Posted: July 6, 2026
Deadline: July 31, 2026