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Archivists and Curators

(D.O.T.  099.167-030; 101; 102 except .261-014 and .367- 010;
109.067-014, .267-010, .281, .361, .364)

Nature of the Work

Archivists, curators, museum and archives technicians, and
conservators search for, acquire, appraise, analyze, describe,
arrange, catalog, restore, preserve, exhibit, maintain, and store
items of lasting value so that they can be used by researchers or
for exhibitions, publications, broadcasting, and other educational
programs.  These may consist of historical documents, audiovisual
materials, institutional records, works of art, coins, stamps,
minerals, clothing, maps, living and preserved plants and animals,
buildings, computer records, or historic sites.

   Archivists and curators plan and oversee the work of maintaining
collections and, along with technicians and conservators, work
directly on collections.  Archivists and curators may coordinate
educational and public outreach programs, such as tours, workshops,
lectures, and classes, and may work with the boards of institutions
to administer plans and policies.  They also may conduct research on
topics or items relevant to their collections.  Although some duties
of archivists and curators are similar, the types of items they deal
with differ.  Curators usually handle three-dimensional objects,
such as sculptures, textiles, and paintings, while archivists mainly
handle documents, or objects that are retained because they
originally accompanied and relate specifically to the document.

   Archivists determine what portion of the vast amount of records
maintained by various orgainizations, such as government agencies,
corporations, or educational institutions, or by families and
individuals, should be made part of permanent historical holdings,
and which of these records should be put on exhibit.  They maintain
records in their original arrangement according to the creator's
organizational scheme, and describe records so they can be located
easily.  Records may be saved on any medium, including paper,
microfilm, or computer.  They also may be copied onto some other
format to protect the original from repeated handling, and to make
them more accessible to researchers who use the records.

   Archives may be part of a library, museum, or historical society, or
may exist as a distinct archival unit within an organization.
Archivists consider any medium containing information as documents,
including letters, books, and other paper documents, photographs,
blueprints, audiovisual materials, and computer records, among
others.  Any document which reflects organizational transactions,
hierarchy, or procedures can be considered a record.  Archivists
often specialize in an area of history or technology so they can
better determine what records in that area qualify for retention and
should become part of the archives.  Archivists also may work with
specialized forms of records for example, manuscripts, electronic
records, photographs, cartographic records, motion pictures, and
sound recordings.

   Curators, sometimes called collections managers, oversee collections
in museums, zoos, aquariums, botanic gardens, nature centers, and
historic sites.  They acquire items through purchases, gifts, field
exploration, intermuseum loans, or, in the case of some plants and
animals, hybridization and breeding.  Curators also plan and prepare
exhibits.  In natural history museums, curators collect and observe
specimens in their natural habitat.  Much of their work involves
describing and classifying species.  They conduct more research than
other curators, who spend much of their time managing collections.

   Most curators specialize in fields such as botany, art,
paleontology, or history.  Those working in large institutions may
be highly specialized.  A large natural history museum, for example,
would have specialists in birds, fishes, insects, and mollusks.
Furthermore, in large institutions, most curators specialize in
particular functions.  Some maintain the collection while others
perform administrative tasks.  Registrars, for example, are
responsible for keeping track of and moving objects in the
collection.  In small institutions, with only one or a few curators,
they are responsible for almost everything, from maintaining
collections to directing the affairs of museums.

   Museum directors formulate policies, plan budgets, and raise funds
for their museum.  They coordinate activities of their staff to
establish and maintain collections.

   Conservators oversee, manage, examine, care for, and preserve works
of art, artifacts, and specimens.  They coordinate the activities of
workers engaged in the examination, repair, and conservation of
museum objects.  This may require substantial historical and
archaeological research.  They use xrays, microscopes, special
lights, and other laboratory equipment in examining objects to
determine their condition, the need for repair, and the appropriate
method for preservation.  Conservators usually specialize in
treating various items paintings, objects and sculptures,
architectural material, glass, or furniture, for example.

   Museum technicians assist curators and conservators by performing
various preparatory and maintenance tasks on museum items.  Archives
technicians help archivists organize and classify records.

   Archivists, curators, and conservators increasingly use computers to
catalog and organize collections, as well as to perform original
research.

   Archivists and curators preserve and maintain articles of lasting
value.

Working Conditions

The working conditions of archivists and curators vary.  Some spend
most of their time working with the public, providing reference
assistance and educational services.  Others perform research or
process records, which often means working alone or in offices with
only one or two other persons.  Those who restore and install
exhibits or work with bulky, heavy record containers may climb,
stretch, or lift, and those in zoos, botanical gardens, and other
outdoor museums or historic sites frequently walk great distances.

   Curators may travel extensively to evaluate potential additions to
the collection, to organize exhibitions, and to conduct research in
their area of expertise.

Employment

Archivists and curators held about 19,000 jobs in 1992.  About 3 out
of 10 were employed in museums, botanical gardens, and zoos, and
approximately 1 in 5 was in public and private education,
particularly in college and university libraries.  Over one-third
worked in Federal, State, and local government.  Most Federal
archivists work for the National Archives and Records
Administration; others manage military archives in the Department of
Defense.  Most Federal Government curators work at the Smithsonian
Institution, in the military museums of the Department of Defense,
and in archaeological and other museums managed by the Department of
Interior.  All State governments have archival or historical records
sections employing archivists.  State and local governments have
numerous historical museums, parks, libraries, and zoos employing
curators.

   Some large corporations have archives or records centers, employing
archivists to manage the growing volume of records created or
maintained as required by law or necessary to the firms' operations.
Religious and fraternal organizations, professional associations,
conservation organizations, and research firms also employ
archivists and curators.

   Conservators may work under contract to treat particular items,
rather than work as a regular employee of a museum or other
institution.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Employment as an archivist, conservator, or curator generally
requires graduate education and substantial practical or work
experience.  Many archivists and curators work in archives or
museums while completing their formal education, in order to gain
the hands-on experience that many employers seek when hiring.

   Employers generally look for archivists with undergraduate and
graduate degrees in history or library science, with courses in
archival science.  Some positions may require knowledge of the
discipline related to the collection, such as business or medicine.
An increasing number of archivists have a double master's degree in
history and library science.  Approximately 65 colleges and
universities offer courses or practical training in archival science
as part of history, library science, or other discipline; some also
offer a master's degree in archival studies.  The Academy of
Certified Archivists offers voluntary certification for archivists.
Certification requires the applicant to have experience in the field
and to pass an examination offered by the Academy.

   Archivists need analytical ability to understand the content of
documents and the context in which they were created, and to
decipher deteriorated or poor quality printed matter, handwritten
manuscripts, or photographs and films.  Archivists also must be able
to organize large amounts of information and write clear
instructions for its retrieval and use.

   Many archives are very small, including one-person shops, with
limited promotion opportunities.  Advancement generally is through
transferring to a larger unit with supervisory positions.  A
doctorate in history, library science, or a related field may be
needed for some advanced positions, such as director of a State
archives.

   In most museums, a master's degree in an appropriate discipline of
the museum's specialty for example, art, history, or archaeology or
museum studies is required for employment as a curator.  Many
employers prefer a doctoral degree, particularly for curators in
natural history or science museums.  In small museums, curatorial
positions may be available to individuals with a bachelor's degree.
For some positions, an internship of full-time museum work
supplemented by courses in museum practices is needed.

   Museum technicians generally need a bachelor's degree in an
appropriate discipline of the museum's specialty, museum studies
training, or previous museum work experience, particularly in
exhibit design.  Similarly, archives technicians generally need a
bachelor's degree in library science or history, or relevant work
experience.  Technician positions often serve as a stepping stone
for individuals interested in archival and curatorial work.  With
the exception of small museums, a master's degree is needed for
advancement.

   When hiring conservators, employers look for a master's degree in
conservation, with an undergraduate background in science and art.
There are only a few graduate programs in the United States.
Competition for entry to these programs is keen; to qualify for
these programs, a student must have a background in chemistry,
studio art, and art history.  These graduate programs last 3 to 4
years; the latter years include internship training.  A few
individuals may enter the profession through apprenticeship
programs, available through museums, nonprofit organizations, and
private practice conservators.  In order to advance, those who enter
the profession through apprenticeship programs usually must take
courses in chemistry, art history, and studio art.  The length of
apprenticeship training varies widely, depending upon one's
specialty.

   Students interested in museum work may take courses or obtain a
bachelor's or master's degree in museum studies.  Colleges and
universities throughout the country offer bachelor's and master's
degrees in museum studies.  However, many employers feel that, while
museum studies are helpful, a thorough knowledge of the museum's
specialty and museum work experience are more important.

   Curatorial positions often require knowledge in a number of fields.
For historic and artistic conservation, courses in chemistry,
physics, and art are desirable.  Since curators particularly those
in small museums may have administrative and managerial
responsibilities, courses in business administration and public
relations also are recommended.

   Curators must be flexible because of their wide variety of duties.
They need an aesthetic sense to design and present exhibits, and, in
small museums, manual dexterity is needed to erect exhibits or
restore objects.  Leadership ability is important for museum
directors, while public relations skills are valuable in increasing
museum attendance and fundraising.

   In large museums, curators may advance through several levels of
responsibility, eventually to museum director.  Curators in smaller
museums often advance to larger ones.  Individual research and
publications are important for advancement.

   Continuing education, which enables archivists, curators, museum
technicians, and conservators to keep up with developments in the
field, is available through meetings, conferences, and workshops
sponsored by archival, historical, and curatorial associations.

Job Outlook

Employment of archivists and curators is expected to increase about
as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005.
Although the rate of turnover among archivists and curators is
relatively low, the need to replace workers who leave the occupation
or stop working will create some additional job openings.

   While Federal Government archival jobs are not expected to grow, new
archival jobs are expected in other areas, such as educational
services and State and local government.  Archival jobs also will
become available as institutions put more emphasis on establishing
archives and organizing records and information.  Museums and
botanical and zoological gardens, where curators are concentrated,
are expected to grow in response to increased public interest in
science, art, history, and technology.

   Despite the anticipated increase in the employment of archivists and
curators, competition for jobs is expected to be keen.  Graduates
with highly specialized training, such as a master's degree in
library science with a concentration in archives or records
management, may have the best opportunities for jobs as archivists.
A job as a curator is attractive to many people, and many have the
necessary subject knowledge; yet there are only a few openings.
Consequently, candidates may have to work part time, or as an
intern, or even as a volunteer assistant curator or research
associate after completing their formal education, and substantial
work experience in collection management, exhibit design, or
restoration will be necessary for permanent status.  Job
opportunities for curators should be best in art and history
museums, since these are the largest employers in the museum
industry.

   The job outlook for conservators may be more favorable, particularly
for graduates of conservator programs.  However, competition is
stiff for the limited number of openings in these programs, and
applicants need a technical background.  Students who qualify and
successfully complete the program, and who are willing to relocate,
usually find a job.

Earnings

Earnings of archivists and curators vary considerably by type and
size of employer.  Average salaries in the Federal Government, for
example, are generally higher than those in religious organizations.
Salaries of curators in large, well-funded museums may be several
times higher than those in small ones.

   Salaries in the Federal Government depend upon education and
experience.  In 1993, inexperienced archivists and curators with a
bachelor's degree started at about $18,300, while those with some
experience started at $22,700.  Those with a master's degree started
at $27,800, and with a doctorate, $33,600 or $40,300.  In 1993, the
average annual salary for archivists employed by the Federal
Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions
was $46,000 a year, curators averaged $48,000, museum specialists
and technicians averaged $29,800, and archives technicians averaged
$26,700.

   According to a survey by the Association of Art Museum Directors,
salaries generally are highest for museum workers in Western and
Mid-Atlantic States and in metropolitan areas with populations over
2 million.  The following tabulation shows average salaries for
employees in art museums in 1993:


Director......................................................$91,300
Chief curator................................................. 49,800
Curator....................................................... 45,100
Curatorial assistant.......................................... 22,000
Senior conservator............................................ 50,600


Related Occupations

Archivists' and curators' interests in preservation and display are
shared by anthropologists, arborists, archaeologists, artifacts
conservators, botanists, ethnologists, folklorists, genealogists,
historians, horticulturists, information specialists, librarians,
paintings restorers, records managers, and zoologists.

Sources of Additional Information

   For information on archivists and on schools offering courses in
archival science, contact:

   Society of American Archivists, 600 South Federal St., Suite 504,
Chicago, IL 60605.

   For information about certification for archivists, contact:

   Academy of Certified Archivists, 600 South Federal St., Suite 504,
Chicago, IL 60605.

   For general information about careers as a curator and schools
offering courses in museum studies, contact:

   American Association of Museums, 1225 I St.  NW., Suite 200,
Washington, DC 20005.

   For information about curatorial careers and internships in
botanical gardens, contact:

   American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta, 786 Church
Rd., Wayne, PA 19087.

   For information about conservation and preservation careers and
education programs, contact:

   American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works,
1400 16th St.  NW., Suite 340, Washington, DC 20036.

   For information on curatorial and other positions in natural history
museums, contact:

   Association of Systematics Collections, 730 11th St.  NW., Second
Floor, Washington, DC 20001.