Oral Historian, Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies (UL456) – University of MN Twin Cities

3-year Temporary Appointment

Overview
The Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies seeks to hire a creative and engaged professional to serve as Oral Historian for a three-year grant-funded project designed to document local and national histories of community organizing, policy development and political activism for transgender justice. The Oral Historian will also develop and implement a project to recruit volunteers to conduct oral histories for the Tretter Transgender Oral History Project.

The Tretter Transgender Oral History Project (TTOHP) is an initiative of the Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies, an archival collection at the University of Minnesota Libraries department of Archives and Special Collections. Established in 2001, the Tretter Collection holds approximately 4,000 linear feet of material documenting GLBT histories from the Upper Midwest, the U.S. and the world. The TTOHP, which began in 2015, aims to document transgender lives and communities from across the U.S. and to provide students, historians and the interested public with a rich foundation of primary source material.

This position supports a third phase of the TTOHP. Phase One of the project (which took place from 2015-2018) focused on documenting individual life stories. Over the course of three years, the project recorded nearly 200 individual interviews from the Upper Midwest. Phase Two (2019-2022) recorded 70 interviews from across the country documenting the work of justice-seeking organizations, activist strategies and policy debates. Streaming video and written transcripts of the majority of these interviews are available for public access on the University of Minnesota’s digital collections website.

Phase Three will continue the national interviews on justice, organizing strategies, policy debates, political challenges and social change work. In addition, this phase will initiate a new strategy to recruit volunteers to create additional interviews for the project.

The Oral Historian will work closely with the Curator of the Tretter Collection to develop and complete this project, and will be responsible for a wide range of tasks including: planning and outreach; conducting interviews; overseeing part-time staff who assist on the project; ensuring accurate transcription, metadata and record keeping; developing training materials for volunteers conducting interviews; creating an exhibit about the project; responding to press inquiries and public speaking requests; and assisting with project reporting.

Responsibilities

Planning and Outreach (20%)

• Work collaboratively with the Curator to develop a thoughtful, detailed, achievable plan of work.
• Perform preparatory research, conduct outreach to potential interviewees, and build meaningful connections with participating organizations and individuals.
• Craft and adapt appropriate project policies, metadata collection instruments, release forms, and other project-appropriate tools.
• Stay current on archival and oral history methods by attending trainings, reading professional literature, and participating in national and regional organizations of oral historians, archivists, and other cultural resource management professionals as funding allows.

Interviews (25%)

• Develop a thoughtful, flexible approach to the project’s oral history interviewing work.
• Conduct interviews ethically, adaptively, and in accordance with established best practices.
• Oversee ingest, transcription and upload of interviews.
• Manage and maintain recording equipment and release/permissions forms.
• Perform follow-up with participating organizations and individuals as needed.

Archival Work (10%)

• Collect and manage item- and collection-level metadata.
• Create a finding aid for the collection.
• Review and conduct thorough audits of outsourced interview transcripts and abstracts.
• Work with the university library’s digital preservation team to oversee ingest and ensure the long-term preservation of raw files.
• Develop a digital exhibit.

Training and Supervision (20%)

• Train and supervise part-time staff hired to assist in the project and transcribe oral histories.

Volunteer Component (15%)

• Develop training materials to allow volunteers to conduct oral histories.
• Recruit volunteers from around the country.
• Train and supervise the efforts of volunteer oral historians.
• Create and oversee a lending library of recording equipment available to volunteers to use with oral histories.

Documentation and Communications (10%)

• Maintain thorough documentation of project values, practices, workflows, and activities.
• Develop and implement strategies for publicizing the project through blog posts, social media, public presentations, and other venues. 
• Manage grant reporting.
• Devise and implement other documentation and communication efforts, as needed.

Salary and Benefits
The salary minimum for this position is $59,865 depending on qualifications.  Excellent benefits.  This is a full-time, 12-month,  academic professional appointment, for upto 3 years.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree with 5 or more years of related experience, or master’s degree with 3 years of related experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. 
• Ability to meet deadlines and ensure successful completion of project deliverables.
• Experience working in archives, libraries, museums, or cultural heritage contexts, or a specialization in oral history interviewing or digital archival practice.
• Familiarity and/or experience with the current and historical landscape of intersectional organizing and action for justice for transgender and gender nonconforming people.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of oral history professional practice, methodology, theory, and ethics.
• Experience with digital recording and editing technology, equipment, and software.
• Experience with or knowledge of best practices in archival description, digital preservation, audiovisual archives, and/or the digital humanities.
• Experience in program implementation and evaluation.
• Familiarity with digital tools, digital exhibits, web languages, and/or website design. 

Working at the University

At the University of Minnesota, you’ll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning.  We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Scholarship
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services 
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefits.

Applications must be submitted online.  To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions.  You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Please attach the following documents in Word or PDF Format:  (DO NOT copy and paste.)

• Resume.  
• Cover Letter (identify cover letter with UL456).  
• Names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three current references. 

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your “My Activities” page and uploading documents there.  Review of applications begins immediately.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission.  The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  To learn more about diversity at the U:  http://diversity.umn.edu.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

Please note: All employees at the University of Minnesota are required to comply with the University’s Administrative Policy: COVID-19 Vaccination and Safety Protocol by either providing proof of being fully vaccinated on their first day of employment, or complete a request for an exemption for medical exemption or religious reasons. To learn more please visit:  https://safe-campus.umn.edu/return-campus/get-the-vax

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.