Cooper Hewitt’s Drawings, Prints and Graphic Design (DPGD) department, among the world’s foremost repositories of European and American works on paper, holds over 147,000 drawings and prints dating from the Renaissance to the present. A noted strength is American 19th- and 20th-century drawings and prints, including major holdings of works by Frederic Edwin Church, Winslow Homer, Robert F. Blum, Samuel Colman, Kenyon Cox, William Hunt Diederich, Daniel Huntington, Christina Malman, Thomas Moran, Alice Cordelia Morse, Elihu Vedder and Whitney Warren. This significant portion of Cooper Hewitt’s collection provides a unique record of the evolution and working methods of accomplished 19th- and early 20th-century American artists and designers.

The Research Assistant (American Art) will research and catalogue approx. 10,000 American works on paper with the aim of deepening public awareness and access to unique collection within the Drawings, Prints, & Graphic Design department at Cooper Hewitt. The incumbent will independently perform a variety of programmatic, research and administrative duties in support of the American works on paper collection in the Drawings, Prints & Graphic Design department. Work will be performed in the Henry Luce Study Room for American Art located at the Carnegie Mansion in New York and at Crozier Fine Arts in Newark, New Jersey. Most work will be performed at the Carnegie Mansion.

This position is made possible made possible with a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.

Major Duties

• The Research Assistant will conduct original research to thoroughly catalogue the objects in The Museum System (TMS), referencing both the museum’s cataloguing cards, the accession ledgers, Registrar’s files, and all subsequent scholarship to determine accurate titles, dates, related works, and provenance history. Works with paper conservators on projects related to research activities.
• Enters or oversees data entered into TMS to ensure immediate availability to the public via the museum’s website and interactive tables in the galleries, where visitors can digitally access and explore the collection. Responsible for maintaining the quality and accuracy of object documentation in TMS.
• Works closely with DPGD’s Associate Curator and Research Cataloguer to prepare guidelines for data entry, which will also be reviewed by the Associate Registrar. These guidelines will be outlined in an appendix to the Cooper Hewitt Drawings, Prints & Graphic Design Cataloguing Standards Manual.
• Drafts well-written and researched blog entries for Object of the Day regarding American works on paper in the collection.
• Drafts shorter well-written and researched texts (approx. 75-150 words) for the in-gallery digital tables and collections website.
• Visits cultural and educational institutions to consult material essential to this research. Presents findings from travel to curatorial staff.
• Contributes to the forthcoming exhibitions. Presents new scholarship at scholarly conferences or in publications.

Qualification Requirements
• Master’s Degree or higher in the history of American art.
• Demonstrated expertise in the history of 19th and 20th century American art, including its principles, traditions, historical contexts, and research methods.
• Knowledge or experience in the study and handling of original works of art.
• Ability to write scholarly papers and articles for journals, exhibition catalogs, museum publications, labels and web posts.
• Previous experience working in a museum preferred.
• Knowledge of The Museum System (TMS) preferred.

Salary: $47,374

Note: This is a full time position and a 2 year appointment.

Exceptional Benefits