Back to Opportunities

Astor Curator and Department Head, Printed Books and Bindings

The Morgan Library & Museum seeks an ambitious, experienced and outgoing curator to lead its Department of Printed Books and Bindings. The Astor Curator and Department Head stewards and interprets the Morgan’s renowned printed book collection, which extends from the invention of printing to modern first editions. Subject strengths include incunables, fine bindings and printing, illustrated books, children’s books, association copies, and notable publications of major authors in England, France, and America. Among the highlights are three Gutenberg Bibles, a remarkable run of Aldines, Grolier bindings, French book illustration 1700 to 1914, World War I poetry, Man Booker Prize fiction, and the Carter Burden collection of American literature.

The Astor Curator will conceive, initiate, and execute exhibitions and projects, including sophisticated and compelling exhibitions from the Morgan’s own holdings, exhibitions based primarily on loans from other institutions, and traveling exhibitions. The Astor Curator will be responsible for overseeing the long-term growth, preservation, and documentation of the collection and for supporting the work of outside researchers, and will be an advocate for the collection and the mission of the Morgan, building understanding of the collection through new scholarship, public programs, publications, and digital projects.

The Astor Curator will be a dynamic leader in the field, known and well-regarded among peers, who is comfortable and happy participating in activities on- and off-site related to the rare-book world. They will be able to move easily between scholarly work and engagement with the Morgan’s various communities. The Printed Books and Bindings department has a sizable acquisitions budget and candidates should be expert in developing collections and comfortable making strategic acquisitions through both purchases and gifts.

Candidates must have excellent donor-cultivation skills and be eager to forge strong relationships with collectors and donors, and to serve as liaison to the department’s Visiting Committee. The ideal candidate will be an articulate ambassador for the Morgan in the scholarly community and with donors and the general public.

The position oversees a staff of two associate curators.

Please visit the 'External Link' below for more information, including desired qualifications and the link to apply.
[ssba]

Leave a Reply