Careers
The Kentucky Historical Society offers diverse and unique career opportunities. We provide people who love history an opportunity to do important work with people, schools, and organizations throughout Kentucky.
If you are looking for internships, please visit the internships page.
If you would like to volunteer, please visit the volunteer page.
Vacancy Announcement - KHS Curator of Collections
The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) is seeking a Curator of Collections to join our Historical Resources Division. The Curator serves on the team responsible for the acquisition, care, cataloging, and interpretation of collections. The role supports all KHS projects, programs, and activities that elevate our understanding of Kentucky history through material culture. This position actively develops the KHS collection by working with donors and communities and by engaging in contemporary and responsive collecting. The Curator of Collections provides stewardship and intellectual control of the agency’s significant and diverse historical collection—ensuring that these strategic assets are accessible for interpretation, research, and teaching. This position is highly collaborative, often working in partnership with internal colleagues as well as supporting collecting organizations across the Commonwealth. The ideal candidate brings professionalism, passion, curiosity, and positive problem-solving to the role.
The Kentucky Historical Society’s team is actively acquiring additions to our 160,000+ object collection. The KHS’s significant holdings include collections of paintings, textiles and costumes, weapons and militaria, popular culture, political material, furnishings, toys and recreation, domestic life, and occupational/industrial material.
Key responsibilities:
- Proactively guide the acquisition, continuous improvement, and stewardship of the KHS object collection.
- Help develop ways in which objects and archival materials can be interpreted and utilized through exhibitions, publications, events, and presentations.
- Collaborate with colleagues to ensure the ongoing care of the KHS object collection.
Find the full position description, click HERE.
The Kentucky Historical Society:
The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS), formed in 1836, is an agency in Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet. The KHS campus has three sites in historic downtown Frankfort: The Old State Capitol; the Kentucky Military History Museum; and the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History serving as KHS headquarters with a signature museum, exhibits, library, research facilities, object and archival collections, museum store, and more. KHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate and has full American Alliance of Museums accreditation.
Qualifications:
- Minimum 3 years of professional experience in a museum or history-related institution. Master’s Degree in history, museum studies, or related field.
- Demonstrated facility in public speaking, writing, and communicating with multiple kinds of audiences.
- Advanced internet, word processing, database management, spreadsheets, and email use. PastPerfect experience preferred.
- Must be able to manage multiple, complex projects from concept to completion.
- Special Requirements – Knowledge of material culture and museum cataloging practices. Adherence to professional codes of ethics and involvement in museum organizations.
Working Conditions:
- Must be able to visually inspect the change in the condition of archival documents and collection objects; retrieve collection objects regularly that may weigh up to 40 lbs; able to regularly bend/stoop/reach to retrieve and store collection objects. Frequent use of a computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. May occasionally be required to travel in and out of state relating to collections management and accessions.
This is a full-time position located in Frankfort, KY that reports to the Director of Research and Collections. This is an unclassified (non-merit) position pursuant to KRS 18A.115(1)(u). The annual salary for this position is $41,872.56. The regular work schedule is Monday through Friday with a 37.5-hour work week but the position will require occasional night, weekend, or holiday hours as needed. Benefits include health and life insurance, optional dental and vision insurance, vacation and sick leave, holiday pay, retirement, and optional deferred compensation plans.
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and current resume via email to khshr@ky.gov. No telephone calls are accepted. The deadline for submissions is April 26, 2024. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.
KHS is an agency of the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. KHS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity, ancestry, age, disability, political affiliation, genetic information, or veteran status in accordance with state and federal laws.
Vacancy Announcement - KHS Archivist
The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) is seeking an Archivist to join our Historical Resources Division. The Archivist serves on the team responsible for the acquisition, care, processing, and cataloging of archival collections. The role supports all KHS projects, programs, and activities that elevate our understanding of Kentucky history through its archival holdings. This position actively develops the KHS archives by working with donors and communities and by engaging in contemporary and responsive collecting. The Archivist provides stewardship and intellectual control of the agency’s significant and diverse archival holdings—ensuring that these strategic assets are accessible for interpretation, research, and teaching. This position is highly collaborative, often working in partnership with internal colleagues as well as supporting archival organizations across the Commonwealth. The ideal candidate brings professionalism, passion, curiosity, and positive problem-solving to the role.
The Kentucky Historical Society is actively acquiring additions to our collections. The KHS archives include significant manuscript, graphic, cartographic, photographic, ephemeral, digital, and oral history collections.
Key responsibilities include:
- Planning and implementing KHS archival processing
- Maintaining and improving physical and digital access to KHS collections
- Providing stewardship of KHS archival collections through recognized preservation standards and best practices
- Coordinating volunteers and interns who work on archival projects
- Ensuring that archival collections support the overall KHS mission and individual programs within the agency
- Actively working to collect and recommend the acquisition of materials that support KHS’s collecting plan
To see the full position description, click HERE.
Qualifications:
- Education/Experience – Master’s degree in Library Science, Information Systems Administration, or a related field. Two (2) years of experience working with automated access systems in a library or archival setting.
- Communication – Must possess excellent writing and public presentation skills, especially with diverse audiences in both formal and informal settings.
- Computer Skills – Demonstrated knowledge of library information technology standards, protocols, issues, and trends. Demonstrated knowledge of library management software (e.g., OCLC WorldShare) and collections/content management systems (e.g., PastPerfect, CONTENTdm, Omeka, etc.).”
Work Environment:
- Must have strong organizational skills. Must be able to manage multiple projects from concept to completion with the highest attention to detail. Must be able to self-regulate work rate and complete multiple assigned tasks accurately and efficiently.
- Must be willing to occasionally travel to off-site programs/events and work some evenings and weekends.
Physical Demands
- Must be able to lift materials of up to 25 lbs. Must be able to safely handle fragile archival materials.
- Must be able to remain stationary (sitting or standing) for long periods.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license.
Special Requirements
- Knowledge of Kentucky history is a plus. Experience working with diverse community organizations and volunteers.
- Adherence to professional codes of ethics, collections care best practices/standards, and involvement in field-related organizations.
This is a full-time position located in Frankfort, KY that reports to the Director of Historical Resources. This is an unclassified (non-merit) position pursuant to KRS 18A.115(1)(u). The annual salary for this position is $34,606.80. The regular work schedule is Monday through Friday with a 37.5-hour workweek, but the position may require occasional evening, weekend, or holiday hours as needed to support the programs and events of the Kentucky Historical Society. Benefits include health and life insurance, optional dental and vision insurance, vacation and sick leave, holiday pay, retirement, and optional deferred compensation plans.
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and current resume via email to khshr@ky.gov. No telephone calls accepted. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 26, 2024. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.
KHS is an agency of the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. KHS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity, ancestry, age, disability, political affiliation, genetic information, or veteran status in accordance with state and federal laws.