Michelle:

When we hire curators we advertise the credentials we
desire.  One of those is research interest and experience in
one of the areas of our collections, which we list in the
advertisement.  That is, we list the areas of our
collections, and we expect applicants to tell us what
interest AND experience they have in at least one of those
areas.

While we might hire an individual to do a specific job, we
expect him/her to want to do research using our collection,
and consider access to it a benefit of sorts.  We don't
often have the luxury of hiring someone just to do research,
but we have contracted that sort of work for exhibits in the
past.  Another credential is a degree or one sort or
another, depending on the position.  If you are going into a
history museum to be a history curator, one would expect you
to have a history degree, and history collections research
interests, and, possibly (probably?) experience.

While I don't, as a rule, expect folks with BA degrees to
have lots of research experience, many do.  If you want to
be competitive, you should get some experience in what ever
area you choose to pursue.

I hope this is helpful.  I'd be glad to discuss this
off-line if you want to ask further questions.

Regards.  Chris Dill


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C. L. Dill, Museum Director
State Historical Society of North Dakota
612 East Boulevard
Bismarck  ND  58505-0830
P: (701)328-2666
F: (701)328-3710
E:  [log in to unmask]
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>>> michelle marie jensen <[log in to unmask]>
08/28/96
04:33pm >>>
I just saw a post about a conference that focused on the
role of
research in a museum.  As a senior in college, and a museum
employee, I
have recently become interested in being a researcher at a
museum.
While I have been looking at grad schools, I have not seen
any
references to obtaining a degree that would help me acheive
this goal
through museum studies programs or any other discipline.
Also, I have
read the AAM's article about suggested qualifications, etc.,
for museum
positions.  They did not include anything about research
either.  Is this
just a career that takes off after one obtains a degree in a
specialized
area of study
(i.e. history, anthropology) and approaches a museum about
job
openings?
Can any museum professionals out there help me find an
answer to my
question?
Please email me or post to the group. I am interested in
hearing many
people's opinions!

Thank you in advance!

Michelle Jensen
Manager, Discovery Room
Museum of Natural History
438 Natural History Building
1301 West Green Street
Urbana, IL  61801
**My views expressed above do not necessarily represent the
views of
my spouse, museum, or university**
--

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