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Curator of Indigenous Collections Job Announcement

The Montana Historical Society offers a unique workplace for its employees. It’s filled with friendly and creative staff members who work together to offer the public exciting and innovative ways to experience Montana’s history. MTHS has an opening for a full-time Curator of Indigenous Collections position. The ideal candidate will be a positive representative of the Montana Historical Society to the public, be skilled in historical research and an experienced curator, and will embody the MTHS culture of excellence, teamwork, professionalism, and passion for the work that we do.

The best candidate is a motivated, energetic team member who loves Montana history, enjoys research and advising outside groups on historical topics and materials, embraces the position’s role in writing about this research and history, and is excited to be a part of the Museum Program efforts that support the Montana Heritage Center opening in Fall 2025 and ongoing operations of the State’s Museum.

Function: The Curatorial Office is one of two departments within the Museum Program of MTH2S. Under the direction of the Curator of Collections, this position shares responsibility for the care, preservation and management of the State’s art and artifact collections. These activities include conducting research, advising and consulting, preparing articles, developing interpretative themes, providing reference assistance, conducting historical research and maintaining historical records. Among other skills needed, excellent writing skills, thoughtfulness and sensitivity to the varying interpretations of history, the ability to apply principles from museum science, interpretive methods and audiences research, and synthesize that content with analysis, selection, and placement of art and artifacts in the physical exhibition spaces is very important to this position. The ideal candidate will also have great time management skills and a welcoming and friendly attitude.

Other: The Curator of Indigenous Collections/Historian 2 position 2 is 40 hour-a-week position, Monday through Friday.

Come join us at the MTHS where we work together to share Montana’s stories and inspire exploration!

Responsibilities include:

• Conducts historical research, including pre-contact to the recent past, pertaining to the story of Montana, the region, and Indigenous collections.
• Works closely with Indigenous communities in and around Montana, and with the MTHS Tribal Stakeholders Group, to develop Indigenous collections, create exhibits, and produce scholarly research on Indigenous topics
• Advises and consults with colleagues regarding issues of historical authenticity of artifacts and traditional customs of a historical period.
• Prepares articles for scholarly publications, professional papers, interpretive text for exhibits, newspaper articles, press releases, and compilations of interpretive materials that describe the past and trace historical developments pertaining to Montana and the region.
• Gathers information about historical events by conducting interviews or accessing oral histories.
• Organizes and develops original interpretive themes, articulates exhibit messages, shapes storylines, selects artifacts for exhibits, and writes interpretive text and identification labels for exhibits and exhibit publications relating to the Society’s Indigenous collections.
• Provides reference assistance to sister Montana institutions, and the public regarding enquiries about Indigenous objects in the collection. Assists and supervises researchers, MTHS Programs, and support organizations with issues and projects using the collection. Responds to a wide variety of public and professional inquiries by conducting the necessary research and providing information on the state’s collection of historical material, Montana history and material culture. Provides professional assistance to other museums in the state.  
• Conducts historical research as a basis for the identification, interpretation, preservation and conservation of Indigenous artifacts. Determines relationships among ambiguous, extensive, and diverse historical data from various sources; applies principles and theories from history, museum science, interpretive methods, and audience research; and synthesizes that content and data with analysis, selection, and placement of extant art, artifacts, and various primary sources in the physical exhibition spaces to create new interpretive content for exhibitions.
• Archives artifacts and pertaining documentation as part of research. Maintains appropriate records to fully document the history and importance of the collection and conducts research to further the understanding and knowledge of the state’s holdings.
• Coordinates and maintains standard best practice policies and procedures for the use and management of Indigenous collections. Assists in recommending, establishing, and implementing policies, standards, and guidelines regulating the use and management of the museum collection and the Original Governor’s Mansion.
• Develops planning documents, schedules, and objectives and recommends topics for diverse and multi-faceted temporary, long-term, traveling, and online exhibitions, at the Museum and Original Governor’s Mansion; plays a leading role in the development and production of in-house exhibitions, conducts tours of the collection and presents lectures, programs, and workshops to the public and professional organizations.
• Writes reports, articles, and creates exhibits on newly discovered findings.
• Lead NAGPRA-related outreach and communication efforts with Indigenous communities.
• Remain current on laws, regulations, and best practices regarding Indigenous collections and NAGPRA policies and procedures. Creates and recommends special historical interpretation projects by providing leadership in exhibition development and implementation thereby achieving program goals and objective. Researches and implements aspects of such projects which educate the public and enhance general knowledge through detailed interpretation of Montana’s heritage through art, artifacts, photographs, archival documents, and other resources. Provides informative and engaging public programs to a wide variety of constituents.
• Develops strategies, schedules, and objectives and budgets for historical projects such as collaboration with Outreach & Education staff in developing and implementing strategies, schedules, budgets, texts, research plans, restoration plans, interpretive plans, and interactive experiences for multi-faceted historical interpretive projects at the Original Governor’s Mansion