Project Archivist - Young Canada Works

Archives des jésuites au Canada / The Archive of the Jesuits in Canada

Location: Montréal, Qc.

Compensation: Hourly wage: $20.00

The Archive of the Jesuits in Canada witnesses the activity of all Jesuits who worked in this country and in its foreign missions since the arrival of the first companions in 1611. It recalls the memory of their living faith, of their efforts, of their spiritual values, and of their institutions.

The Archive serves the ongoing administration of the Jesuits of Canada which includes Haiti. Its role is also to ensure the acquisition of documents, books, and works of art as well as appropriate historical artifacts relating to Canadian Jesuit history: to preserve them, to render them accessible, and to make them known.

As steward of the collective memory of all Canadian Jesuits, the Archive demonstrates innovative leadership to facilitate access to its collections. It provides a functional working environment equipped with the resources necessary for research and creativity.

The Archive brings life to the past. It was established to encourage and, in the Jesuit way of proceeding, to stimulate free research and collaboration among scholars, teachers and students. It fosters the preparation of publications, symposia, and exhibitions which lead to a better understanding of Jesuit identity and of the Society's cultural and spiritual patrimony.

The AJC provides an access point to its collections, as well as resources concerning the history of the Jesuits in Canada. It supports the research of members of the Jesuit community, genealogists, academic researchers, Indigenous researchers, artists, and students from a variety of disciplines.

The archival collection holds more than 1.5 km of textual records, more than 500,000 photographs, more than a thousand maps and cartographic material, hundreds of audio-visual records, as well as born-digital records.

The Library and Rare Books collection contains more than 37,000 books and other published material, including 1,500 rare books.

The Art and Artifacts Collection includes objects and artworks that testify to the range of activities of Jesuits in Canada and abroad.

Description and Duties

The main tasks will be digitizing the photographs and keeping an inventory of the digitization processes. The intern will also, simultaneously, enter the available data and metadata into our already existing item-level inventory for the photographs of the Spanish Residential School fonds (0700-0023). The intern will handle the photographs by attributing each of them with a unique number, based on our already existing file naming structure. They will also put individual photographs into proper acid-free envelopes and boxes. Careful handling of the photographs is very important and will be part of the intern's learning process and experience acquired through close supervision.

In parallel, in collaboration with the Processing Archivist, the intern will revise the main finding aid for the fonds by incorporating the subjects and the extent of the photographs included in that fonds. This finding aid will be made available in our web-based AtoM platform.

The intern will also need to write two reports that provide details on the digitization processes. One report (around half of the internship) will emphasize the issues raised regarding the digitization process. The second, and final report, will assess the different elements of the digitization project.

Qualifications

• University level education in archival/information studies or a related field with a demonstrated interest in archival theory and practice; with preference for candidates with a master's degree in information studies with a specialization in archival studies.
  
• Demonstrated ability in the use of collections management tools and the Rules of Archival Description (RAD);
  
• Interest in digital archives, including digitization practices and processes; 
  
• Ability to communicate information to small and large groups;
  
• Oral and written fluency in English, with a working knowledge of French, is required;
  
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team on collaborative initiatives;
  
• Ability to develop objectives and to implement procedures.
  

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

The AJC are engaged in a process of truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. It supports Indigenous resurgence. The selected candidate will need to demonstrate an understanding of the main challenges regarding archival concepts and practices. The candidate must be familiar with the principles stated in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action, the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Taskforce of the Steering Committee on Canada's Archives as well as demonstrating a knowledge of national and international strategic orientations and principles concerning Indigenous peoples and associated archival records.

Preference will be given to Indigenous candidates.

Candidates from the Government of Canada's job equity groups are encouraged to apply / Les candidat.e.s visé.e.s par l'équité en matière d'emploi du Gouvernement du Canada sont invité.e.s à postuler.

Applications must be completed in the Young Canada Works portal: https://young-canada-works.canada.ca/Account/Login

In addition, a cover letter, and a curriculum vitae (in one Word of PDF file) should be sent to François Dansereau, Director of The Archive of the Jesuits in Canada:  CANAJCdirection@jesuites.org. 

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only those selected for the short list will be contacted for an interview. Personal information received from prospective candidates will be used only for this recruitment process.

https://young-canada-works.canada.ca/Account/Login

Deadline: June 16, 2023

86589542_ajc_projectarchivist_ycw_2023-2024.pdf