What is the difference, if any, between a
photograph curator and a photograph archivist? Our photograph archivist has just
left and the administration is looking to hire a photograph curator to replace
him. My sense of the difference between the two is that a photograph archivist
is someone who is particularly skilled in describing, organizing, and cataloging
photographic items, while a photograph curator is more focused on
interpretation, research, and exhibition (I realize that a photograph archivist
will contribute to exhibitions, while a photograph curator would be familiar
with cataloging principles). Is this an accurate distinction?
The library contains 50,000 photographic images.
The bulk of these images are uncataloged and inaccessible. My priority is to
have someone adequately exert control over the collection (which, in my opinion,
needs to be achieved prior to the planning of exhibitions and publications). Is
a photograph archivist or a photograph curator the best person for the job?
For those who are photograph archivists and photograph curators, I’d appreciate your opinions. Position descriptions would be helpful as well. Thank you. (Please excuse cross-postings.) Betsy Lowenstein
Library Director Nantucket Historical Association PO Box 1016 / 7 Fair Street Nantucket, MA 02554 Tel.: 508 228-1655 Fax: 508 325-7968 email: library@nha.org |