Archival Researcher - Whaling Logbooks

Student Researchers Needed for Whaling Logbook/Climate Data project: Archival research; reading and extracting data from hand-written historical documents (manuscripts), mainly whaling ship logbooks and journals held at the New Bedford Whaling Museum and the New Bedford Free Public Library. The job entails entering data into an online database via a laptop computer (applicants must have their own laptop computer). Some logbooks are digitized and available online, so some work time is flexible. Work involves reading and extracting weather and contextual data from these unique historical documents (dates: 1760s-1925). Successful applicants will undergo a brief initial training and trial period. Job training will be done in person at the New Bedford Whaling Museum (a few hours per day over two to three days). Ideally, we seek researchers who can make at least a one-year commitment to the project. Start date: we hope to begin systematic data collection in May 2025. Student researcher will be expected to work approximately five hours per week during the UMASSD semester, and ten hours per week during the summer. The position duration is approximately one calendar year. This research is funded through a generous grant from the Island Foundation of Massachusetts.