Do you enjoy uncovering history and connecting with the past? Researching gives you up-close access to objects and stories from our collections, making them relevant and inspiring to our visitors today. Your research will not only feed into our specialist exhibitions, but will help us understand our own history as we grow as an organisation.
What’s involved?
There are lot of different roles in our research team. You may enjoy researching the histories of specific individuals and their lives within the institutions or a broader themes for exhibition topics. You may also be asked to use your research to help create scripts and resource pacts for the learning team. If you have a flare for technology, you could get involved with our efforts to digitise our collections, making them more accessible for others.
Is this role for me?
We are looking for detail driven individuals. You should be able to work independently but enjoy feeding knowledge back into a team. You don’t need previous researching experience but a keen interest in history and heritage is essential and you should be willing to learn new skills.
What could you be doing?
• Carrying out research using objects in the museum’s collections, as well as other primary and secondary sources
• Contributing information to enhance the museum’s exhibitions and permanent displays
• Volunteering as part of a small team
• Liaising with the Curator and curatorial team, and the Learning team
• Being aware of the often-fragile nature of historic buildings and collections
• Being aware of emergency procedures as required
What qualities, skills and experience do I need?
• Interest in museums and collections
• Good historical research skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to work as part of a small team and on own initiative when required
2-3 hours per week; days are flexible
Where will I be based?
Mainly based in the Research Room at the Workhouse Museum
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Preservation of historic buildings and artefacts, education services and responsible for The Prison & Police, The Workhouse and The Courthouse Museums in Ripon. We have around 140 volunteers who fulfil a variety of roles which range from helping with education visits to gardening, cataloguing the collections to keeping our accounts, repairing brickwork to researching the stories behind the buildings.
Please check the website for opening times and events.
