Position Summary

Mississippi State University Libraries seek a dynamic, visionary, and collaborative scholar to serve as Curator of Lincolniana. This 12-month, tenure-track faculty position offers an extraordinary opportunity to lead one of the most significant collections of Abraham Lincoln and Civil War materials in the nation—the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana—housed alongside the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and Museum at Mississippi State University.

The successful candidate will provide intellectual, curatorial, and scholarly leadership for the collection; foster research, teaching, and public engagement; and supervise a full-time professional staff member responsible for archival processing and collection management. The Curator will hold faculty rank within MSU Libraries and report to the Frank and Virginia Williams Endowed Chair for Abraham Lincoln and Civil War Studies.

Responsibilities

Collection Stewardship & Development

• Provide intellectual and curatorial leadership for the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana, ensuring its continued preservation, growth, and scholarly relevance.
• Oversee collection development, acquisitions, description, and digitization in alignment with the Libraries’ strategic plan and MSU’s Strategic Plan for Transformational Change.
• Collaborate with the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and Museum, the Department of History, and other campus and national partners to promote the collection’s visibility and academic impact.
• Engage donors, scholars, and cultural heritage organizations to support collection growth and programming.

Research, Teaching & Outreach

• Conduct original research and publish in areas related to Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War era, or 19th-century U.S. political, cultural, or legal history.
• Facilitate student and faculty research by integrating primary sources into classroom instruction, workshops, and exhibitions.
• Lead and collaborate on exhibitions, symposia, lectures, and digital projects that enhance the interpretation of Lincoln’s legacy.
• Broaden public engagement and work to contextualize the materials within the collection for a modern audience.
• Represent the collection and Mississippi State University Libraries at national and international conferences and professional associations.

Supervision & Management

• Supervise and mentor a professional staff member responsible for archival processing.
• Oversee workflows and priorities for description, digitization, and preservation, ensuring adherence to best practices in archival and museum standards.
• Coordinate with the Endowed Chair and Libraries administration on budgeting, project management, grants, and donor stewardship related to the collection.

Service & Institutional Engagement

• Actively contribute to the Libraries’ governance, faculty service, and assessment initiatives.
• Support the Libraries’ research impact, open scholarship, and digital humanities programs through collaboration and outreach.
• Participate in university and professional service, fostering partnerships that align with the Libraries’ mission of advancing scholarship, access, and engagement.

Required Qualifications

• MLS or Ph.D. in History or closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated strong potential for scholarly publication and professional achievement.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a faculty environment and to lead cross-disciplinary projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing or curating historical collections or museum exhibitions.
• Experience working with primary sources, special collections, or archival materials.
• Supervisory experience in an academic or cultural heritage setting.
• Familiarity with digital scholarship, archival processing, and public history or museum interpretation.
• Evidence of success in grant writing, fundraising, or donor relations to support collection development or research initiatives.

Apply at https://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/en-us/job/509915/assistant-professor.

About Mississippi State University

The Mississippi State University Library system is comprised of six libraries that include the Mitchell Memorial Library, Bob and Kathy Luke Architecture, Art and Design Library, College of Veterinary Medicine Library, Phil Hardin Foundation Libraries on the Meridian Campus, and Gertrude C. Ford Foundation Library in Jackson, MS. The Mitchell Memorial Library houses the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana. For more information about the university libraries, please visit http://lib.msstate.edu/.

Connections working at Mississippi State University