University Archivist, Assistant Professor of Practice at University of Dayton – Dayton, Ohio

Do you enjoy preserving history and then seeing it come to life in the classroom, exhibits, and through interactive programs? The University of Dayton Libraries are looking for a University Archivist to join our team of colleagues. Consisting of Roesch Library, Marian Library, and University Archives and Special Collections, the UD Libraries form an academic focal point, enriching the intellectual and cultural life at and beyond the University. Our faculty and staff are recognized for seamlessly connecting information and services to users, contributing to the educational mission and preserving the history of the University of Dayton.

This is a 12-month, full-time, 35 hours per week, professional faculty position at the rank of assistant professor of practice. The University of Dayton offers a strong benefits package, including tuition remission for self and immediate family, 22 vacation days, and 17 University holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Special Collections, the successful candidate will manage unique-to-UD collections, including personal papers, artifacts, and digital content. The University Archivist works closely with library colleagues and campus partners to tell the story of UD from its humble beginnings to a top-tier Catholic and Marianist institution of higher learning

About the University Libraries Special Collections
The University Libraries Special Collections includes the Marian Library, the U.S. Catholic Special Collection, and the University Archives and Special Collections. Located in Albert Emanuel Hall, a branch location connected to Roesch Library, the primary mission of the Archives is to identify, collect, preserve, arrange, and describe records of enduring value that document the institutional history of the University and targeted curation of special collections of historic, cultural, or civic materials that enhance institutional mission or curricular value.

Special collections of note include the Congressional papers of Charles W. Whalen Jr., a six-term U.S. Representative, 1942 University of Dayton alumnus, and a four-year faculty member in the Department of Economics; the Erma Bombeck papers, a well-known American humorist; the papers of Willis “Bing” Davis, an internationally known artist, educator, and community organizer from Dayton; a collection of recordings, photographs, and coverage of the 1913 Dayton Flood; and an extensive collection of baseball cards, signed baseballs, autographs, and other baseball memorabilia from the collections of National Baseball Hall of Fame sportswriter Si Burick and local collector and philanthropist Miriam Jacobs.

The University of Dayton also maintains an online institutional repository called eCommons, which serves as a permanent multimedia archive of UD’s continuous pursuit of transformative education and world-changing research.

Expectations
The successful candidate will:

• Administer the University Archives and Special Collections, including archival material, institutional records and other special collections.
• Acquire, arrange, describe, preserve, provide access to, and promote physical and digital archival materials, including rehousing materials and creating inventories and finding aids
• Develop, implement, and maintain the collection development policy for University Archives and Special Collections in alignment with the University’s mission and other University Libraries collection policies
• Collect websites and social media within the collecting scope of the University Archives and Special Collections using web archiving tools and provide metadata for access
• Consult and advise university offices on the disposition of records in accordance with the University’s Records Retention Policy and the University Archival Records Policy
• Provide information about the University Archives and Special Collections holdings, locate material relevant to the research interest of patrons, assist and monitor onside researchers, and respond to reference requests in a timely manner
• Analyze current storage and condition of materials, implement appropriate preservation measures for use and storage, and work with library colleagues and facilities to optimize environmental and security conditions.
• Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with administrative offices, alumni, and donors in collaboration with the Associate Dean for Special Collections and the University Libraries Office of the Dean
• Identify high-interest, unique and rare materials within the University Archives and Special Collections for strategic digitization, and work with colleagues on description, access and preservation of digital files
• Collaborate with the Special Collections Instruction Librarian to integrate archival and special collection materials in library instruction towards the University Libraries student learning outcomes
• Promote the visibility of archival and special collections materials through the curation of physical and digital exhibits that advance learning, research and public engagement
• Supervise full-time archives employees, student employees, interns and volunteers
• Contribute content to the University Libraries blogs, social media, and other publications.
• Contribute to the implementation of the Libraries’ and University’s strategic directions, including for inclusive excellence.
• Participate in ongoing professional development in accordance with the University Libraries Professional Faculty Promotion Policy. Fulfills professional faculty responsibilities including professional service
  Serve on various library, University, and professional committees, including the Digital Stewardship and Sustainability team, and the Collections and Scholarly Communications team.

City of Dayton
Dayton’s environment is a great place for those who want a bit of everything with a low cost of living, great schools, and manageable traffic. UD’s campus is a walk away from The Great Miami Riverway (also home of the nation’s largest paved trail network). Our central location provides easy access to a burgeoning downtown area, expansive metro parks named for our convergence of five waterways, a vibrant arts scene, historic neighborhoods, and the Dayton Aviation Heritage and National Historical Park. See https://daytoncvb.com for more information about the area.

University of Dayton
At the University of Dayton, we value our inclusive climate because we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, solving complex problems, and creating an inclusive academic community. Because we seek a workforce with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, we encourage all candidates to apply.

• Master’s degree in library science, public history or other comparable degree with coursework in archival theory and practice
• Professional experience in an academic archive or comparably complex archival environment, such as a major cultural institution, corporate archive, or government repository
• Knowledge of national standards and best practices for appraisal, selection, and processing, including the arrangement and description of physical and born-digital archival and special collection materials
• Knowledge of archival description standards such as DACS and EAD
• Experience with digital curation, metadata standards, and digital preservation systems and tools.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Ability to build and sustain relationships with a variety of individuals and groups, such as faculty, students, administrators, donors, alumni, and other stakeholders

While not everyone may meet all preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

• Additional certifications such as a Certified Archivist (CA) designation from the Academy of Certified Archivists or Digital Archives Specialist (DAS) certification from the Society of American Archivists
• Experience with institutional records, including knowledge of records management practices
• Supervisory experience, including hiring, training, and performing evaluations
• Successful experience in, or with, one or more of the following:
  • Conducting outreach activities with stakeholder groups to share information about archives and special collections
  • Platforms for digital collections and preservation such as Digital Commons by Bepress, Omeka, or Preservica
  • Archival content management systems such as ArchivesSpace, Archivists Toolkit, or Archon
  • Web archiving and web archiving tools such as Archive-It, Webrecorder, or Conifer
  • Library management systems such as Alma
• Demonstrated knowledge of preservation and conservation best practice for archival and special collections
• Application of national standards and best practices for appraisal, selection, and processing, including the arrangement and description of physical and born-digital archival and special collection materials
• Knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to archival and special collections such as copyright law and confidentiality
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team with faculty, staff and a growing culturally diverse campus population.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development
• Effective interpersonal communication skills
• Effective oral communication skills
• Effective classroom management skills
• Commitment to breadth of education including educating the whole person in the Marianist tradition and a commitment of service to the community, university and profession

To apply candidates should submit:

• A cover letter describing how minimum and any preferred qualifications are met
• A curriculum vitae (CV) detailing your educational background and relevant professional experience
• A 300-500 word statement about your previous and planned contributions to inclusive excellence, and how that informs your work as an archivist.
• A copy of an unofficial graduate transcript to demonstrate coursework in archival theory and practice
• Contact information for three professional references who will be contacted if applicants are selected for an on-campus interview

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The University does not provide work visa sponsorship for this position

Posting closes at 11:55 PM EDT, May 24, 2026.

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms, achieve fair outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. The University is committed to policies of affirmative action designed to increase the employment opportunities of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1973.