Haskell Archivist

The National Gallery is seeking to appoint an Archivist to catalogue the papers of the late Francis Haskell. In 2008 the National Gallery was gifted the collectors’ files of Francis Haskell, one of the most renowned art historians of the 20th century, a distinguished writer and scholar, deeply connected to academic and public institutions. Subsequently, in 2017 and 2018, we received further donations of his diaries and in 2023, successfully acquired his remaining archive.

The post holder will catalogue the Haskell Archive and open up the archives as a major resource for a varied audience with wide-reaching interests including art history, museum development, literature, architecture, religion and higher education. Their work will make the Haskell Archive available to local, national and international audiences, and enable individual scholars and academic communities across the world to access and study these exceptional archives and make possible new research and collaborations.

You will have an MA/Diploma in Archives and Records Management or equivalent qualification. You will have palaeographic skills, cataloguing experience and be familiar with archive databases. You will have an understanding of the information needs of art historians and museum professionals. A broad knowledge of art history and British 19th and 20th century history is desirable.

In this role you will need to be adaptable and to make routine decisions independently without constant supervision. You will also need good organisational and time-management skills, including the ability to prioritise a variety of tasks and meet deadlines; a methodical approach with excellent attention to detail; good communication skills, including an aptitude for presentations; and the ability to work effectively as part of a team with Research Department colleagues.

This is a fixed-term contract for up to 18 months. For full details, please see the job pack on our website.