NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Archive Cataloguer: Watts Collection

The National Portrait Gallery’s Heinz Archive and Library is an important research facility housing a unique collection of reference material relating to British portraiture including 80,000 prints and drawings, 600,000 photographic and other reproductions of portraits, a small collection of artists’ papers and research papers, the official records of the Gallery and a library of 35,000 books and 150 periodical titles.

The Archive Cataloguer reports to the Archivist and will be responsible for cataloguing the correspondence and papers of George Frederic Watts (1817-1904) assembled by his wife Mary Seton Watts (1849-1938).

Background

George Frederic Watts was considered the greatest artist of his age, internationally renowned and celebrated in his own lifetime. He pursued an individual artistic approach and is remembered for his large scale symbolist paintings which reflected Victorian sensibilities and his Hall of Fame portraits, which captured his eminent contemporaries. The Watts Collection held by the National Portrait Gallery Archive contains approximately 3,000 letters written or received by the artist. This series was compiled by his second wife Mary Seton Watts (1849-1938) after her husband’s death, in preparation for her biography of him, published in 1912. In July 1905 Mary Watts advertised for the loan of his letters, intending to make copies for biographical research. Those letters she retained, both original and copied, were arranged and pasted into volumes. The National Portrait Gallery acquired 14 of the original volumes plus many loose letters.

Main Duties

To review and catalogue bound correspondence and papers; review, sort, arrange and catalogue loose correspondence and papers onto CALM database according to ISAD(G) and local standards.

To provide detailed item level description for the correspondence and papers, listing people, works of art and places.

To identify suitable material for scanning and, working with Digital Programmes and Archive staff, ensure that digitised images are attached to relevant catalogue records.

To assist the Archivist as required, in developing a web feature concerning the Watts Collection.

To assist the Archivist as required, in publicising the Watts Collection generally.

To act as a point of contact, in conjunction with other Archive staff, with regard to any queries concerning the Watts Collection.

Note: the precise nature of these duties might change over the course of the appointment.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Archive Cataloguer: Watts Collection

Person Specification

Qualifications

A degree and a recognised post-graduate qualification in Archives Administration.

Skills and Experience

Relevant experience cataloguing archive collections is essential.

Experience of word-processing and database packages is essential.

Familiarity of ISAD (G) and the archive system CALM.

The successful candidate will be someone who is methodical, accurate and careful. They will be motivated and happy to work independently, show initiative and take responsibility.

The successful candidate will have excellent time management skills.

The successful candidate will have excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Experience of managing and completing cataloguing projects to deadlines is highly desirable.

Other

Knowledge of history and/or art, with particular reference to nineteenth century British art, and an understanding and interest in museums and galleries would be an advantage.

This is not, however, an exhaustive list of duties and the Gallery’s management may, at any time, allocate other tasks which are of a similar nature or level.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Archive Cataloguer: Watts Collection

Details of the post are given below and in the attached job description. You should take care to show in your application how you can fulfil the requirements of the job.

Period of AppointmentThis post is fixed for a period of 9 months.

HoursYour contracted hours of work will be 40 gross (5 days) per week, including a lunch break of one hour per full day worked.

SalaryThe salary for this post will be pro-rata £24,700 per annum (actual salary £18,525 per annum).

Annual LeaveThe annual leave allowance for this post is pro-rata 25 days, per annum.

Place of WorkMost of the work is based in the Gallery at St Martin’s Place, but all staff are required to work at other locations if necessary.

Equality The Gallery believes in the employment and advancement of people solely on their ability to do the job required. When recruiting people, we will therefore disregard their gender, marital status, race, age, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion and sexual orientation. There will be no unfair discrimination on the basis of disability. If you would like to submit your application in a different format we are happy to allow this. Please contact us (telephone: 020 7306 0055 email: personnel@npg.org.uk) so that we may discuss suitable alternatives.

PensionPension benefits are provided under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS).

Probation and Trial PeriodAll appointments are subject to satisfactory employment and character references, security clearance and eligibility to work in the UK. There is a probationary period of 1 year for all permanent posts. The probationary period for this post is 4 months.Data Protection ActInformation provided by you as part of your application will be used in the recruitment process. Any data about you will be held securely with access restricted to those involved in dealing with your application in the recruitment process. Once this process is completed the data relating to unsuccessful applicants will be stored for a maximum of 6 months and then destroyed. If you are the successful candidate, your application form will be retained and form the basis of your personnel record. Information provided by you on the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form will be used to monitor National Portrait Gallery’s equal opportunities policy and practices. By signing and submitting your completed application form you are giving your consent to your data being stored and processed (if you submit your application by e-mail and the application form is un-signed we will assume that consent by you is given) for the purpose of the recruitment process, equal opportunities monitoring and your personnel record if you are the successful candidate.

Season TicketsInterest free loans are available for the purchase of a season ticket for travel to work.

Please return your completed application form to:

Personnel at: personnel@npg.org.uk

Or by post

Caroline WynterHead of Personnel National Portrait Gallery2 St Martin’s PlaceLondon WC2H 0HE

by 9.00am on 11 February 2013.

We are expecting to hold interviews on 20 February 2013. Please indicate on the form if you will not be available on this date.

If you are delivering your application by hand, please take it to the reception desk at 39-45 Orange Street.

To ensure the best possible use of our limited resources we are unable to respond to every application. If you have not had a response to your application by 28 February 2013, please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We would like to thank you for your time and effort in returning your application form.