Archival Project Coordinator - Guest House, Inc./Scripps Mansion

Posted on 2/12/26

Internship, Graduate Assistantship, or Professional Project Role

$17 - $20/hour

Organization: Guest House, Inc.

Location: Lake Orion, Michigan (on-site at the historic Scripps Mansion and Guest House business offices)

Reports to: Donor & Marketing Manager

Compensation: Paid; stipend or salary based on experience

Academic Credit: Guest House is willing to work with colleges or universities to offer academic credit, where applicable

Duration: Temporary, project-based (estimated 12–16 weeks)

Hours: Flexible; approximately 640 total hours over the project period

Housing: May be available for candidates who require it (expectations aligned with Guest House’s mission)

Organizational Context

Guest House, Inc. is a residential treatment center and the steward of the historic Scripps Mansion, which it preserves and maintains as part of its broader mission. As the organization celebrates its 70th anniversary and undertakes a capital improvement project, Guest House is preparing to vacate an office building and must carefully identify, preserve, and protect historically significant and mission-relevant materials. Because Guest House does not currently maintain a formal archival system, this project is both foundational and time-sensitive, establishing intellectual control over archival materials to ensure that historically significant, legally necessary, mission-critical records are preserved, while nonessential materials are appropriately excluded prior to digitization or physical relocation by outside vendors.

Position Summary

The Archival Project Coordinator (APC) is responsible for identifying, assessing, and documenting archival materials as Guest House prepares to move buildings. The primary objective of this role is to determine which materials should be retained, digitized, or excluded from long-term retention, ensuring Guest House preserves records that are historically significant, legally necessary, or mission critical.

The APC works independently, managing day-to-day archival tasks with oversight and professional guidance from a museum professional affiliated with Guest House. This role requires sound judgment, strong discernment, and thorough documentation, with the ability to escalate questions as needed. The position focuses on analysis, research, and recommendation-making rather than large-scale digitization or physical relocation, and requires discretion, professionalism, and ethical responsibility when handling historic or confidential materials.

Core Responsibilities

• Conduct a comprehensive survey of all spaces containing archival or historic materials related to the Scripps Mansion and Guest House’s 70-year institutional history.
• Identify, review, and inventory materials across multiple formats, including paper records, photographs, and analog and digital audio-visual media.
• Establish intellectual control through organized documentation and preliminary inventories.
• Evaluate materials using defined criteria to determine retention, digitization, physical preservation, or exclusion.
• Assess materials for historical significance, evidentiary and interpretive value, preservation risk, and confidentiality considerations.
• Document all decisions clearly, including rationale for materials excluded from the archive.

Required Qualifications

• Current student, graduate student, recent graduate, or prior experience in Museum Studies, Public History, Library & Information Science (archives focus), Historic Preservation, or a closely related field.
• Working knowledge of archival principles and best practices.
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and make well-documented decisions.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Professional discretion when handling confidential or sensitive materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree completed or in progress in a relevant field.
• Experience with historic house museums, institutional archives, or material culture.
• Familiarity with photographic or audiovisual archival materials.
• Understanding of historic preservation standards.

Working Conditions

• On-site work in a historic structure and a modern office building.
• Physical handling of boxes and materials may be required.
• Confidentiality agreement may be required.

Housing (if Applicable)

For candidates requesting housing, clear expectations will be established to ensure alignment with Guest House’s mission. Kitchen access may be available in the office building or Scripps Mansion; housing would not be directly attached to lodging spaces