St. James’s Becoming Beloved Community is seeking volunteers and has a part-time job opening

St. James’s Becoming Beloved Community History Team Needs You!

The St. James’s BBC History Team is looking for volunteers and a paid part-time research assistant to help with research at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.  We are working on Part III – 1900 to 1960: Jim Crow and Massive Resistance.  If you’re interested in volunteering or would like more information, please contact Alice Tousignant at [email protected].  If you know someone who might be interested in a paid part-time research assistant position, please review the job description. (give link to Job Description below.)

Part-Time Research Assistant Job Description

 St. James’s History Project Purpose and Summary:

St. James’s Episcopal Church at 1201 W. Franklin Street was established in 1838 and was first located downtown at Fifth and Marshall Street.  As part of the church’s Becoming Beloved Community ministry, St. James’s is reviewing its 184-year history with a racial lens.  The history project, which is being led by church volunteers, began in mid-2020. Its goal is to determine the involvement in or investment of St. James’s Episcopal Church, including its clergy and lay leaders, in both the institution of slavery and systemic racism from the beginning of the Church in 1838 to the present.  Research and reporting have been completed from 1838 to 1900.  Research assistance is needed to complete the remainder of the history.  The History Team is seeking a part-time research assistant to help with the remainder of the research.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Working with the St. James’s History Team, research St. James’s archived material at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, the Library of Virginia and St. James’s Church. Material includes Vestry minutes, letters and other documents related to the church, its clergy and lay leaders.
2. Conduct independent online research related to St. James’s in newspapers and other public documents related to the church, its clergy, and lay leaders.
3. Provide typed reports of findings as requested.
4. Attend scheduled zoom team meetings related to the research.

Examples of information to be collected related to the Church, its clergy or leaders during the time period 1900 to 1960 include but are not limited to:

• Participation in segregation, both in everyday life and in public and private schools, including during the Moton School walk out and the Brown v Board of Education ruling, the Lost Cause narrative, such as through the installation of the church’s stained-glass windows at location on Franklin Street, or the erection of the J.E.B. Stuart statue in 1907
• Permitting or barring Blacks from attending St. James’s

Qualifications:

Graduate or undergraduate student experienced in research able to work a minimum of 10 hours per week, and able to work well with others and independently. Preference will be given to students experienced with historical research.

Requirements:

Interested applicants must send a letter or resume showing their experience and qualifications as well as the name and contact number for a teacher/professor reference to Elizabeth Harvard at [email protected].

Hourly Rate:

$20 per hour.