New Book: So Others May Live

Joe has recommended So Others May Live: Coast Guard's Rescue Swimmers: Saving Lives, Defying Death.

Reading the reviews both at Amazon and in the seattlepi.com report has me thinking this is a must read.

Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum's Newest Addition

The Little Rock City council approved spending $395,000 to tow the World War II-era fireboat USS Hoga from California to its maritime museum on the Arkansas River.

The Hoga survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor and will join the USS Razorback which was present for the Japanese surrender.

The Hoga is presently moored near San Francisco.

If Only I Were British

Position Announcement:
Head of Digital Projects

Organisation: NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM
Location: East London
Salary: £35,000 - £45,000 plus benefits
Date posted: 29 Oct 2006
Closing date: 13 Nov 2006

If you have experience of delivering large, complex new media projects on time and on budget, this varied role with the world's leading maritime museum could be your ideal next move.

It's our aim to illustrate to a wide range of audiences the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people. The Museum's collections are extremely diverse, featuring stories about everything from seafaring history to trade, empire, slavery and astronomy.

Already attracting some 8.7 million visitors, our award-winning website is now poised to enter an exciting new phase in its development with a landmark project that will bring some of these fascinating stories to life. Managing a dynamic team and networking internally as well as with external bodies, your brief will be to create the digital elements of this remarkable initiative.

It's a unique challenge that spells involvement in everything from our online collections and gallery interactives to e-commerce and online marketing. To meet it, you'll be an excellent planner and collaborator with an impressive track record of creating innovative content for large, segmented audiences - probably in the arts, education, media or broadcasting sectors. A passion for user experience is a must, along with an understanding of the potential of a wide range of interactive technologies.

Quoting reference G/HDP

We regret that we are unable to reply to every applicant. If you do not hear from us within three weeks, please assume you have not been shortlisted.

The Museum upholds equal opportunities for all staff and has a no smoking policy.

ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH

- POSITIVE ABOUT DISABLED PEOPLE

INVESTOR IN PEOPLE

Book Reviews from H-Maritime

Heather Hernandez just posted on the Book Discussion list about the following book reviews available through H-Maritime.

The Barbary Wars

Sea of Gray

X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy

Industrializing American Shipbuilding

Position Announcement: Collections Access and Research Associate

Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea is currently seeking a Collections Access and Research Associate to work in the Collections and Research Department. The successful applicant will serve as part of the Access Team providing intellectual, physical and electronic access to the Collections of Mystic Seaport. This is an entry-level position.

Essential functions include, but are not limited to:
• Oversee circulation function of Collection materials to staff, students and volunteers
• Respond to reference requests, including onsite, written, commercial and personal, related to the Collections using all available Collections Access Systems.
• Master the various means of Collections access, including but not limited to Endeavors’s Voyager system, XG, websites, visual files, card files and databases.
• Advise patrons and clients on research and derivative fees when applicable and initiate production orders for Production Team.
• Staff the Collections Reference and Research Room on a regular basis. Duties include reshelving of retrieved Collections materials, circulation of books, answering phones, overseeing reading room, etc.
• Improve and increase public Web resources related to the collections, proofing web pages and databases products.
• Assist in the hosting and developing of digital resources that improve Collections Access.
• Maintain and update Collections Web site.

Requirements include:
• General knowledge of maritime history and terminology
• Desire to learn and work with ever-changing software applications.
• Ability to participate, lead and thrive in a team setting
• Bachelors Degree
• Knowledge of search strategies and information retrieval practices
• Strong foundation and belief in providing superior customer service
• Ability to work with and continuously learn common computer applications
• General computer experience with museum and collections management software preferred.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Access, or SQL
• Detail-oriented and able to handle fragile objects according to collections management standards.

This is a full time (35 hrs./wk) position . Mystic Seaport is an AA/EOE employer.

If you wish to apply for an advertised job opening, you can download an Employment Application (Adobe Acrobat Required) or call 860.572.5346 for an application or e-mail Human Resources. We can only accept applications, accompanied by a resume if you wish, for positions for which we currently have an advertised opening. Applications must be filled out completely on both sides, be signed as well as dated, before they can be accepted for review.

Position Announcement: Collection Management Technician

Mystic Seaport's Collection and Research Department is seeking a Collection Management Technician: Full time (35 hrs./wk.) position assists with care and preservation of Museum’s Collections in storage, in transit and on exhibit. Maintains collections’ records, provides basic conservation and other duties as applicable. Requirements include Bachelor’s degree, ability to lift 50 lbs., general computer skills and valid driver’s license. Background check required. Mystic Seaport is an AA/EOE employer.

If you wish to apply for an advertised job opening, you can download an Employment Application (Adobe Acrobat Required) or call 860.572.5346 for an application or e-mail Human Resources. We can only accept applications, accompanied by a resume if you wish, for positions for which we currently have an advertised opening. Applications must be filled out completely on both sides, be signed as well as dated, before they can be accepted for review.

Christmas List

It's never too early to start thinking about my favorite holiday and a recent article in the Maine Antique Digest certainly got the idea's flowing. I know more than a few people who would appreciate receiving some of the items auctioned off at Christie's July 27th maritime sale.

For those more interested in steamship memorabilia check out the June 1 auction where "A painted cast bronze house flag and name board from a lifeboat aboard the R.M.S. Titanic of the White Star Line realized $72,000." Maine Antique Digest

According to the article items for the Steamship Auction came from "came from the collections of Jan J. Loeff, Ted Marcollo, the Steamship Society of America, dealer Kenneth C. Schultz, and from various other properties."

Maine Maritime Museum lands $1M gift

Full details from the timesrecord.com .

Congratulations!

USS Intrepid to Close for Repairs

The USS Intrepid closes after this weekend for a 58 million dollar overhaul that will include repainting the Intrepid's hull and rebuilding the Hudson River pier that has been its home at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

In addition, some areas that have been closed to visitors, including crew living quarters in the lower decks, will be fixed up so that they can become part of the tour when the museum reopens in the fall of 2008.

Newsday story

Job Posting:Collections Manager in St. Michaels, Maryland

Salary: Open
Type: Full Time - Experienced

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum seeks an organized candidate to facilitate public and internal access and intellectual property rights for growing object, image and oral history collections. Duties include cataloging, generating and updating loan agreements, supervision of collections volunteers, maintaining database records and contributing to exhibition development.

Requirements:
Bachelors in an appropriate field, MA preferred; and experience with museum collections required. Must be meticulous, highly organized and conscientious, but also flexible and able to take initiative. Basic Keyboarding and computer skills are necessary. Should be competent with databases and have good oral and written communications skills. Must receive resume by October 20, 2006.

Required Education: 4 Year Degree



Apply online at http://museumcareers.aam-us.org/jobdetail.cfm?job=2423506.32

CFP: Naval and Maritime History

The History Department of the United States Naval Academy invites proposals for papers to be presented at its 2007 Naval History Symposium in Annapolis, Maryland, from 20-22 September 2007. For decades, the Naval History Symposium has been a hallmark of the Academy's History Department, though curtailed in recent years due to the 9/11 attacks. The 2007 Symposium will mark its full resumption. We anticipate its robust continuation well into the future.

Proposals dealing with any aspect of naval and maritime history are welcome. Paper proposals should include an abstract not exceeding 250 words and a one-page vita. Proposals for panels are also encouraged and should contain an abstract and vita for each panelist. Mail proposals to Dr. M. Yu, History Department (12C), The United States Naval Academy, 107 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5044, or send electronic proposals to yu@usna.edu. The deadline for submitting proposals is 19
January 2007. The program committee expects to finalize the program in March 2007 and final versions of papers are due by 1 August 2007.

A limited number of travel stipends are available to scholars residing outside the United States and to graduate students living within the United States. Please indicate your desire to apply for a travel stipend in the cover letter or email that contains your proposal.

The program committee will award prizes to the best papers presented at the Symposium. As in the past, we will publish selected papers at a later date.

All inquiries should be sent to yu@usna.edu. For more details and updates, visit our website at http://www.usna.edu/History/Symposium.htm

or

Papers Invited