The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University is seeking a Literary Curator to collect, preserve, and present the literary heritage of Texas and the Southwest through its major writers. Reporting to the Director of the Wittliff Collections, the Literary Curator is responsible for acquiring literary archives and supporting materials for the Southwestern Writers Collection, curating collection exhibitions, organizing public programs, editing our literary book series with TAMU Press, and presenting the collection to both academic and non-academic communities through public talks, programming support, reference services, and tours. The Literary Curator participates actively in digitization, marketing/PR, and other public-facing initiatives, and contributes to the collection’s intellectual control. 

Founded in 1986, The Wittliff Collections is the nationally renowned research center, archive, and museum at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Our mission is to collect, preserve, and present the cultural heritage of Texas, the Southwest & Mexico through the works of the region’s storytellers—writers, photographers, musicians, filmmakers, and other artists—to educate, engage, and inspire. The Wittliff includes a research archive, nine exhibition galleries spanning 12,000 square feet, and a special collections library. We present major exhibitions year-round; host readings, artist talks, lectures, and other events; publish significant books from our holdings; and make our collections available to researchers from all over the world. 

Job Duties 

• Collection Acquisitions: In consultation with the Director, acquire literary archive and supporting materials for the Southwestern Writers Collection through purchase and gift, including execution of all relevant paperwork. Fundamental to this activity is the development and consistent stewardship of positive relationships with significant writers and the literary community, including maintaining relationships with writers & estates whose papers are part of The Wittliff’s collections. Also responsible for conducting preservation and condition assessments of incoming literary materials prior to acquisition, and for performing initial inventory of these materials.

• Exhibition Curation: Curate literary-based exhibitions in various Wittliff galleries by proposing exhibit ideas, researching the collections, and selecting materials while maintaining proper preservation and intellectual/physical control. Create digital reproductions when appropriate, format and mount selected items, arrange items for display and write and create all interpretative labels. Create AV components as needed and coordinate any outside work needed, such as framing items, painting, or lighting of galleries.

• Series Editor: Serve as series editor of the Literary book series with TAMU Press; develop the books’ proposals, select and hire volume editors and authors as appropriate. Serve as volume editor when needed. Perform editing as needed for each volume. Secure permissions/rights to publish copyrighted material. Coordinate with TAMU Press, authors, and editors to ensure target deadlines for all phases are met.

• Public Engagement: Propose, organize, and execute literary-related public programs for non-academic communities, such as artist talks and conversations, panel discussions, and symposia. These often include providing introductions and panel moderation. Engage with external scholars via reference work as necessary in coordination with Wittliff archivists. Engage with the general public and K-12 groups by conducting tours and instruction.

• Academic Engagement: Collaborate with TXST faculty to employ Wittliff Collections materials in their teaching and research activities and in developing programs that engage undergraduate and graduate TXST students. Engage and work with students through Wittliff internships, fellowships, and research assistantships.

• Access and Outreach: Actively participate in digitization projects, marketing/PR projects, and other public-facing projects, including writing press releases for major literary acquisitions, writing literary-related event and exhibition descriptions for the Wittliff website, and regularly updating the Wittliff website relating to the Southwestern Writers Collection.

Required Qualifications: Applicants must specifically address how they meet these required qualifications to meet the requirements of the position. 

• Master’s degree in a relevant field

• Knowledge of historical and contemporary Southwestern and Texas literature

• A broadly established network of relationships within the literary world

• Strong writing, organizational, and interpersonal skills 

• Ability to build trust and maintain positive relationships with a variety of people, including writers, donors, visitors, students, faculty, and staff
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience writing about Texas/Southwestern literary matters

• Public speaking ability

• Experience planning public programs for academic and non-academic communities 

• Experience handling literary archives

• Experience curating, fabricating, and installing exhibitions

• Software/computing skills including basic Adobe Photoshop proficiency

• Experience engaging and working with university faculty and students 

• Publishing experience