Associate Curator

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts’ premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do.

We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non‑profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website,(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Salary: $59,500 - $76,500

* New hires are typically placed between Tier I and Tier III within the range, $59,500 - $69,700*

Hours per week: 40

Job Classification:
Full‑Time, Exempt

Location Type:
Onsite

Location:

Harvard & Concord, MA

As the Associate Curator, you will bring collections and exhibitions experience with an innovative and engaging vision to the curation and interpretation of the historic houses and historic collections within the Metrowest region (primarily Fruitlands Museum and the Old Manse).

Located in Harvard, Massachusetts, Fruitlands Museum sits on 210 acres of land, including four historic and gallery buildings and a visitors’ center. The original 90 acres of land were purchased in 1843 by Charles Lane and Bronson Alcott with the intention of creating a Transcendentalist experiment. Ultimately, the community disbanded after only seven months, but left a lasting cultural impact exemplified in works by Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, and other transcendentalist figures.

In 1914 the property was purchased by Clara Endicott Sears, who established a museum in the 1820s farmhouse, the only building original to the property. Today, the farmhouse is designated as a National Historic Landmark, and the entire campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The collections at Fruitlands Museum encompass objects and archives relating to 19th century portraits, Hudson River School landscapes, the Shakers, Native American culture, Americana, and archaeology.

Built in 1770, the Old Manse, A National Historic Landmark, sits on the banks of the Concord River overlooking the North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, where the first battle of the American Revolution took place. The Georgian clapboard house was built for patriot minister William Emerson and was later home to Ralph Waldo Emerson, who drafted his influential essay “Nature” in the house, and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Today a variety of tours are offered, each focused on one of the multi‑disciplinary histories of the Old Manse and its occupants. The Old Manse is often described as the home to two revolutions for its leading role in the American Revolution and the Transcendentalist Movement.

As the Associate Curator, you will create installations and exhibitions that are fresh, original, welcoming, and educational, and assist with related public programming. This position is highly collaborative and works closely with regional and state‑wide teams, including Historic Collections, Stewardship, Exhibitions, and Engagement, among others. Together with colleagues, the Associate Curator plans conservation, preservation, and restoration projects, at the object, room, and building level.

Beyond scholarly and conservation work, the Associate Curator develops public engagement that inspires and provokes visitors to broaden their horizons through interactive experiences guided by a clear and compelling interpretative story. The Curator will have expertise in 18th to 20th century Material Culture and American History, with a background in the New England region as well as special interests in land, environment, and place.

• Provide scholarly and creative support for…