Volunteer - Research Assistant

Job Title:

Historian Assistant/Researcher

Job Description:

Fort Smith National Historic Site continues to be a main research center for the region. Research conducted here involves every aspect of Fort Smith from 1817 to 1896. The park also has in storage hundreds of paper documents, maps, microfilm, and digitized information. In order to keep up with the vast amount of research requests, a VIP Historian Assistant/Researcher is in high demand. This assistant will provide help to staff, volunteers, and researchers looking for specific books, files, or any research material the park currently has. The VIP may be called upon to upon to find files, answer research requests, and will work in conjunction with the park historian to further the knowledge and understanding of Fort Smith. VIP uniform provided.

Skills Needed / Preferred:

• Ability to accurately and honestly conduct research
• Willingness to work with staff, researchers, etc. to help find selected files and research material
• Flexibility for various types of schedules
• Ability to be detail oriented and work well without supervision

Goals / Outcomes of Job:

Help promote the study, research quality, understanding, and appreciation of the importance of Fort Smith.

Benefits to Volunteers:

Ability to work with researchers, learn Fort Smith’s story, build research and filing skills, help enhance researcher and park staff research ability, gain experience with the National Park Service. VIP uniform provided

Number of volunteers needed:

Numbers vary.

Location of Position:

Visitor Center Library Research/File Storage Area

Supervisor:

Loren McLane

Contact:

Cody Faber, VIP Coordinator
479-783-3961
Email us

Firearms in the Park:

Under 43 C.F.R. § 20.511, Departmental volunteers in the course of their official duties are prohibited from possessing firearms on property under control of the Department. Because of the stated purpose of the sponsors of Section 512 to provide uniformity under applicable state law from bureau-to-bureau, the potential liability issues that could result, and the absence of any criminal penalties applicable to this regulation, this Departmental policy continues to apply to all NPS/FWS employees and volunteers during their official duties. Volunteers who are not on official duty may possess firearms on Departmental lands under the same conditions applicable to members of the general public, according to P.L. 111-24, Section 512. For this purpose, volunteers are considered the same as other employees when engaged in their official activities