Specialty Tours Associate

The Specialty Tour Associate (part-time) at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House supports the project Centering African American Stories. Primary duties include researching, writing, and conducting tours and other interpretive duties highlighting African American stories that took place in the past 200 years on this site and engaging the African American community of the Walnut Hills neighborhood and the city of Cincinnati in creating the mechanisms for sharing those stories. 

Specialty Tours Associate

The Friends of Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati, Ohio is hiring a part-time Specialty Tours Associate. This is a part-time position at 12 hours/week.  This position is in conjunction with a specific interpretive project. Initial funding is for 12 months.  Extension to a permanent position is possible. 

About Harriet Beecher Stowe House
The Harriet Beecher Stow​e House hosts a dual-time period interpretation. We interpret the 1840 abolitionist history of the House, including antislavery author and activist Harriet Beecher Stowe. We also interpret the 1940 history of the House when it functioned as an African American boarding house, tavern, and community center within the Black business district. Located in the historic neighborhood of Walnut Hills in Cincinnati, OH, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House provides educational tours, lectures, discussion groups, and community events.

Current Interpretive Project

The primary goal for this project, Centering African American Stories, is to highlight African American stories that took place within our space and engage the African American community of the Walnut Hills neighborhood and the city of Cincinnati in creating the mechanisms for sharing those stories. During the 1940s, the fundraising committee for purchasing the House and turning it into a historic site was made up of a multiracial and multireligious group.  As the former Beecher family home, and a physical connection to Harriet and the anti-slavery movement, they viewed the House as a “lighthouse symbolizing good will and better understanding.” In conjunction with the dual-time period Restoration, we are currently working on implementation of a new interpretive plan and overall strategic planning.  Both have a major component that focuses on increasing our capacity and increasing our engagement with the African American community.  Through new specialty tours, we will center Black voices, draw in a larger Black audience, and expose more visitors to these important components of our overall story. 

Responsibilities
The Specialty Tour Associate supports the functions of creating great visitor experiences for a diverse audience.  Primary duties include researching, writing, and conducting tours and other interpretive duties that are focused on African American perspectives and experiences.

Job Duties

• Research stories connected to the African American history of the House
• Potentially conduct oral history interviews with neighbors and friends
• Create programs and tour scripts to utilize for specialty tour engagement opportunities
• Appropriately address visitor and member needs to increase satisfaction
• Ensure that interpretive programs fulfill their mission related focus of facilitating historical exploration, inspiring positive change, and supporting dialogue about social issues related to the House’s heritage

• Serve as a lead docent for created Specialty tours
• Supply staff support during regular tour hours, on a rotating scheduled basis

• Partake in specialized training for delivery techniques and exhibit content
• As needed, provide program delivery support for programs and discussion groups

• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills/Training
Associate must be organized, self-motivated, and have a great rapport with others.  Skills in research, writing, and teaching are critical for successful performance.  These may consist of formal training in these areas, or lived experience.

Additional Requirements

Hours are to be determined based on hours of operation and program schedule, this includes frequent weekend hours and occasional weeknight hours. Research and writing hours will be flexible.

Education/Experience

Associate should have a BA and 1 year experience in historic site interpretation or research and storytelling.  Or Associate should have a high school diploma and 3 years’ experience historic site interpretation or research and storytelling.

Compensation
$18.25 per hour for 12 hours/week.  There is currently no benefits package. 

To Apply
Send a resume and cover letter to Christina Hartlieb at chartlieb@stowehousecincy.org by January 29, 2024.  Include your last name in the file name.