Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals

Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals seeks a new Editor-in-Chief (EIC) to begin in January 2026. Building upon the EIC and Editorial Board’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as the cultivation of emerging professionals to write and serve the journal in various capacities, the journal seeks an individual or team with the capacity and abilities to introduce, cultivate, and embrace new perspectives will lead the journal, and the field of collections, in unseen directions.

Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals is not a society journal. It is a project of SAGE (initially published by Walnut Creek, AltaMira; and Rowman, before transitioning to SAGE in 2017). The relationship with SAGE affords opportunities for authors from across numerous fields and membership societies to bring their research to publication in a timely manner. 

The Editor-In-Chief (EIC) is the head of the editorial team. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinating and cultivating the journal’s Editorial Board;
• Convening the annual Editorial Board Summit once per year on Zoom (or similar platform);
• Advancing the Editorial Board’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives;
• Working with the Editorial team/Editorial Board to develop Focus Issues which are curated around a theme and usually overseen by one or more members of the Editorial Board;
• Framing journal editorial policy jointly with SAGE, working with the Editorial team on development plans, indexing strategy, and initiatives decisioned by the Board;
• Actively recruiting authors to contribute to the journal;
• Promptly responding to author queries, escalating or referring any issues to SAGE as needed;
• Managing submissions
• Inviting referees from personal network, connections of the Editorial Board, and online submission site for papers assigned on the system
• Rendering a final decision on all submissions
• Ensuring an adequate flow of material to meet the publication schedules;

Application requirements:

The EIC may come from research, practice, or both, and will seamlessly navigate the spaces of archives, museums, and special collections, with an eye to collections (rather than curatorial or other matters, primarily). The EIC will have the support, expertise, and leadership of the international Editorial Board who reflect diverse geographies, perspectives, approaches, and capacities.

 

• Current curriculum vitae, including a list of publications
• Letter of intent explaining your interest in the role

Recent articles have addressed the following areas of interest: women and museums; photographic preservation and collections management; the Smithsonian Institution Transcription Center; Atlantic world archives of Louisiana; provenance research; legal issues involving collections; and “hazardous heritage” involving dangerous materials in cultural heritage.

About the journal:

Established in 2004, Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals publishes multi-disciplinary, peer-reviewed explorations of the issues, practices, and policies related to collections. The journal addresses all aspects of handling, preserving, researching, interpreting, and organizing collections. Archivists, librarians, curators, collections managers, registrars, scholars, and professionals at every stage of their research and practice contribute to the journal, serve as peer reviewers, and comprise the Editorial Board.

Key links:

• Journal homepage
• Editorial Board
• About the journal
• Author guidelines
• Submission site
• Published articles

 

 

Terms:

The EIC term is three years, with annual renewal following that period. Should an Editor wish to continue their tenure, they are eligible to serve two 7-year terms on a single journal for a total of 14 years.

Upon being named the incoming Editor-in-Chief, the candidate will undergo a period of orientation with the journal’s current Editor, Dr. Juilee Decker, jdgsh@rit.edu, will precede the beginning of the term (November-December 2025).

 

The position is supported by an annual honorarium from SAGE.

 

How to apply:

All applications and questions should be directed to the journal editor, Dr. Juilee Decker, jdgsh@rit.edu, by March 1, 2025. The announcement will be made by July 1, with the orientation to begin in November 2025.