Job Description
Project Overview
I am a researcher seeking a detail-oriented research assistant to support a dissertation project examining the spatial history of Black musical and cultural institutions in:
Buffalo, New York
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The project involves building a structured dataset of historical venues and institutions (such as jazz clubs and community spaces) to support spatial and historical analysis.
Responsibilities
You will:
Identify historical cultural institutions (jazz venues, music spaces, community organizations)
Collect and organize:
Institution names
Historical locations (as precise as possible)
Approximate years of operation
Use sources such as:
Newspapers
City directories
Archival materials
Record sources clearly for each entry
Prepare a clean dataset in Excel or CSV format suitable for mapping and analysis
Key Research Areas
Buffalo, New York:
Michigan Street Corridor area
Colored Musicians Club
Surrounding cultural institutions
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
Hill District
Jazz and cultural venues referenced in historical sources (including Jazz in the Hill)
Black press sources such as the Pittsburgh Courier
Deliverables
Clean dataset (Excel or CSV)
Source citations for all entries
Notes on estimated or uncertain information
Organized and consistent formatting
Required Skills
Strong historical or archival research experience
Ability to work with incomplete historical records
Attention to detail and documentation
Preferred Skills
Familiarity with GIS tools (ArcGIS, QGIS, or similar)
Background in urban history, cultural research, or related fields
Experience using historical newspapers or directories
Important Notes
All data must be based on verifiable sources
Do not assume or fabricate missing information
Clearly label estimates or uncertain entries
To Apply
Please include:
A brief summary of relevant experience
Any example of similar research or data work
Your approach to working with incomplete historical data
Include the word “Corridor” in your response to confirm you have read the full description.
Compensation
Flexible and based on experience and scope
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