Library and Information Science: Cultural Heritage Informatics + History
Do you love history? Preserve it for future generations
You are passionate about cultural heritage in all forms — including rare books, manuscripts, archives, art objects, and digital information. Simmons offers an exciting opportunity to earn a Library and Information Science (MS): Cultural Heritage Informatics + History (MA).
This dual degree provides foundational knowledge in library science within the context of United States history, politics, and culture. It builds upon Simmons’ top-rated programs in library and information science and archives management.
Thanks to our Boston location in historic New England, you will access resources uncommon in other parts of the country. You may choose to conduct research projects at our many world-renowned libraries and institutions. Our faculty members — established experts — will help you achieve your career goals.
Our dual Master of Arts in History and the Master of Science in Library and Information Science — focusing on cultural heritage informatics — prepares you for careers at heritage institutions. Our graduates manage collections at libraries, archives, museums, and more.
You’ll graduate ready to build collections, make them accessible, and preserve cultural heritage for future generations.
Library Careers at Heritage Institutions
Our graduate students find successful careers in varied settings. Our alumnae/I work at library special collections, archives, museums, historical societies, and many public and private institutions charged with preserving cultural heritage.
Many employers seek out information professionals with advanced communication, historical research, technology, and project management skills. Institutions need these skills and knowledge to build, organize, and preserve cultural heritage collections.
Common settings of our graduates include archives, colleges and universities, museums and cultural heritage sites, public libraries, foundations, government agencies, and corporations.
Our Faculty
Peter Botticelli
Associate Professor and Director, Cultural Heritage Informatics Concentration
Sarah Leonard
Associate Professor
Heather Hole
Professor, disciplines of Museum Studies and Art History
Donia Conn
Associate Professor of Practice
Steve Berry
Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director of History
Spotlight on our Students and Alums
SLIS Student Receives Josephine Forman Scholarship
School of Library and Information Science Student Rai Terry ’26MS was named the 2025 recipient of the Josephine Forman Scholarship.
Centering Native Stories and Decolonizing Archives
Sage Loyema Innerarity ’25MS, Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California, reflects on her time as a Simmons graduate student — living in Boston, finding community, and taking advantage of professional development opportunities.
Simmons Library and Information Science Student and Indigenous Archives Enthusiast Receives Mosaic Scholarship
Graduate student Sage Loyema Innerarity ‘25MS, a citizen of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California, is the 2024 recipient of the Mosaic Scholarship given by the Society of American Archivists.
Meet Sage Loyema Innerarity ’25MS: Emerging Trailblazer in Tribal Archives
This fall, Sage Loyema Innerarity, a citizen of the Ione Band of Miwok Indians of California, began graduate studies at the Simmons School of Library and Information Science. Working in cooperation with Indigenous individuals, she builds and preserves tribal archives. Innerarity spoke with us about the importance of community, Native literature, and remembrance.
Ifill Graduate Students’ Thesis Presentations: Abolition, Women’s Social Movements, and Southern Baking
On December 15, 2021, Ifill College students from the Graduate programs in History and Gender & Cultural Studies presented their research at the virtual fall 2021 Colloquia. Thirteen students shared their work in front of peers, faculty, family, and friends...
Susann Vaeth '18MA Studies Conflicting Narratives Within History
A former high school teacher, Susann now studies the construction of texts used in schools. You recently graduated from the MA in history program at Simmons. What's next for you? I'll be pursuing a Ph.D. at Brandeis University, focusing on...