Archival Internship Opportunities

The Archives Center has opportunities for fall, spring, and summer internships.  Interns undertake projects involving preparation of collections for research use and dissemination of collections information through print and electronic media. The project will entail processing as well as cataloging archival collections.

Requirements:

The selected candidate may negotiate their work schedule, but an internship requires at least 20 hours per week for 8 weeks. Some interns choose to devote more hours (up to 40 hours per week) or stay for longer periods of time (from 3 months to 1 year). Your choices depend on whether there is an appropriate project that coincides with what you want to learn and whether the staff is available to work with you.

Interns assist in arranging and describing archival collections documenting primarily 19th- and 20th-century American music, material and pop culture, business, and technology. They may also serve as reference room assistants.

Work can include any of the following activities:

• Understand, identify, arrange, describe, and categorize archival collections
• Research and interpret archives
• Catalog archival collections
• Create finding aids to collections
• Build custom enclosures such as boxes, sink mats, and phase boxes
• Assist with scanning of archival materials and managing digital assets
• Assist researchers; receive or reshelve collection materials

• Degree or expected degree in history or library science preferred
• Archival experience, word processing, and database skills useful

Applicants should submit an application and all appropriate materials. There are three placement periods throughout the year:

• Spring (January - May) Deadline: October 15th
• Summer (June - August) Deadline: February 1st
• Fall (September - December) Deadline: July 15th

Applications and inquiries should be direct to Suzanne McLaughlin, Internship and Fellowship Manager, Office of Internships and Fellowships, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, MRC 605, PO Box 37012, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012; phone 202-633-3556; fax 202-786-2851; E-mail: nmahintern@si.edu. 

Further Information:

Requests for further information should be directed to Alison Oswald, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Behring Center, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012; phone 202-633-3726; fax 202-786-2453; E-mail: oswalda@si.edu.

Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation

The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution has opportunities for summer internships. 

Archival interns will be located in the Museum's Archives Center. The interns will undertake a major project involving preparation of collections for research use and dissemination of collection information through print and electronic media. Other areas that they may be involved include subject area survey of archival holdings, development of multimedia products, and oral and video history documentation. Interns must be enrolled in a graduate degree program and have completed graduate course work in archival, library, or information management, and/or graduate course work in American history, American Studies, Museum Studies, Public History, or another area that relates to the history of invention and innovation in American society. Recent graduates may also apply.

Internships are offered on a full time basis for a ten week period. The internship stipend is $4,000 plus a travel allowance.

Applicants should submit application packets by March 1 each year. Internship offers will be made approximately April 1 prior to the summer term.

Requests for further information should be directed to Alison L. Oswald, Archivist, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012; phone 202-633-3726; fax 202-786-2453; E-mail: oswalda@si.edu.

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