Comegys Bight
Internship Opportunities, Summer 2016
Applications Due March 1, 2016
American Philosophical Society
Philadelphia, PA
Research Intern
The American Philosophical Society promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities
through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, support of young scholars,
publications, library resources, a museum and community outreach. This country’s first learned
society, the APS has played an important role in American cultural and intellectual life for over 250
years.
Summary of Position:
The APS is undertaking the complete digitization of the William Parker Foulke Papers. Foulke was
a leading intellectual, reformer, scientist, and industrialist in nineteenth century Philadelphia. He was
involved in abolition and prison reform, even helping create the plans for a new type of prison in
Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Foulke’s interests were varied: he wrote history and fiction, and is most
notable for discovering the first complete dinosaur in the world in 1858 in Haddonfield, New
Jersey. He was also a supporter of artic exploration, was involved in opening major coal mines in
the nineteenth century. In short, his papers are extremely rich and of high research interest.
The papers were involved in a fire and are in a severe state of degradation. APS is aiming to digitize
the materials to both increase access to them and to preserve the originals. The intern will, under
the supervision of library staff, undertake the digitization effort. Interns will learn about digitization,
archival science, project planning, and digital library software. They will also interact with the
conservation department.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
New York, New York
Collections Intern
The Gilder Lehrman Collection is a unique archive of primary sources in American history. Held by
the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and located at the New-York Historical Society,
the Collection includes more than 60,000 letters, diaries, maps, pamphlets, printed books,
newspapers, photographs, and ephemera that document the political, social, and economic history of
the United States. An extensive resource, the Collection ranges from 1493 through the twentieth
century and is widely considered one of the nation’s great archives in the Revolutionary, early
national, antebellum, and Civil War periods.
Summary of Position:
Gilder Lehrman seeks a highly organized, motivated intern to assist in preparing archival materials
for use by patrons and digitization. There are several major components to the internship:
performing a survey of archival materials and implementing an inventory control system;
management of digital images; assisting with educational workshops and assisting with a summer
camp on using primary sources.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Interpretation and Education Internship
This National Historical Park is more than one event, one date, or one individual. It is multi-layered
- involving a diverse number of people and events that influenced the course of our nation's history.
Harpers Ferry witnessed the first successful application of interchangeable manufacture, the arrival
of the first successful American railroad, John Brown's attack on slavery, the largest surrender of
Federal troops during the Civil War, and the education of former slaves in one of the earliest
integrated schools in the United States.
Summary of Position:
The internship requires strong communication skills to both introduce and provide a National Park
experience for the general public. The internship also includes the presentation of a guided tour on
any one or all of these nationally significant and site-specific topics: John Brown, Civil War, African
American history, Industrial history, Transportation history, Landscape history. Housing is provided.
Historic Jamestowne
Jamestown, Virginia
Education Intern
Historic Jamestowne is owned and managed through a private/public partnership among the
National Park Service, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (Preservation
Virginia), and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Historic Jamestowne includes the original site
of the 1607 settlement, the archaeological operations of Jamestown Rediscovery, as well as the
visitor center and interpretive facilities of the National Park Service.
Jamestown Rediscovery seeks an education intern for the summer of 2016. The education intern will
assist the education department with summertime programs for schools and families at the "Ed
Shed" an on-site hands-on activity center. The education intern will also be expected to research,
write, and conduct his or her own archaeological tour for the visiting public at Historic Jamestowne.
This position will also provide opportunities to conduct school tours and help the education team
develop student-based curriculum for the upcoming school year. This position will provide good
entry-level experience in program development, public history, and working with archaeological
material found at James Fort, the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America.
Library of Congress
Washington, DC
Publishing Intern
The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and largest library in the world,
with more than 150 million books, manuscripts, images, and recordings.
The Library of Congress Publishing Office (LCPO), the headquarters of the Library's General
Publishing Program, produces books (of interest to both general readers and scholars), companion
volumes to Library of Congress exhibitions, and other materials based on the Library's vast and
diverse collections and activities. All LCPO publications aim to present engaging text that will draw
readers into the many stories comprising the nation’s, and the world’s history. LCPO is located in
the James Madison Memorial Building, the newest of the three Library of Congress buildings on
Capitol Hill, across from the U.S. Capitol.
Interns help further the work of the Publishing Office by doing both image and factual research in
the Library's collections - thus becoming familiar with many of the Library's custodial divisions
(Prints and Photographs, Manuscript, Rare Book, etc.) - and in other ways assisting in the
development of publishing projects (editing, proofreading, drafting text for captions and other
material, etc.). Currently, LCPO is developing books and book proposals on subjects as varied as a
history of early baseball as revealed in an LC collection of baseball cards; Homeplace (photographs
and recordings documenting the change in rural Mississippi live and culture between the 1970s and
the present); America, the World and the Great War (an illustrated history of the U.S. experience, and
international relations, at the time of World War I); American women cartoonists and illustrators;
the work and influence of architect Richard Morris Hunt; papermaking in Fabriano Italy; the Farm
Security Administration’s Depression-era program of documentary photography; and the history of
pirates (as in “ahoy, matey”). Some LCPO interns have created their own proposals for publishing
projects that have been accepted and pursued. Internships are characterized by variety, flexibility,
and creativity.
Library of Congress
Washington, DC
Center for the Book
The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and largest library in the world,
with more than 150 million books, manuscripts, images, and recordings.
Maryland State Archives
Annapolis, Maryland
Research Intern
As the historical agency for Maryland, the State Archives is the central depository for government
records of permanent value. Records date from the founding of the Maryland colony in 1634
through the beginning of this century. The State Archives identifies, appraises, acquires, describes,
preserves, and makes physically and electronically available (in a secure and dynamic environment)
the permanent records of Maryland’s past
Archival Intern
Interns will engage in a variety of activities related to the management and preservation of archival
collections. Individual intern assignments will vary, but duties may include handling, identifying,
containerizing, and labeling records and creating, confirming, and updating inventories.
Conservation intern
The intern will work on multiple projects under the supervision of the Conservation staff. The
intern will work on various projects as they come through the lab including pre scanning treatment
such as heat set tissue and simple Japanese repairs on older pieces. The Intern will also complete
tasks for the Library. Book binding, paper repair and book recasing will be taught as needed to
finish this project.
Artistic Property Intern
The intern’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, assisting Artistic Property staff in a
variety of collection management tasks, researching and cataloging artifacts, database processing, art
handling, updating the collections web-site, and management of object and administrative records.
Special Collections Intern
The intern will assist the Director of Special Collections with collections care for our photography
and audio-visual holdings. This project is an effort to preserve and improve public access to
photographic materials (negatives, transparencies, and prints), video records, 16mm and 35mm film,
and audio recordings in Special Collections, and to assess the current state of preservation of these
perishable media.
Women’s Hall of Fame Intern
Intern will conduct research and write in-depth biographies of honorees in the Maryland Women's
Hall of Fame. Intern will use a mixture of research databases, and primary and secondary sources to
prepare biographies for inclusion on the Archives' website.
National Archives and Records Administration
Washington, DC
Education Intern
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation’s record keeper. Of all
documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal
government, only 1-to-3 percent are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by
NARA forever.
There are four internships available.
Students majoring in history, education, political science, American studies, public history, museum
studies, or a related field are a good match for this internship. Interns must enjoy working with
people, understand historical methods, have excellent interpersonal skills, have strong writing skills,
and be able to work in teams and independently.
Boeing Learning Center Internship
Boeing Learning Center interns help visitors of all ages become excited about history and engage
them in document-based activities. The internship duties are varied and include:
assisting with Constitution-related workshops for students, leading visitors in hands-on museum
activities, conducting research to identify documents for educational materials and program, working
with DocsTeach, the National Archives’ lesson-plan building website, writing blog posts and
supporting teacher workshop activities.
Volunteer Program Internship
The main focus of the internship is to help with training volunteers who work with the public in
museum spaces: interns will participate in training sessions for docents, and information desk and
Boeing Learning Center volunteers. As they build their knowledge of the Archives and the
requirements of working with visitors at the Archives, they will develop curriculum, lead sessions,
give their own tours, and evaluate the work of volunteers. The intern will also participate in the
other activities of the education team, helping to work with visitors in the Boeing Learning Center
and on behind-the-scenes projects to support educational programs at the National Archives.
Public Programming Internship
Public programs interns support National Archives Museum operations and help develop and
research public programs, topics, and speakers for panel discussions, author lectures, film, and
theater programs. Interns will help promote and publicize public programs, assist with the operation
of public programs, creating social media and writing blog posts, and creating and editing
promotional materials.
Research Internship
The intern will support public outreach activities at the National Archives by conducting research
for upcoming programs and education activities. Research interns search for archival materials on
topics determined by education office staff. They assess items for usefulness in education programs,
digitize materials, record complete citations, and develop educational activities based on the records
they find. Specific duties also include: working with DocsTeach, the National Archives’ lesson-plan
building website, supporting teacher workshop activities, writing blog posts, and leading visitors in
hands-on museum activities.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Atlanta, Georgia
Intern
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a non-profit world class organization in the
heart of Downtown Atlanta. The Center educates visitors on the American Civil Rights Movement
and contemporary global human rights issues, and inspires them to become personally involved.
The Center is seeking an intern to assist in one of the following departments: communications,
social media, public programming or resource development. The Center is a fast-paced
environment. The ideal candidate is computer savvy, deadline and detail oriented, highly flexible
and a self-starter. The job description will be developed with the Department Manager to whom
the position is assigned. Candidates should have: excellent writing and verbal communications skills,
demonstrable personal interest in civil and human rights, and professional office, email and phone
etiquette.
National Constitution Center
Philadelphia, PA
Located on Independence Mall in historic Philadelphia, the National Constitution Center illuminates
constitutional ideals through interactive exhibits, performances, and special programs. The Center
engages leaders of government, public policy, journalism and scholarship in timely public
discussions and debates, and offers civic learning resources both onsite and online.
There are two internships available.
Exhibitions Intern
The Exhibitions Intern will assist in office tasks that support the preparation of exhibition
installments, cataloguing historical documents and artifacts, assisting in research, evaluations, and
development and installation of our traveling exhibitions.
Museum Program Intern
The Museum Programs internship is offered to students who are interested in working on exhibits
and educational programming. Love history and want to find an exciting position that brings it to
life for children? Join the museum programs team and help develop activities for children and
families. Position will be responsible for research and writing of museum programs for general
visitation and special events, as well as traveling exhibitions.
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC
History Department Intern
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery tells the history of America through individuals who
have shaped its culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts and new media, the Portrait Gallery
portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the
American story.
This internship is with the History Department of the National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian
Institution, working under the direct supervision of the Senior Historian and in cooperation with
other historians and curators. The National Portrait Gallery is charged with recognizing, through
portraiture, the lives of individuals who have made significant contributions to American history and
culture. It is both an art museum and a museum of history and biography.
The selected intern will slot into working on one or more special exhibitions projects currently
underway at the History Department; these projects include: “The Sweat of their Face: Portraying
American Workers,” “Breaking the Frame: Mario Testino Photographs,” “WEB DuBois: Intellect
and Advocacy,” and “1898: American Imperium.” Tasks will include everything from clerical duties
(there will not be much of this kind of work but it would include things like assembling and
maintaining research files) to historical and biographical research on selected topics/subjects, to
writing labels, wall texts, head notes and other written materials (education brochures, pamphlets,
flyers). In addition to work on the museum exhibitions, the intern may also be assigned to work on
exhibition catalogs that are underway for the several exhibitions; again the work would range from
basic publishing tasks (proofreading, assembling bibliographies) to photograph research to light
editing and writing.
In addition to these special projects, the intern will be involved in the ongoing work of maintaining
and rotating the permanent collection of the NPG: tasks would include assembling research
materials and writing assessments for candidates for the permanent collection, writing label texts for
new objects, and otherwise participating in the ongoing work of the Historian’s Office.
President Lincoln’s Cottage
Washington, DC
Intern
Designated a National Monument in 2000, President Lincoln’s Cottage served as Lincoln’s family
residence for a quarter of his presidency and is where he was living when he developed his
Emancipation Proclamation. President Lincoln’s Cottage is located on the grounds of the Armed
Forces Retirement Home in northwest Washington, DC.
The summer intern will assist with the Students Opposing Slavery International Summit from June
20-24, 2016. The Summit is a youth engagement program that convenes a group of high school
students from all over the world at President Lincoln’s Cottage to learn about modern slavery and to
strategize ways that they can take action against modern slavery in their own communities. Also, the
intern will help develop an online course on antislavery legislation, past and present. The self-paced,
web-based course provides teachers and museum frontline staff, as well as self-proclaimed lifelong
learners, the opportunity to expand their knowledge of antislavery legislation and freedom in United
States history. The course is designed to take participants through antislavery legislation beginning in
the pre-Civil War era to the fight against modern day slavery today. The intern would be responsible
for organizing and formatting content received from scholars, following-up on outstanding requests
from scholars, and working with the PLC education depart to develop supporting content and text
for the website.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Washington, DC
Research Intern
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is home to one of the largest and most inclusive collections
of American art in the world. Its artworks reveal key aspects of America’s rich artistic and cultural
history from the colonial period to today.
The intern will work with the Senior Curator Eleanor Harvey as a research assistant on a project
titled “American Cosmos,” an exhibition and book considering the impact of the German naturalist
Alexander von Humboldt on American art, literature, science, exploration, and politics during the
19th century. The primary goals for the summer internship are to identify the key works of art, maps,
scientific instruments, and other materials that would form the core of the exhibition checklist. In
order to accomplish this, the curator and research assistant will meet regularly to go over research
materials, look at works of art, and develop the initial exhibition plan. The intern will engage in
primary research using 19th century newspapers, journals, and correspondence, and use these
materials to establish the network of connections between these leading cultural figures and
Humboldt. The ideal candidate will have a basic knowledge of American history and culture between
1800 and 1900, and an interest in the intersection of art and scientific exploration. The ability to read
either German or French is not required, but may prove useful.
U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Historian
Washington, DC
Research Intern
Based at the U.S. Capitol, the Office of the Historian preserves, collects, and interprets the heritage
of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving as the institution’s memory and a resource for
Members, staff, and the general public.
The Office of the Historian seeks an intern with a strong interest in history. Responsibilities include
assistance in day-to-day office operations, significant historical research, and other special projects as
assigned. The intern must be highly motivated, collaborative, and possess excellent research and
computer skills.