Internship Opportunity
Summer 2017
The Boston Furniture Archive, a project of the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, will
undertake its fourth annual summer field cataloging project in 2017. Up to four interns will
receive training in handling, cataloging, and photographing furniture. The interns will work
as a team to document furniture at a number of museums and heritage sites in the Boston
area. The goals of the internship are to document little-known pieces of Boston furniture
for inclusion in the Boston Furniture Archive and to provide interns with hands-on
experience in furniture cataloging in a variety of institutional settings. The internship is an
exciting opportunity to build knowledge of material culture and decorative arts, museum
and non-profit collections management, and database creation.
The Boston Furniture Archive is a free, online database that provides catalog information
and photographs of furniture produced in Boston between 1630 and 1930. Visit
http://bostonfurniture.winterthur.org to access the database and learn more.
Schedule: The internship will last twelve weeks, from Wednesday, May 31, 2017 through
Tuesday, August 22, 2017. Interns are expected to work 35 hours per week; hours will vary
and may include some evenings and weekends.
Eligibility: Open to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and emerging museum
professionals with coursework and/or experience in the decorative arts, art history,
American history, and/or museum studies. Interns must be legally eligible to work in the
United States (i.e., U.S. citizenship, U.S. permanent residency, or proper authorization on a
U.S. student visa). The Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library is unable to provide visa
assistance for non-U.S. citizens.
Interns are required to have their own vehicles to reach cataloging sites inaccessible by
public transportation. The internship is physically demanding; interns must have the
ability to stand for extended periods, climb ladders, and lift up to 30 pounds.
Compensation: Interns will receive a stipend of $5,000 plus $1,000 for travel over the
twelve weeks. Housing is not provided.
Applications: Applications must be received by Wednesday, February 1, 2017. Potential
candidates will be contacted for interviews prior to March 1, 2017. To apply, submit a
resume, contact information for two academic or professional references, and responses to
the following questions (maximum 150 words each):
1. How will your skills and interests make you a successful member of the cataloging and
photography team?
2. How will an internship with the Boston Furniture Archive further your academic and/or
professional goals? What do you hope to gain from the internship?
3. Are there any logistical constraints that would prevent your full participation between
May 31 and August 22, 2017?
Please direct questions and submit application materials to:
Sarah Parks
Project Manager, Boston Furniture Archive
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library
5105 Kennett Pike
Winterthur, Delaware 19735
302-888-4639
[email protected]