University of Massachusetts Amherst



Public History

Internship Resource Guide

This resource guide should help you find the perfect internship to complete your requirement for the Public History Certificate. It contains information about online resources through which previous public history students have found internships, as well as details about specific internship positions held by UMass students in the past. Where applicable, application deadlines and requirements as well as other details about the internship are included, though you should always double-check this information with the institution. It may have changed since this guide was last updated. The Department of History’s Undergraduate Internship and Career Office has also published an internship catalogue, hard copies of which can be consulted with the Public History Assistant in Herter 603 or in Herter 612. Though targeted specifically at undergraduates, many of the positions listed in the catalogue could easily be adapted for graduate students upon consultation with the host institution. Additionally, there are examples of internship reports from past years located in Herter 603. Stop by to have a look!

The list of internships in this guide is by no means exhaustive, nor should you limit your search to these possibilities. One of the best ways to find an internship is to research fields in which you are interested and seek out institutions within those fields where you might want to work.

Also, don’t exclude unpaid internships from your list of possible opportunities. You can apply for a Hyde Fellowship, which offers support for Public History students to complete their internships.

Finally, crowdsource your search! Ask your peers, the public history faculty, alumni listed in this resource guide, your Twitter and facebook followers, etc. if they know of any available opportunities. The wider you cast your net, the more likely you are to find the internship that’s perfect for you.

“Always check for postings on the websites of specific institutions/historic agencies – especially for internships – often times, institutions will not specifically advertise for interns but are more than happy to sponsor an internship if asked.”

-Rebecca Schmitt, MA ‘15

“When looking for an internship, I applied to all of the paid internships which the department sent out on the public history list serve.  I also spoke with Professor Miller and Professor Glassberg about which programs might be good fits for me due to my background and interests.”

-Katie Garland, MA ‘15

“When looking for an internship, do not underestimate the power of past relationships, networks, or connections.”

-Kayla Pittman, MA ‘15

INTERNSHIP/JOB RESOURCES

Provided by Rebecca Schmitt, MA ‘15 [rschmitt@history.umass.edu]; Edited by Julie Peterson, 2015-16 Public History Assistant [ jgpeterson@umass.edu ]

American Alliance of Museums



American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)



Association of Midwest Museums



Federal Jobs



HistPres



National Council on Public History



National Park Service



National Trust for Historic Preservation



New England Museums Association



Preservation Directory



PreserveNet (*Separate boards for internship and jobs*)



Society of American Archivists



Smithsonian Office of Fellowships and Internships



State Jobs: Check postings for each state on the state’s website

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA SERVICES

Location: UMass Amherst

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2008) Assisted in digitizing media and researching images for the World War I documentary, “Model Ts to War,” and assisted in digitizing media for the “Sisters of Providence” program; (2000) Co-producer and editor for several AIMS programs, including poets of New England program, newswriting program. Also the director and producer for pathfinder regional school recruitment program

ACADEMY FOR IRISH CULTURAL HERITAGES

Location: University of Ulster, Northern Ireland

Past UMass Internship Description: (2004) Worked on the “Commemorating Conflict: Landscape, memory and narratives of identity in North American” oral history project. Conducted historical research, archival research, oral history interviewing, and partnership building with local museums, schools, and cultural centres.

ADIRONDACK ARCHITECTUAL HERITAGE: GREAT CAMP SANTANONI SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

Location: Adirondacks, NY

Deadline: March 1st

Duration: June 9- September 3

Compensation: $3000

Website:

AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY

Location: Worcester, MA

UMass Contact: Cheryl Harned [charned@history.umass.edu], 2009 Summer Intern plus additional time

Institution Contact: Gigi Barnhill, Cheryl’s supervisor, retired. Her position was split. Nan Wolverton directs CHAViC and Lauren Hughes is the Graphic Arts curator

Compensation: No, it was a rather expensive internship in terms of time commitment and travel, and to do the job well I put in way more than the required hours, but on the plus side I got to do a side project in conservation and I was able to attend lectures and workshops held at AAS, most importantly, their selective Summer Seminars in the History of the Book, CHAViC's seminar on Visual Culture, and their NEH Summer Institute for School Teachers. While not a full on participant they were fine with me lurking and helping out. Most importantly, I was 'compensated' with a wonderful network of professional acquaintances and even friends, who are priceless.

Website:

Internship Description and Comments from C. Harned: Created an online exhibition about the history of reading in America using images of reading from the AAS collection.



Too much gained from experience to capture here, especially in terms of networking and practice.

Of note, don't always accept the status quo. Found I could get more mileage out of my project if I gently advocated for myself. After the online exhibition was complete I looked for ways to have the online exhibition become one in reality. AAS was amenable but didn't have physical space to do so. Spoke with Smith College Rare Book Room and they agreed to host exhibition, and a year and a half later my exhibition went up for a semester. AAS, with some nudging, gave me a $3000 stipend for my efforts. It was fantastic.

In the years since people at AAS have sent me side jobs and supported my own research by sending me opportunities to attend events, give a talk, etc.

AMERICAN RADIOWORKS

Location: St. Paul, MN

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2003) Collected oral histories from African American veterans of the Korean War.

ASH LAWN-HIGHLAND: HOME OF PRESIDENT JAMES MONROE

Location: Charlottesville, VA

UMass Contact: Kayla Pittman [kpittman@history.umass.edu], 2014 Summer Intern

Institution Contact: Dr. Sara Bon-Harper, Executive Director [sara@]

Website:

Internship Description and Comments from K. Pittman: I was able to have a wonderful internship experience at Highland because I knew the site’s director from years earlier when I was a student at the UVA-Monticello Archaeological Field School. I knew Dr. Sara Bon-Harper had a great deal to teach me and I wanted to have an internship at a historic site, preferably on a former Virginia plantation. I gave Dr. Bon-Harper a ring and we were able to build an internship position that served both Highland’s needs as well as mine.

Another bit of advice is to not be discouraged by a lack of payment listed on an internship site. If money is the only thing deterring you from applying know that there are ways to get around that problem. For me, Highland was awarded a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities grant that provided the funding I needed in order to take the internship. Remember that sites can work with you and that the Hyde Fellowship is also a great option offered right in the History Department.

ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM

Location: Oxford, England

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2008) Developed resources for family programming including online activities and created for the Treasures Collection: Antiquities, Eastern Art, Coins and Casts the brochure Fantastic Features for Families: A Guide to the Treasures Collection.

CARVER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Location: Waconia, MN

Website: Carver County Historical Society



Volunteering at CCHS

Past UMass Internship Description: (2004) Helped develop an exhibit re: the county’s immigration history. Using his Dutch language skills, interviewed immigrants from the Netherlands and Belgium

CHEROKEE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Location: Canton, GA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2005) Surveyed historic resources in Cherokee County, Georgia (partially funded by the American Association for State and Local History)

CLIVEDEN

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2004) Researched toward reinterpretation and exhibit about slavery on the estate.

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG

Location: Williamsburg, VA

Website: Colonial Williamsburg

Internship Opportunities

Past UMass Internship Description: (2008) Prepared archaeological collections for move to a new storage facility; developed deaccessioning policies for the Archaeology Department.

DEFA FILM LIBRARY

Location: UMass Amherst

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2004) Identified conservation risks among the films in the archive and updated film catalogue.

EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY HISTORIC SITE, INC.

Location: Philadelphia, PA

UMass Contact: Julie Peterson [jgpeterson@umass.edu], 2015 Summer Intern

Institution Contact: Sean Kelley, Senior Vice President, Director of Interpretation & Public Programs [sk@]

Compensation: Unpaid, but funded with a Hyde Fellowship

Website:

Internship Description and Comments from J. Peterson: I reached out to Sean Kelley after reading about the upcoming exhibit, Prisons in the Age of Mass Incarceration, set to open in May 2016. Though there were no internships listed on the website, I sent him a cover letter proposing the work I would be interested in doing with him as a summer intern, along with a copy of my resume. I ended up interning June-August, working on developing the exhibit about mass incarceration and the contemporary criminal justice system. I worked with visitors to test their reactions to the exhibit title, general content, and specific exhibition elements. I worked with a professional museum evaluator and consultant who taught me how to do exhibit prototyping and analyze the results. I also facilitated community focus group meetings and participated in Eastern State’s annual artist installation selection process.

I think designing my own internship allowed me to develop the exact skills that I wanted, as well as gain a wide variety of museum experiences. I also got to interpret a topic that is very important to me, so this site was a perfect fit! If you can make a self-designed internship viable, I recommend it!

EMILY DICKINSON MUSEUM

Location: Amherst, MA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2008) Inventoried items in the pantry, buttery, and upstairs spaces; photographed, packed and catalogued those items; researched and recommended a new numbering system for museum catalogue; updated registration software for those objects.

HARPERS FERRY NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

Location: Harpers Ferry, WV

UMass Contact: Natalie Sherif [nsherif@umass.edu]

Institution Contact: Samantha Zurbuch [samantha_zurbuch@]

Compensation: GS-5 government pay grade

Website:

Internship Description and Comments from N. Sherif: I worked in the Education Department under the Division of Interpretation at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. In this department, I worked predominately with visiting summer leadership groups and taught middle school aged students about John Brown and leadership. I also participated in the Theatre in the Park program doing historical vignettes over the weekends.

Summer 2015 was my third season working at Harpers Ferry NHP and each summer is a new experience. It is a great experience learning how to teach in the field with a wide variety of visitors.

HARVARD FILM ARCHIVE

Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2004) Identified conservation risks among the films in the archive at Harvard and updated film catalogue

HERITAGE PARK HISTORICAL VILLAGE

Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2009) Developed and implemented interpretive summer programs for youth audiences

HISTORIC DEERFIELD

Location: Deerfield, MA

Website: Historic Deerfield

Summer Fellowship Program



Past UMass Internship Description: (2009) Assist with creation of catalog for museum exhibition, “Into the Woods: Crafting Early American Furniture”; (2007) Assisted with development and implementation of programs for college students; (2001) Assisted Director of Development with ongoing and new projects to cultivate donors; (2000) Worked with development staff and conducted audience surveys at Historic Deerfield. Reviewed past surveys, tabulated the results of a mail survey of teachers, and administered a questionnaire survey of current visitors. Also participated in the planning of a Children’s History Center

HISTORIC NORTHAMPTON

Location: Northampton, MA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2004) Researched clothing and textile collections for a forthcoming book; researched daguerrotype and textile collections for development of online exhibits for website, wrote text for planned exhibit at Historic Northampton.

HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND

Location: Headquarters in Boston; Internship locations at Otis House in Boston, the Lyman Estate in Waltham, MA, and Haverhill, MA. Some sites throughout New England also offer internship opportunities.

Website: Historic New England

Internship Opportunities



Past UMass Internship Description: (2009) Surveying modern architecture

HISTORIC ST. MARY’S CITY

Location: St. Mary's City, Maryland

UMass Contact: Rose Gallenberger [rgallenberge@umass.edu], Summer 2015 Intern

Institution Contact: Peter Friesen [peterf@]

Compensation: Unpaid, housing provided

Website:

Internship Description and Comments from R. Gallenberger: I researched the interpretive collections at the recreated 17th century plantation. This collection consists of reproductions of 17th century wares, such as furniture, pottery, farming tools, etc. that would be used on an early American plantation in St. Mary's county, Maryland. In order to conduct this research, I compiled a master list of probate inventories from St. Mary's county and used archaeological findings and books to determine the authenticity of the items. Then I included my detailed findings in Past Perfect and determined the proper 17th century term for the items.

It was an amazing, well-rounded internship that included research, costumed interpretation, archaeology, and collections work. Everyone is very friendly and appreciative. It is a fantastic opportunity with unexpected, valuable experiences. Historic St. Mary's City is a good example of a marriage between history, archaeology, recreation, and preservation.

INSTITUTE FOR CURATORIAL PRACTICE

Location: Hampshire College, Amherst, MA

UMass Contact: Chelsea Miller [chelseamille@history.umass.edu], Summer 2015 Intern and Ongoing

Institution Contact: Karen Koehler [kkoehler@hampshire.edu]

Compensation: Received summer program tuition waiver and room/board on Hampshire College campus during Summer 2015. No monetary compensation.

Website:

Internship Description and Comments from C. Miller: In Summer 2015, I received a graduate fellowship to participate in the Institute for Curatorial Practice's summer program and lead a co-curated online art exhibition. During my internship for the academic year, I am curating an online exhibition of textile arts in the Five College Museum collections.

This is primarily a program intended for graduate students interested in curatorial practice and digital exhibition methods for modern and contemporary art. I have spent a lot of time with the professional staff at the museums in the Five Colleges, and have gained a lot of insight into the workings of an academic art museum.

JOSEPH ALLEN SKINNER MUSEUM

Location: Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, South Hadley, MA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2006) Curatorial work for the exhibit “Busy Hands and Useful Hours: Samples and Embroidered Textiles from the Old Sturbridge Village Collection.”

JUNIOR FELLOWS SUMMER INTERN PROGRAM

Location: Washington, D.C.

Deadline: January 23

Duration: June 1- August 7

Compensation: $300/week

Website:

Details: The Library of Congress Junior Fellows Summer Intern Program enables undergraduate and graduate students to experience the integrated analog and digital collections and services of the world's largest, all-inclusive library. Working under the direction of Library curators and specialists in various divisions, fellows explore digital initiatives and increase access to the institution’s unparalleled collections and resources. Fellows are exposed to a broad spectrum of library work: copyright, preservation, reference, access, and information technology.  In the past, summer fellows have identified hundreds of historical, literary, artistic, cinematic and musical gems representing the Library’s rich cultural, creative and intellectual assets.  No previous experience is necessary, but fellowships are competitive and special skills or knowledge is usually desired. Selections are based on academic achievement, letters of recommendation, and an interview with a selection official.

LOWER EAST SIDE TENEMENT MUSEUM

Location: New York, NY

Deadline: January

Duration: June 1- August 1

Compensation: $1000 stipend, plus two monthly MetroCards

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2007) Provided background research for the recreation of a Nineteenth Century German Saloon

MARSH-BILLINGS-ROCKEFELLER NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

Location: Woodstock, VT

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2002) Interpretive park ranger/ Created proposal for a Massachusetts Conservation and Landscape Planning Heritage Trail.

MARTIN VAN BUREN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Location: Kinderhook, New York

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2003) Helped create Historic Resource Study for Lindenwald, President Martin Van Buren's retirement estate

MONADNOCK MEDIA

Location: Hatfield, MA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2009) Assisted with development of on-line oral history database

THE MOUNT

Location: Lenox, MA

UMass Contact: Debbie Kallman [dkallman@history.umass.edu] 2014 Intern

Institution Contact: Kelsey Mullen, Director of Public Programs and Education [kmullen@]

Website:

Internship Description and Comments from D. Kallman: I actually made a connection with The Mount during the Public History fieldtrip last autumn.  I, not being shy, collected business cards and in the early spring contacted the Director of Public Programs and Education.  They have more of an undergraduate program but she was happy to work with a graduate student.

I met with her and we discussed various options...some of which may be available still.  I chose to write educational programs for two of their on-site school programs.  There are many other programs that may need to have lesson units written.  Also, she mentioned that they needed someone to catalogue Wharton's library and they were looking to do some type of programming related to the gardens.

MYSTIC SEAPORT SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Location: Mystic, CT

Deadline: February 15

Duration: June 15- August 25

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2002) Created a family walking tour, “The Tale of John Manjiro”

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

Location: Nantucket Island, MA

Deadline: February 3rd

Duration: Begins June 1, for 10-12 weeks

Compensation: $2500 stipend + housing

Website:

Details: The Nantucket Historical Association’s summer internship program allows a dynamic group of students with varied interests, strengths, and goals to immerse themselves in an outstanding educational and professional environment. Interns learn and work directly with professionals in a team-based, collaborative environment. The internship is a full-time position that begins on June 1, 2015, and lasts between ten and twelve weeks.

Interns concentrate their work in one of four areas:

Interpretation & Education

Outreach & Special Programs

Collections & Curatorial

Historic Gardens

NATIONAL AIR & SPACE MUSEUM SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Location: Washington, D.C.

Deadline: February 15

Duration: June 4- August 15

Compensation: $5,500 stipend

Website:

Details: Our Summer Internship Program offers an opportunity for college and university students to gain work experience in a wide variety of disciplines. Interns learn firsthand about the historic artifacts and archival materials housed in the Museum and study the scientific and technological advances they represent.

Each year, positions are available in a variety of Museum areas such as aircraft restoration, aviation or space history, planetary science, collections management, web and new media, exhibit and graphic design, public relations, budget and finance, architecture and engineering, and education. Students from all fields of study are encouraged to apply.

Application Requirements:

• Internship program application

• Unofficial transcripts

• Two letters of recommendation

• A Statement of Purpose (500-1,000 words) indicating the type of internship you are interested in and explaining how an internship will contribute to your education and career goals

NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY: BUCHANAN/ BURNHAM INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Location: Newport, RI

UMass Contact: Katherine Garland [kegarlan@history.umass.edu], 2013 Intern

Institution Contact: Ingrid Peters, Associate Director & Director of Education [ipeters@]

Compensation: $3,000 stipend, minus housing expenses

Website:

Details: Museum studies interns devote approximately half their time to tour guiding, ongoing training, and participation in the daily operations of the Newport Historical Society. The remainder of their time is devoted to one or more individual projects. These projects may contribute towards any of the following ongoing NHS initiatives:

• Public programs and exhibits related to Newport’s history, including Rhode Island’s ethnic groups and Newport’s 20th century history.

• Updating existing tour scripts to reflect new scholarship

• Re-organizing, re-housing, and creating finding aids for various artifact, photograph and manuscript collections

• Or, applicants may propose their own project on a different topic.

Comments from K. Garland: The NHS internship was fantastic.  I learned a great deal about how community-oriented historical societies work, researched and created a project that directly related to my academic goals, and enjoyed the opportunity to guide.  It put the public history theory that I had been learning in class to use, and made me a better public historian.  Plus, I cannot complain about the opportunity to live in Newport for a summer!

When applying, try to propose a project or area of research interest in your application.  Check out what the NHS has been working on recently and what their key interpretive themes are, and see if you can connect to them.  However, also be open to their ideas - the NHS might have a project idea for you that fits with their needs that you did not think of.

The program provides housing, which comes out of your $3000 stipend.  It is not cheap, but is a good deal considering the location!

If you are interested in applying to the NHS program, let me know and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have!

NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Location: New York, NY

Compensation: $8.75/ hour or academic credit

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2003) Helped develop institutional policy for the collections management department

NORTHEAST REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2007) Civic Engagement initiative

OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE

Location: Sturbridge, MA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2006) Curatorial work for the exhibit “Busy Hands and Useful Hours: Samples and Embroidered Textiles from the Old Sturbridge Village Collection.”

PIONEER VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION

Location: Springfield, MA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2001) Completed cultural resource survey for Liberty Heights neighborhood in Springfield, MA

PLIMOTH PLANTATION

Location: Plymouth, MA

Website:

POCUMTUCK VALLEY MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION

Location: Deerfield, MA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2003) Created/curated exhibit at Memorial Hall, “The Old Deerfield Historical Pageantry exhibit”: (2003) Developed content for the American Centuries website and administered their Teaching American History program

SIMMONS GRADUATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM- THE HENRY FORD

Location: Dearborn, Michigan

Deadline: March 1st

Duration: Negotiable

Compensation: Yes

Website:

Details: The Henry Ford’s Simmons Internship Program is designed for current graduate students pursuing careers in museums, historical agencies, conservation labs or related fields. This internship provides participants with a great opportunity to gain in-depth work experience in a major American history museum.

Each intern will work directly with a curator, registrar, educator, archivist, librarian or conservator who serves as a mentor. In addition to completing specific project assignments and giving a public presentation on the project results, Simmons interns are encouraged to participate in the larger life of the institution in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the varied aspects of museum work.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION ARCHIVES

Location: Washington, D.C.

Deadline: March 15

Website:

Details: Each year, the Smithsonian Institution Archives welcomes dozens of undergraduate and graduate students who wish to learn more about various aspects of archival, preservation, and conservation work. Internships are offered throughout the year, and internship applications are accepted on a rolling basis for spring, summer, and fall positions. Consult the Smithsonian Internship website for general information on the Institution’s internships. Internships can vary in length and are offered in a wide variety of activities such as:

▪ archival arrangement and description;

▪ conservation and preservation of paper, photographs, audio and video recordings, and electronic records;

▪ digital preservation and curation;

▪ researching  and writing institutional history;

▪ creating oral and video history;

▪ use of the web, new media, and social media for cultural heritage organizations.

SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Location: Washington, D.C.

UMass Contact: Natalie Sherif [nsherif@umass.edu], Summer 2015 Intern

Institution Contact(s): Katherine Ott [ottk@si.edu], Omar Eaton-Martinez (NMAH Internship Coordinator) [EatonMO@si.edu]

Compensation: Unpaid, but funded with a Hyde Fellowship

Website:

Internship Description and Comments from N. Sherif: The National Museum of American History internship program allows a diverse group of people with innumerable interests, strengths, and goals to encounter an educational environment where they can work with and learn from professionals and scholars in related areas of concentration. The Museum offers interns of different backgrounds incredible opportunities in a variety of fields, from public relations to exhibition research to project design. Learning from knowledgeable mentors in the dynamic atmosphere of the Museum and Washington, D.C. area, interns enjoy an intensive experience as multifaceted as the Museum itself.

I worked specifically on an unaccessioned veterinary collection in the museum's Division of Medicine and Science writing object descriptions and completing other duties as assigned.

This program allowed me to not only work on my specific internship project, but also allowed me to engage in the Smithsonian's internship program broadly. It was an excellent networking opportunity and gave me the opportunity to see best museum practices first hand.

SOPHIA SMITH COLLECTION

Location: Smith College, Northampton, MA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2009) Helped create a trailer for the “Voices of Feminism” documentary, addressing activism among women of color

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

Location: UMass Amherst, W.E.B. Du Bois Library

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2009) Processed collection of League of Women Voters of Berkshire County

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Location: Springfield, MA

Website: spar

STEVE ALVES, HOME PLANET FILMS

Location: Turners Falls, MA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2008) Assisted with development of documentary about the history of co-ops in the U.S.

STRAWBERRY BANKE MUSEUM

Location: Portsmouth, NH

UMass Contact: Amanda Goodheart Parks [amanda.goodheart@], Summer 2009 Intern

Institution Contact: Bekki Coppola, Director of Education [bcoppola@]

Compensation: $1,000 stipend and free housing on the museum campus

Website:

Internship Description from A. Goodheart Parks: I worked in the education department running summer camps for children in grades 4-10.

RUFUS PORTER MUSEUM

Location: Bridgton, ME

Duration: Mid-May to late August (actual dates are flexible)

Compensation: 3 month, $300.00 a month; Housing provided on museum property; vehicle a necessity

Website:

Details:

The Rufus Porter Museum is seeking two graduate level interns to assist the museum in its upcoming 11th season. The museum first opened their doors in 2005 staffed by volunteers, since then the museum has grown to include two properties and two full time staff. For the 2015 season, the museum will create exhibits and programs based around the theme of Yankee Ingenuity, including participation in a Yankee Ingenuity Museum Trail along with eleven other museums from all across Maine.

Specifically interns will 

1.       Create exhibits and/or educational programs to fit the museum’s 2015 theme: Yankee Ingenuity

2.      Conduct tours of the museum

3.      Assist with fundraising and public events 

4.      Assist staff and volunteers with the day-to-day operations of the museum

 

TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS

Location: Sites located throughout Massachusetts

Website: History & Culture

Past UMass Internship Description: (2007) Served as a guide at three historic properties in Western Massachusetts and compiled a script for an audio tour for one of the properties; (2006/2007) Accepted the Jeannine Rioux Internship at the Mission House. Conducted historic resource study researching the changes and alterations at the Mission House over the past 267 years.

UMASS PRESS

Location: UMass Amherst

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2003) Provided assistance to the editorial department

W.E.B. DU BOIS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Location: Great Barrington, MA

UMass Contact: Felicia Jamison [fjamison@umass.edu], Summer 2015 Intern

Institution Contact: David Glassberg [glassberg@history.umass.edu]

Compensation: $4,000

Website:

Internship Description and Comments from F. Jamison:

1) Publicize and lead scheduled tours of the W.E.B. Du Bois Homesite, enhancing the visitor experience on the new interpretive trail. 

2) Develop and implement a visitor survey to determine the number and characteristics of visitors to the Homesite.  

3) Develop and implement public programs concerning other sites in Great Barrington associated with Du Bois, including walking tours of downtown based on the publications and work of local historian Bernard Drew, and at least one evening program in conjunction with the Mason Library.  

4) Develop orientation materials for tour buses, with information about parking, bathroom facilities, etc. 

5) As time permits, research and develop additional interpretive materials for visitors based on the collections of the Great Barrington Historical Society and the W.E.B. Du Bois Library at UMass Amherst. 

6) As time permits, reach out to youth programs in the area to recruit undergraduate or high school student interns.

I learned a great deal as a summer intern at the W.E.B. Du Bois National Historic Site in Great Barrington, MA. Giving tours of the Du Bois Boyhood Homesite allowed me to better explain and contextualize the ubiquity of slavery in New England, the significance of landownership for 19th century African Americans in the rural North, and the importance of democracy for all citizens in the 20th century. I also found that most visitors came on the tours to talk about race and racism in Du Bois's time and in the present. I would advise the next intern at the site to welcome questions from visitors because you can learn a great deal from them.

WISTARIAHURST MUSEUM

Location: Holyoke, MA

Website:

Past UMass Internship Description: (2009) Assisted with development and implementation of community oral history project; (2005) Helped develop a strategic plan for this historic house museum; (2001) Developed guided tour interpreting servants’ lives

  

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