Collections Management and Exhibitions Internship

The Collections and Exhibitions Department is seeking to hire two currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students, or recent graduates, who will each complete a 15-20 hours per week internship during the summer of 2026. These interns will work collaboratively and each intern will spend one day a week focusing on exhibition development, particularly research and writing, and spend one day a week focusing on museum collections management and preservation. Successful candidates will be detail-oriented, strong and concise writers, and will possess excellent organizational skills. Applicants should have a strong interest in museum work, curation, and museum collections care. Previous museum experience is recommended and an academic background in history, art history, and/or museum studies is necessary. The interns will be supervised by the Museum’s Associate Curator. 

Primary Responsibilities:

Work closely with the Museum’s exhibitions staff to engage in historical research about objects in the Museum’s collection and about topics related to the Museum’s upcoming exhibitions.

Engage in archival research and write interpretive object labels about select objects from the Museum’s collection.

Interact with the Museum’s Education and Community Engagement team to learn more about historical interpretation and visitor engagement.

Work closely with the Museum’s Collections Manager and Registrar, Assistant Registrar, and Collections Management Fellow to update and standardize collections management database records.

Assist with preservation tasks, object handling, and collection inventories.

Education Requirements:

Must be currently enrolled in pursuit of an undergraduate degree (rising juniors and seniors preferred) or graduate degree in history, public history, art history, museum studies, or arelated field. Applications from recent graduates will also be accepted for review.

Experience/Skills:

Experience with early American historical research – both online and in person.

Advanced computer skills in Microsoft programs.  Generally comfortable with technology.

Experience with automated collections and registration systems, such as PastPerfect, a plus.

Strong attention to detail.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Maintains confidentiality.

The internship runs for 10 weeks from mid-June through mid-August, with flexible start and end dates. The intern will be expected to work 15-20 hours per week. Stipend is $2000 to be paid at the end of a successful internship.