Christopher B. Cope and Jamie J. Shaw Archival Internship, Summer 2011
The Archives Center is seeking a qualified graduate student for one paid summer 2011 archival internship. Qualified candidates 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. Recent graduates may also apply.
Interns in the Archives Center will participate in a wide variety of projects under the direction of professional archival staff. Students will gain career-relevant archival experience in a Museum setting while contributing to the work of the Institution. The internship stipend is $5,000 and is subject to tax. Housing, benefits, and transportation are not provided. The Cope/Shaw Internship is open to all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or national origin.
Internships are located in the Museum's Archives Center, a manuscripts and special collections repository with more than 1,200 collections in a wide range of subject areas and a full time staff of eight. See http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/b-1.htm for more details. The internship experience is designed to assist the Archives Center staff in processing multi-formal collections.
Processing of multi-format archival collections: learn the basic principles of arrangement and description; preservation and re-housing techniques; and create finding aids in Archivists' Toolkit under the supervision of the Processing Team.
Qualifications
A commitment of 40 hours per week (Monday-Friday) for a 10 week period is required. United States citizenship is not required but nonresident aliens must apply for the appropriate U.S. visa if selected. Selected candidate should have basic computer skills; be proficient in English; have good handwriting, be flexible to changing situations; be reliable and responsible; be able to work independently as well as in a group environment; be able to accept supervision; be able to perform repetitive tasks; have good organizational skills; be detail oriented; and have the ability to lift a 40 lb box.
Applying
Applicants must apply through the Smithsonian online application system SOLAA. Applications submitted outside of SOLAA or after the deadline will not be accepted. All application materials will be made available to the Archives Center staff and its advisors. The Archives Center cannot arrange an internship project or award a stipend to all qualified candidates.
Complete applications in SOLAA must include the following:
Internship Program application form
Cover letter
CV/Resume
An essay (no more than 3 pages single spaced) exploring how history is relevant today and why archival work is an important part of our society.
Graduate transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
Two letters of reference
All materials must be submitted to the online application system by February 14, 2010 for consideration. One offer will be made by April 4, 2011. The internship begins on or after June 6, 2011.
For further information contact:
Alison L. Oswald, Archivist
Archives Center Internship Coordinator
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
Archives Center, Room 1100, MRC 601
P.O. Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
Phone (202) 633-3726
Fax (202) 786-2453
Email oswalda@si.edu
