Public History Internship Resource Guide, Last Updated: Fall 2015
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 [; Edited by Julie Peterson, 2015-16 Public History Assistant [ ]
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 [, 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 [, 2014 Summer Intern
Institution Contact: Dr. Sara Bon-Harper, Executive Director [
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 [, 2015 Summer Intern
Institution Contact: Sean Kelley, Senior Vice President, Director of Interpretation & Public Programs [
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 [
Institution Contact: 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 [, Summer 2015 Intern
Institution Contact: Peter Friesen [
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 [, Summer 2015 Intern and Ongoing
Institution Contact: Karen Koehler [
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 [ 2014 Intern
Institution Contact: Kelsey Mullen, Director of Public Programs and Education [
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.