Staten Island Historical Society at Historic Richmond Town Curatorial Department Internship

The Staten Island Historical Society at Historic Richmond Town offers an internship program that provides an introduction to curatorial work.

The focus of the Society’s collection is the materials of everyday life, from the colonial period to the present. The Society has a substantial collection including 60,000 artifacts; 50,000 photographs; a research library; and 1,200 c.f. of archival materials. The Society also cares for 33 historic structures, dating from ca. 1663 to ca. 1910, located on four sites. The collections are interpreted and shared with the public in a variety of formats, including thematic exhibitions, furnished interiors, publications, and an online collections database.

Interns at the Staten Island Historical Society will work directly with curatorial staff on a variety of projects in order to become familiar with the day-to-day operations of the department. Activities may include (but are not limited to) collections cataloging, reorganization of collections storage facilities, and exhibition planning and research. We provide the intern with a bibliography of suggested readings on museum registration, conservation, exhibition techniques, and professional ethics. Interns keep a daily journal of their activities and readings.

In addition to the above activities, interns undertake an independent project which is individually arranged. Past intern projects have included furnishing plans and research papers.

There is no stipend available, but the Historical Society will coordinate with the school’s requirements for course credit. Applicants should have a background in Museum Studies, American History, or a related discipline; previous museum experience is helpful but not required. Preference is given to students enrolled in graduate-level programs. The Staten Island Historical Society is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and looks for team members who share that same value.

For additional information, please contact Maxine Friedman, Chief Curator, at mfriedman@historicrichmondtown.org, or call 718-351-1611 ext. 271.