New-York Historical Society College and Graduate Internships

The New-York Historical Society is offering full-time, eight week internships in both our museum and library divisions. From modeling creative exhibition layouts to researching with our curators and educators, college and graduate interns experience unparalleled career development and cultivate fruitful professional relationships. Applicants who are selected to participate in this rewarding yet demanding experience will either be paid a stipend of $3000 or receive academic credit, depending on the intern’s school requirements. The summer internship program will run June through August (unless otherwise specified), and interns may work up to 280 hours throughout the duration of the program.

Upcoming Dates to Know:

Internship applications open: Tuesday, February 12th
Internship applications close: Monday, March 25th
Internship dates: June-August 2019

Requirements:
Applicants should be undergraduate or graduate students though recent graduates may also apply. Please see individual descriptions for department specific requirements. Interns are considered employees, and upon acceptance into the program are required to provide documentation that they are legally allowed to work in the United States. International students may apply and are responsible for providing the same documentation and obtaining the necessary visas.

Applicant Information

To apply, the following must be submitted:

• A cover letter indicating which position/department you are interested
• A resume
• 5-10 page writing sample*
• 2 letters of recommendation (one must be from a professor)

*It is important to read the individual job descriptions as some departments require other materials in lieu of the writing sample.

If the internship that you are applying for is being offered for credit, you must submit written confirmation from your college stating that you will receive credit for hours completed.

Please note: Applications that are not complete and submitted by the appropriate deadline (including two letters of recommendation) will not be accepted. Applicants being considered for the internship will be contacted for an interview.
 

Available Internships

 

Archives Internship
The Archives Intern will work under the supervision of the Head of Archival Processing to process one or more manuscript collections held in the Library of the New-York Historical Society. The internship emphasizes archival description, including writing historical, scope, arrangement, and other notes for the collection; identifying significant content in the archival material; establishing name and subject access terms with controlled vocabularies; documenting the records in the collection management system; generating a DACS-compliant, on-line finding aid using that system; and writing a blog post about some aspect of the collection. The internship will also involve physical processing, including arrangement of the materials and basic conservation practices, such as rehousing. To be eligible for the internship, the candidate must be currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, an MLIS or equivalent program with a concentration in archives; must have completed at least an introductory archival course; and have a general familiarity with and interest in U.S. history.

This internship can be completed for credit or stipend.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Center for Women’s History Internship
The summer 2019 intern will assist with the ongoing research and planning of the 2020 Suffrage Centennial exhibition for New-York Historical’s Center for Women’s History. The intern must be enrolled in a History program, ideally with a focus on women’s and/or gender studies. The intern will assist the Center’s director and fellows with a wide range of tasks, primarily 2020 research and exhibition development, as well as organizing public events–both regular salon-style talks, and the Diane and Adam E. Max Conference in Women’s History, held annually in March. Applicants should be flexible, curious, detail-oriented and able to work independently. We require excellent communication and computer skills, and welcome applicants with a keen interest in the richness and diversity of women’s history.

This internship can be completed for credit or stipend.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Collections Internship
Intern must be enrolled in an Art History, History, Museum Studies, and/or Studio Program with an interest in museum collections management and registration. Intern will help with the management of new collections acquisitions  as well as incoming loans for exhibitions, including preparation of checklists, correspondence, and inventories. Intern will learn how to properly house, record, catalogue, and organize collections items. Intern will also assist with maintenance of The Museum System (TMS)—uploading new images, assisting in standardizing entries, and cataloging recent acquisitions. Intern will gain invaluable work experience as part of the daily operations of the Museum’s collections department. The position requires excellent organizational and computer skills and attention to detail.

This internship can be completed for credit or stipend.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Curatorial Internship
The New-York Historical Society seeks an intern to provide research and administrative assistance with exhibitions and collections. Working directly with the assistant curator of material culture, they will primarily conduct research on the history of boxing in the state of New York. The ideal intern for this project is conversant on the sport and its equipment, and is prepared to explore the social, cultural, and political aspects of its history by consulting a range of primary and secondary sources. Object-based research and documentation projects may also arise in the material culture and decorative arts from the nineteenth century to the present. In addition to gaining experience in exhibition research and planning, the intern will receive training in the museum’s collections database (The Museum System, or TMS). Rising college senior or above, current graduate student preferred. Experience conducting archival research required.

This internship can be completed for credit or stipend.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections Internship
Intern must be enrolled in an Art History program with an interest in curatorial work. Applicant must have an MA; enrollment in a Ph.D. program preferred. The intern will assist in accessioning tasks including some inventorying and other accessioning paperwork as well as some inventorying of existing collections. Intern will also help with research and development of pending exhibitions including a collection show about the Gilded Age in New York opening in the fall of 2019 and a major exhibition on the work of Winold Reiss (drawings, paintings, decorative arts, interior design, and graphic design) that will open in the spring of 2021. Other various tasks may be assigned as needed.
Intern will learn how exhibitions are planned as well as how collections are managed.

This internship can be completed for credit or stipend.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Development Internship
The development department of the New-York Historical Society seeks an intern for development assistance.

This hands-on position in a fast-paced fundraising office requires an organized, upbeat, and motivated intern with an interest in gaining experience in a variety of roles, including membership, events, individual giving, and institutional giving. This internship is perfect for someone seeking an introduction to all aspects of a busy cultural development office operating within a vibrant museum, and can also qualify for school credit.

Responsibilities include prospect research and strategy; drafting donor acknowledgments, letters of inquiry, and proposals; proofreading various forms of office correspondence and print material; assisting with major mailings and membership acquisitions; event preparation and staffing; organizing and maintaining departmental hard and digital files; assisting Database Manager with database maintenance; assisting with general office needs; and special projects as assigned.

Ideal qualifications for a candidate in this position: punctual self-starter, with the ability to work well independently; good phone etiquette and communication skills; excellent writing and proofreading skills; and strong attention to detail. Database experience (Altru, Raiser’s Edge, etc.) is preferable, though not required. Please note that this is a largely sedentary role and will involve heavy computer work including organizing digital files and database maintenance.

This internship can be completed for credit or stipend.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Family Programs Internship
The Family Programs intern must be earning a degree in Education, Museum Education, History, or Art History (or a related field) with a particular interest in working with families with children ages 3 – 14. This summer the family programs intern will research historical figures and events for our Living History (costumed interpretation) programs and will assist with research and prep for Camp History, as well as assist in the camp. By the end of the internship, they will have gained experience with all aspects of developing and delivering living history and camp experiences for families and kids. We require excellent communication and research skills, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to projects. Please note, this intern must be able to work August 12-16 and August 19-23 (Camp History dates).

This internship can be completed for credit or stipend.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Library Conservation Internship
An Internship in the Library Conservation Department at The New-York Historical Society is designed to provide practical hands-on training in book and paper conservation primarily at the collection level. This internship is for individuals pursuing Conservation as a profession who have at least a bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years of practical experience working in book and paper conservation, or for students currently enrolled in or graduates of a formal conservation education program. Activities include conducting condition surveys, completing condition reports, monitoring environmental conditions, constructing protective enclosures, stabilizing and mending flat paper and bound structures, examining new acquisitions, and preparing and installing exhibitions. Applicants selected for an interview will be expected to show a portfolio and examples of their work in lieu of the writing sample.

This internship can be completed for credit or stipend.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Library Special Collections Internship
The Library Special Collections Interns will be working directly with two members of the library’s senior staff in the examination, sorting, inventorying, and rehousing of printed ephemera relating to life in New York City and the nation. The collections, from the nineteenth century to the present, include hotel, apartment, and office files, transportation maps, and publications relating to both education and government. In addition to learning how to properly handle, sort, inventory, and rehouse special library collections, the interns will gain an understanding of how the New-York Historical Society library collections were built over a period of more than 200 years, the scope of current collecting, and the challenges facing special collection libraries in the twenty-first century. The intern must be fluent in Excel, have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and be highly organized and detail-oriented. This is a rare opportunity for students with an interest in the built environment of New York City, urban and American studies, and the history of books and printing.

This internship can be completed for credit or stipend.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Office of the President Internship
The Office of the President & CEO is seeking an intern for the summer of 2019. This is a unique opportunity to gain exposure to numerous departments within a cultural institution, as well as experience in non-profit management and donor stewardship.

Applicants for this internship should be in at least their third year of an undergraduate program. There are no requirements for field of study, but those applying should possess a strong interest in museums, history, art, or civics. The ideal candidate will have, and be able to demonstrate, skills applicable to project management. Intern responsibilities may include: updating databases; booking travel; maintaining program and event attendance lists; preparing correspondence, and assisting with mail and general office processes. The Office of the President & CEO interacts frequently with public figures and handles highly sensitive information; the ability to maintain confidentiality is a must. Applicants must be detail-oriented, with excellent computer, writing, and communication skills. Public speaking experience is a plus. Applicants who are selected for interviews will be required to provide writing and, if possible, graphic design samples.

This internship can be completed for credit or stipend.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Professional Development Projects Internship
The Professional Development Projects Intern will work within the Education Division to provide administrative and programmatic support for teacher professional development projects and workshops. This intern will work closely with the members of the N-YHS professional development (“PD”) team, gaining an introduction to museum education pedagogy and programming for K-12 school teachers, as well as the “behind the scenes” administrative work that helps these programs run. The primary duties of this intern will be to assist in organizing a three-week teacher institute hosted at N-YHS, provide logistical and administrative support for the Education Division’s ongoing Women & the American Story curriculum for teachers, and provide administrative support for one-off professional development workshops and courses offered throughout the summer. This intern will also conduct research for a new suite of digital- humanities workshops for teachers. In addition, the intern may have the opportunity to observe education programs, support instructors in the classroom, participate in team meetings, and interact with NYC teachers. Preferred qualifications include strong organizational, task management, and communication skills; the ability to work independently; familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel; and knowledge of American History. Knowledge of SPSS and MailChimp is a plus but is not required.

This internship can be completed for credit or stipend.
For more information and to apply, please click here.

Contact Information
For more information on the College & Graduate Internship Program, contact:
Internship Coordinator
internships@nyhistory.org
212-873-3400 ext. 505
The New-York Historical Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer