Chicana History Curatorial Virtual Internship - Fall 2021
**Please note**
- Please read about how to submit your application on our website. We will not review applications submitted via Handshake; we will only review applications submitted via the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment Database.
- This internship may be virtual.
- All accepted interns will have the option to apply for an internship stipend based on disclosed financial need after their selection.
In October 2020, Dr. Natalia Molina became one of a small contingent of Chicana scholars who have received the MacArthur "Genius" Award. Molina's fellowship reminds us how far the field of Chicana history has come since its inception in the 1970s. Rooted in the emerging Chicana studies of the 1960s, the study of Chicana history was initially neglected and limited to issues of labor and class. Yet, Chicana historians and the histories they produce have transformed understandings of women’s history in the United States, diversifying its analytical themes, methodologies, and sources, while shifting focus to gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, identity, and space. Still, there are only 103 Chicanas who have earned their PhDs in history. This research project will document the state of the field of Chicana history through in-depth oral history interviews with the very women who have lived it and shaped it. We require two interns who will learn about curatorial practice through participating in this documentation project, gathering materials, reaching out to Chicana scholars, and maintaining a database of information as we seek to understand how these women have brought forward their communities in their own scholarship and journeys.
Goal: Overall, this internship aims to support interns in learning more about building an archive, curatorial practice and museum methods, as well as the field of Chicana history.
Status: Virtual
Anticipated Learning Objectives: By the end of this internship, the intern will be able to…
- Practice proper documentation of a project
- Conduct oral history interviews. As part of this project, intern will learn to interview Chicana scholars and community members who are part of this history. The incumbent will learn and hone skills in qualitative research and interviewing techniques.
- Understand different aspects of community engagement and working with partners both inside and external to complex organizations
- Research history using primary and secondary sources, both within and outside the Smithsonian.
- Collaborate with other scholars in the field
- Maintain a collections database using collections management skills
- Intern will learn how to synthesize information and write up major themes that cut across the content
- Plan and implement a public history research project.
- Gain networks of Chicana scholars
Expected Responsibilities: During this internship, the intern should expect to…
- Participate in virtual meetings for the project
- Update collections info in our museum database
- Conduct background research on specific organizations and individuals.
- Produce memos with all relevant background information for interviews.
- Create a synopsis of the project and template introductory emails that can be sent to potential participants.
- Identify and describe new collections related to the historiography of the field of Chicana History, including visual and material culture and archival materials. Some research may require exploration of archives and other existing collections throughout the Smithsonian and beyond. Background research on objects may lead to a blog or online object group.
Ideal Qualifications / Prerequisites: The ideal intern applicant is/has:
- Demonstrated interest in Chicana, Latin American, and/or women’s history
- Bilingual in English/Spanish
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Demonstrated organizational and administrative skills
- Ability to work in Google docs and Microsoft Word and Excel
Audience: This internship can generalized to provide individuals initial experience in this field or specialized for individuals who already have some experience in this field. This experience is anticipated for 1-2 interns. Community college students, undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students, career changers, and other professionals are encouraged to apply.
Timeline: This internship is expected to take place in Fall 2021 and can be part-time or full-time. The internship may take place for one or two semesters, depending on the project and mentor and intern capacity.
Eligible for Academic Credit: Yes! Interns may receive program or course credit for this experience if approved by their educational institution. Though NMAH does not itself award credit, the Interns and Fellows Office will help coordinate the requirements for credit with the educational institution.
Optional Enrichment Opportunities: Interns are invited to participate in optional opportunities during the internship that support professional growth and foster understanding about the museum field.
Financial Information: This opportunity provides a guaranteed stipend of $4,200. Additionally, upon selection, interns will have the opportunity to apply for additional funding based on financial need upon selection, interns will have the opportunity to apply for a stipend based on financial need; the amount of internship stipends depends on the amount of museum funds available and is at the discretion of NMAH. Internship stipends issued by the Smithsonian are not considered salary or meant as compensation, but are awarded to help defray living expenses for an intern during the term of their appointment. If an intern is awarded a stipend, stipends cannot be distributed before the start of an internship, and we typically recommend that an intern has at least enough external funding to cover the first month's expenses to accommodate the wait time required in stipend processing. To learn more, please check out our Internship FAQ page.
If you have any questions about the internship, please contact Caroline Fiertz, Interns & Fellows Program Manager at the National Museum of American History, at NMAHintern@si.edu or 202-633-3556.