African American History Curatorial Collective 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.
The African American History Curatorial Collective is hosting a virtual internship for Fall 2021 to support the professional development of an emerging public historian and/or museum professional.
Goal: Overall, this internship aims to support an emerging public historian and/or museum professional in learning more about curatorial practice, including researching current and historical trends, increasing familiarity with collections databases, and engaging with audiences.
Status: Virtual
Anticipated Learning Objectives: By the end of this internship, the intern will be able to:
- Articulate the range of curatorial work at a large history museum
- Describe the historical and current trends of interpreting African American history at a general history museum
- Become familiar with the museum’s collections database
- Collaborate with museum professionals on multipart projects
- Engage with internal and external audiences by synthesizing and articulating ideas from collections research through a variety of platforms, including social media posts, blogging, educational resources, and/or presentations
Expected Responsibilities: During the internship, the intern should expect to:
- Provide planning and research support for a series of meetings on the practice of African American history in general history museums
- Assist curators with administrative support of the AAHCC
- Identify and index museum products related to African American history
- Conduct research for AAHCC projects, including the practice of African American history in general history museums and Black feminist praxis
- Collaborate with museum colleagues across the institution, including attending virtual meetings, coordinating conversations, and participating in museum colloquia
Ideal Qualifications / Prerequisites: The ideal intern applicant is/has:
- Either working towards a degree in African American Studies, History, Literature, or related fields or has completed either advanced undergraduate or graduate classes in African American Studies, History, Literature, or related fields
- Demonstrated interest in public interpretations of history, such as public history or museum studies
- Ability to work both independently and in a collaborative environment
- Open-minded in learning new topics and skills
- Attentive to details
- Familiarity with humanities research
Audience: This internship is specialized for individuals who already have some experience in this field. This internship is intended for 1 intern. Advanced undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students, career changers, and other professionals are encouraged to apply. Community college students will also be considered for this internship.
Timeline: This internship will take place during Fall 2021 and is anticipated to be 10-12 weeks long. This internship will be full-time (40 hours per week).
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 does provides a guaranteed stipend of $500 to defray technology costs during the virtual internship. Additionally, 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.