Jobs, Internships & Volunteering Opportunities

Education and Exhibits Internships

These internship are all based in the DC metro area. Check out  National Archives Internship Opportunities for other opportunities. 

UPDATE:  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, internships in the Washington, D.C. area have been paused until further notice. Please monitor our main COVID-19 page for agency status updates. 

Internships in education and exhibits offer an excellent opportunity for gaining hands-on experience for students interested in education, museum studies, public policy, public history, U.S. History, political science or communications.  Depending on the intern's work schedule, interests and skills, and the current needs of the departments, interns may be assigned a combination of responsibilities and activities.

All internship applicants must be U.S. Citizens.  Applicants must also be currently enrolled and in good standing in an accredited college or university. Internships are unpaid, and housing is not provided. A security clearance is required. In order to obtain a security clearance, all selected candidates must pass a background check.

 Exhibits Internship

 

Exhibits internships provide an authentic experience working in museums, including unique opportunities to engage in various aspects of exhibit development, production, and maintenance.  Working with the National Archives Exhibit Program, interns will gain a general understanding of the curation, organization, coordination, preparation, design and installation of museum exhibitions and related programming.  In consultation with museum staff, interns will have an opportunity to support exhibitions already in development and assist with the planning of new exhibitions. Interns assist with the research, evaluation, development, planning, writing, media production, social media promotion, and coordination of exhibitions.  

 

Projects may include:

  • Conducting primary source researching in NARA and external holdings including textual, photographic, and motion picture for inclusion in future exhibits based on various content themes (i.e. Civil Rights, WWII, etc).
  • Writing label copy for use in National Archives exhibits - great for portfolio building!
  • Developing new exhibit interactives and media elements under the guidance of staff.
  • Creating social media and blog posts to help promote the work of the Exhibits Program.
  • Conduct museum evaluation and visitor research.

All Exhibits Internships require:

  • Excellent research skills and a solid understanding of historical methods.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to think and problem solve creatively.
  • The ability to work collaboratively with National Archives staff.
  • The ability to work independently and manage several projects simultaneously with deadlines.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and a willingness to try new things.

The Exhibits Program firmly believes that internships are a learning experience and will provide training for all projects. You don’t need a background in museums or curation to be a successful intern.

How to Apply:
Please submit the following:

  • cover letter
  • resume
  • 1-2 page writing sample
  • two letters of recommendation
  • college transcript (does not need to be official)

Where to Send Applications and/or Questions:
Materials and questions should be submitted by email to the Intern Coordinator at education@nara.gov  

Application Deadline:
Fall and Spring:  deadline is rolling.
Summer:  applications received by March 15 are guaranteed consideration; applications received after that date are accepted if space is available.

Education Internship 

Education Internships offer unique opportunities to learn about all aspects of educational programming for both adults and children.  Working in the Office of Education and Public Programs, interns engage in hands-on learning by designing and facilitating programs and activities for a variety of audiences.  Activities include leading thematic programs for students, intergenerational family, and adult audiences; designing and facilitating participatory and informal exhibit activities; participating in research and writing projects; and creating lesson plans to help provide educators and visitors with methods and materials for using primary sources as teaching tools.  Experience working with people of various age groups and backgrounds is encouraged.

Projects may include:

  • Developing hands-on activities that can be presented both in the ReSource Room and on carts in the exhibits.  Activates should engage multiple learning styles and highlight the records of the National Archives.
  • Engaging visitors from the general public in historical inquiry activities during events or while staffing the ReSource Room, honing public speaking and teaching techniques.
  • Developing new programs to offer in the Boeing Learning Center and McGowan Theater spaces by assisting with program development, logistical management, marketing and promotion, and evaluation.
  • Assisting in facilitating the educational and programmatic experiences for all museum visitors while staffing a wide variety of events including but not limited to family days, panel discussions, film programs, author lectures, performances, symposium, and hands-on workshops.
  • Scanning, uploading, entering metadata, and creating activities and lesson plans with records on the DocsTeach website.
  • Researching NARA's motion picture, photographic, and textual holdings for inclusion in future programs based on various content themes (i.e. Civil Rights, WWII, etc).

 

All Education Internships require:

  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • An interest in U.S. political and social history.
  • The ability to work collaboratively with National Archives staff and volunteers.
  • The ability to manage several projects simultaneously with deadlines.
  • A willingness to try new things.

The Office of Education and Public Programs firmly believes that internships are a learning experience and will provide training for all programs and projects. You don’t need a background in education to be a successful intern.

Schedule:
Internships are available for Fall, Spring, or Summer.  Hours are flexible Mondays through Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. with occasional evenings and weekends required.  The schedule will be determined based on availability and agreements between the Intern and NARA.

How to Apply:
Please submit the following:

  • cover letter
  • resume
  • two letters of recommendation
  • college transcript (does not need to be official)

Where to Send Applications and/or Questions:
Materials and questions should be submitted by email to the Intern Coordinator at education@nara.gov

Application Deadline:
Fall and Spring: deadline is rolling.
Summer:  applications received by March 15 are guaranteed consideration; applications received after that date are accepted if space is available.

 Interested in working specifically with records of Congress?  The Center for Legislative Archives offers additional internship opportunities

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