Internship, Volunteer, and Fellowship Opportunities

Internship Programs & Requirements

The Archives of American Art has opportunities for internships throughout the year for both undergraduate and graduate students. Internships encourage students to explore careers related to archival, information management, curatorial, and art history fields.

Internships are structured around current and ongoing projects and may include the preparation of subject guides and collection finding aids; researching and planning exhibitions; archival processing and preservation; web site development; special registrar projects; scanning historical documents and photographs; database management, etc.

General Internships

AAA offers General Internships to undergraduate and graduate students who have not yet completed their degrees. A background in art history, American or cultural studies, American history, historic preservation, or archival studies is desirable. Solid research, analytical, computer, and writing skills are desired. Summer interns also participate in Smithsonian-wide special programs, tours, and events designed exclusively for interns.

General interns are usually required to work 10 weeks on a full-time basis, and stipends are not typically offered.

Applications are accepted year-round.  Archives staff make internship selections in late March for the summer term.

Summer 2008 general internship positions have all been filled.   Please check back early next spring for information on becoming a Summer 2009 general intern.

Recent intern projects have included:

• Transcribing and auditing oral histories and conducting background research
• Archival exhibition research, label and text preparation, and installation
• Web site enhancement projects, such as online exhibitions, document scanning, digital database management and maintenance, HTML document encoding
• Processing and preserving archival and manuscript collections
• EAD (Encoded Archival Description) encoding of finding aids and guides

How to Apply

Your general application package should include:

1. Cover letter
2. Application form (please download from Smithsonian Internships)
3. Résumé detailing your experience, career interests, and internship goals
4. Academic transcript
5. 2 letters of recommendation

Please send completed application materials to:

Intern Coordinator
Archives of American Art
PO Box 37012
Victor Building, Suite 2200, MRC 937
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

For further information contact Marisa Bourgoin at bourgoinm@si.edu.

Graduate Archival Internships

The AAA has opportunities for graduate students in advanced archival tracks and programs. Depending upon the individual needs of the program and student, a professional and focused experience in archival work may be structured around processing and preservation; cataloging and EAD (Encoded Archival Description) descriptive practices and standards; collections management surveys and databases; and digital collections access projects.

Interns must schedule their work Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Course credit can be given with the approval of the intern’s academic institution.

Graduate interns work under the supervision and guidance of staff archivists in either Collections Processing or Digital Initiatives. The Archives has expanded facilities with spacious and bright processing areas, large climate-controlled storage areas, and a well-equipped digital collections center. Facilities and offices of the Archives of American Art are housed in the Victor Building located in downtown Washington, DC in the Gallery Place/Chinatown neighborhood, easily accessible by Metro.

Inquiries about Graduate Archival Internships should be directed to:

Barbara Aikens (aikensb@si.edu )
Chief, Collections Processing
Archives of American Art
PO Box 37012
Victor Building, Suite 2200, MRC 937
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

More information on Smithsonian Institution Internships.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers provide valuable assistance to the staff of the Archives of American Art through a variety of activities, including the transcription of oral history interviews, organizing and storing archival records, providing research support for curatorial staff, and responding to public inquiries.

Volunteers should have an interest in American history, art history, or archival management, and should be able to spend at least four hours a week on assigned tasks. Volunteers at the Archives of American Art are part of the Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Program of the Smithsonian Institution.

For information regarding Volunteer opportunities, email the Smithsonian Visitor Information and Associates' Reception Center (VIARC) at info@si.edu.

Fellowships

Postdoctoral, Senior, Pre-doctoral, and Graduate Student Fellowships are offered through the Office of Research Training and Services, Smithsonian Institution. These in-residence appointments for research and study using the facilities and collections of the Archives of American Art, and the advice and guidance of staff members, are awarded for periods of 3 to 12 months. Stipends are available.

Application forms and detailed information about Fellowships should be obtained by contacting the Smithsonian's Office of Research Training and Services:

Office of Research Training and Services
Smithsonian Institution
470 L' Enfant SW Suite 7102
MRC 902 PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
E-mail: siofg@si.edu
Web site: Office of Research Training and Services