Volunteer and Internship Opportunities
What's New?
- See photos from the
2008 Volunteer and Intern Luncheon and Open House, June 13. Thanks to all who attended!
- Read about
Volunteer & Intern Activities
- View images from our
2007 Volunteer & Intern Appreciation Day
2006 Volunteer Open House
Are you fascinated by history? Do you enjoy working with a public that shares your curiosity? Do you want a challenging and meaningful position? You can be a National Archives volunteer. Each year, National Archives volunteers and interns explain the purpose of the archives, the work of archivists, and the value of primary sources to thousands of visitors.
Volunteer Opportunities
Positions Available in the Following Areas of Interest:
- Genealogical Staff Aides
- Archival Staff Aides
- Public Programs Staff Aides
- Public Programs Assistants
- Education Assistants
- Outreach/Marketing Assistants
Genealogical Staff Aides - Work in our Research Room greeting visitors and answering questions about our genealogy microfilm, records, and policies. Assist visitors using our public access computers, microfilm readers, copiers, and NARA microfilm aids and catalogs. Transfer research calls to staff. This position requires knowledge of genealogy research and excellent communication and interpersonal skills, especially patience and understanding when working with novice researchers.
Archival Staff Aides - Assisting with information, education, and archival projects. This includes preservation and description work on historical 19th and 20th century Federal records. Attention to detail is required. Work includes creating indexes of records; unfolding, flattening, and re-foldering records; arranging and describing records; performing holdings maintenance and other archival projects.
Public Programs Staff Aides - Work involves all aspects of preparations for our various public programs. This may include scanning, updating our databases, putting together mailings as needed, and many other types of projects that may be needed for special events.
Public Programs Assistants - Assist with the preparation of, or prepare and present, talks on researching National Archives' records. This position is ideal for experienced genealogists or historians with prior presentation or public speaking experience.
Education Assistants - Assist with the development of education tools based on primary sources in the holdings of the National Archives. Responsibilities could include developing lesson plans; matching state and national curriculum standards to National Archives' documents; developing workshops and programs for teachers and/or students; and carrying out related administrative activities.
Outreach/Marketing Assistants - Assist senior agency leadership with the marketing of our archival programs and services to the public. Our long-term goal is to reach every person in New York and New Jersey. You will encourage continued use of our programs and services by current constituents including genealogists. Assistants are needed to identify potential new constituencies and strategies to best promote programs and services to them, including teachers (K-12), college and university professors, historians, the media, etc.
How To Apply
Fill out and mail in the Volunteer Application Form.
For more information, contact the Volunteer Coordinator:
National Archives - New York City
201 Varick Street, 12th floor
New York, NY 10014
Toll Free: (866) 840-1752
E-mail: newyork.archives@nara.gov
Internship Opportunities
Positions Available in the Following Areas of Interest:
Beginning Archives - Assist with the preservation and indexing of historic Federal government records. Responsibilities would include placing records in new folders and boxes, making labels, and entering data into a computer database.
Advanced Archives - Assist with the arrangement and description of historic Federal government records. Responsibilities would include verifying contents of collections, making necessary changes to descriptive materials, assisting in the creation of finding aids, placing records in new folders and boxes, making labels, and entering data into a computer database.
Preservation - Assist with the preservation of textual and non-textual historic Federal government records. Responsibilities could include surveying collections to propose a preservation plan; flattening and indexing maps, drawings, and other oversized materials; and performing a wide range of basic preservation activities.
Education - Assist with the development of education tools based on primary sources in the holdings of the National Archives. Responsibilities could include developing lesson plans; matching state and national curriculum standards to National Archives' documents; developing workshops and programs for teachers and/or students; and carrying out related administrative activities.
Marketing - Assist senior agency leadership with the marketing of our archival programs and services to the public, with the long-term goal of reaching every person in New York and New Jersey. Encourages continued use of programs and services by current constituents including genealogists. Identifies potential new constituencies and strategies to best promote programs and services to them, including teachers (K-12), college and university professors, historians, the media, etc.
How To Apply
Contact the Intern Coordinator:
National Archives - New York City
201 Varick Street, 12th floor
New York, NY 10014
Toll Free: (866) 840-1752
E-mail: newyork.archives@nara.gov
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