The goal of the archives internship is for students to learn basic archival procedures including proper handling, basic preservation and digitization, and organization and cataloging of archival materials. It is to act as a baseline of knowledge to carry on to other museum, library, and archival jobs or internships.

The internship will last for a full semester. The schedule and hours to be completed are based on the credit level (2 credits) and the intern and supervisor’s individual schedules.

Archives Intern Requirements:

• Minimum 2.75 GPA
• Only 2-3 interns will be selected each semester.
• If they are unable to attend a scheduled shift, interns will email the College Archivist during business hours at least a day before.

Examples of tasks and responsibilities are as follows:

• Organizing, sorting, rehousing, and boxing paper materials to be incorporated into the collection.
• Book boxing of the Vining Rare Book Collection as a basic conservation task.
• Digitization of photographs, cassette tapes, and indexes.
• In house and outside research requests.
• Research of archival materials with the potential for creating a small exhibit.
• Transcription of 19^th century written materials.

During this internship, interns will:

1. Develop basic skills in archival procedure.
2. Learn various aspects of archival work including how to catalog and organize an archival collection, digitization of different media formats, handling research requests, and creation and installation of exhibits.
3. Gain experience in creating book boxes for the Vining Rare Book Collection.
4. Develop knowledge of proper handling of archival materials and basic preservation skills.

Internship Application

Students interested in applying to the Archival internship should complete the online application (located below). Additionally, interested applicants must submit a project sample along with their application that demonstrates their ability to conduct research, synthesize information, and displays evidence of organization of ideas. Project samples can be anything from a PowerPoint presentation put together for a class, a research paper, or another project that demonstrates your research and organization skills. One recommendation from a person who can speak to the applicant’s organization skills, communication, and overall interest in archival related work is required.

Recommendations can be emailed to: archives@gordon.edu.

Project samples can be attached via the application online form. Please note, if the file size is too large to attach or if there are issues attaching, please email project samples to archives@gordon.edu.

Selection Process

Your application documents will be reviewed. If selected, you will be called in for an interview with Sarah St. Germain for final selection process. Only 2-3 interns will be selected each semester.

     Renata Boulay '26

This internship was an amazing opportunity to expand my skills and try something new! Sarah was a fantastic mentor as she helped me learn about the archival world and provided me with the flexibility to pursue personal interests. My favorite part of this internship was the opportunity to curate a mini exhibit using the Vining Rare Book collection. It was an incredible experience that has helped me gain confidence as I move on towards the professional world. 

 

   Eli Burk '23

My internship in the archives was such a great experience! I am privileged to have worked under Sarah St. Germain, a lovely person and a great teacher who taught me valuable archival skills. The Archival Internship is so great because I was allowed the freedom to choose a project that I was passionate about! I was privileged to work with Norse Sagas, with literature relating to Puerto Rico, and transcribing 19^th Century Church Minutes. This internship helped to make the past come alive!

 

     Joanna Sheldon '22

Working as an intern in the archives, you have the opportunity to put into tangible practice your own interests and passions. Whether you feel deeply devoted to history, literature, language, or science—the archives are a way for you to practice what you learn in the classroom. In class you might learn about an important figure in World War II, the next hour, you could be studying archival materials pertaining to that figure. No matter what you love, the archives are a way for you to put that interest into practice. Working in the archives at Gordon was an influential and valuable experience for me; one that I will not soon forget, and the evidence of which I continually see in my academic and personal life.

 

     Emily Butler '22

I really enjoyed my time interning in the archives as it gave me an opportunity to professionally develop certain skills whilst working on a team of peers and staff who all share the same passion for preserving Vining, Gordon, and Barrington history. Gordon's archives are like no other and I am super grateful for being able to be involved in its history.

 

 

  Abby Campanaro '20

My favorite part about working in the Gordon Archives was how individualized it was. Sarah helped me create an internship experience that allowed me to try my hand at many different facets of archival work, from preservation tasks within the Vining Collection to fulfilling outside research requests to digitizing materials. Working alongside Sarah in the Archives equipped me with many of the skills needed to pursue a career in the museum and library world post-graduation. 

 

The goal of the oral history internship is for students to learn how to use archival materials for research and historical context in order to conduct an oral history interview. The basics of archives and archival use, including environmental control, handling materials, access, copyright, and privacy concerns will be covered. This will help inform the students’ understanding of how an archive functions in order for them to utilize archival research now and in the future. Students will also learn skills in conducting a proper interview, how to synthesize the information gathered, and create a final project (paper, article, video, etc.). It is to act as a baseline of knowledge to carry into the field of journalism, technical and professional writing, and research internships and jobs.

The internship will last for a full semester. The schedule and hours to be completed are based on the 4-credit needs (112 hours in total) and the intern and supervisor’s individual schedules.

Responsibilities:

Examples of tasks and responsibilities are as follows:

• Using materials within the archives to gain a baseline knowledge of the person being interviewed.

• Scheduling and conducting an interview.

• Creation of interview transcripts.

• Final project in format of students’ choosing (paper, article, video, presentation, etc.)

Specific Objectives:

1. Develop basic skills in archival procedure including proper ways to handle materials.

2. Learn various aspects of archival work including how archival collections are cataloged, organized, and retrieved for researchers.

3. Gain experience in conducting interviews.

4. Develop knowledge of technical/professional writing.

Learning Strategies:

1. The student will keep a work log that will include date and hours, as well as what they were working on and any pertinent notes for the next day/time they are in the archives.

2. Selected readings from the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) Preservation Leaflets on proper handling and management of archival materials.

3. Primary and secondary source research.

Assessment:

1. Student is required to keep a daily work log and submit it at the end of the internship.

2. Transcript of oral history interview(s).

3. Final project such as a paper, article, presentation, etc. about the person interviewed.

4. On-site supervisor is required to write an evaluation and submit a recommended grade for quality of work.

5. Faculty supervisor prepares and overall evaluation and submits a grade for internship based upon #1, #2, and their own assessment.

6. Other assessments as required by faculty supervisor.

Qualifications:

Candidates for the Oral History internship must have an interest in learning more about the archival field particularly the use of archival materials for research and establishing cultural memory, an interest in journalism, technical, and/or professional writing. Priority will be given to English, Communication Arts, and History students, but any student is welcome to apply. Students must be able to work collaboratively with the supervisor and other interns as well as work well independently.

Internship Application

Students interested in applying to the Oral History internship should complete the online application. Additionally, interested applicants must submit a project sample along with their application that demonstrates their ability to conduct research, synthesize information, and displays evidence of organization of ideas. Project samples can be anything from a PowerPoint presentation put together for a class, a research paper, or another project that demonstrates your research and organization skills. One recommendation from a person who can speak to the applicant’s organization skills, communication, and overall interest in archival related work, journalism, and/or professional writing is required.

Students interested in applying for the Oral History internship should also speak with their faculty advisor and, if applicable, the internship coordinator for their department.

Recommendations can be emailed to: archives@gordon.edu.

Project samples can be attached via the application online form. Please note, if the file size is too large to attach or if there are issues attaching, please email project samples to archives@gordon.edu.

Selection Process

Your application documents will be reviewed. If selected, you will be called in for an interview with Sarah St. Germain for final selection process. Only 2-3 interns will be selected each semester.