Curatorial Internship Fall 2013
George Washington's Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Virginia, USA
Position: Curatorial Internship Fall 2013
Department: Historic Preservation and Collections
Mount Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington, originally extended over eight thousand acres and was divided into five farms. The property remained in the Washington family until 1858, when it was purchased by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, a non-profit organization founded by Ann Pamela Cunningham in 1853 to “perpetuate the sacred memory of ‘the Father of his Country’” and to “preserve the relics at Mount Vernon.” The current historic site encompasses George Washington’s original Mansion House Farm and consists of 500 acres; in addition to the Mansion and outbuildings, it also features an Orientation Center, Education Center, and Museum. The estate welcomes approximately 1 million visitors a year. Major responsibilities of the Collections Department include ensuring that the objects on view in the Mansion and outbuildings are historically accurate and preserved for these visitors and developing and maintaining permanent and changing exhibitions in the Museum galleries of the Donald W. Reynolds Education Center and Museum.
Under the immediate supervision of the Associate Curator, the intern’s primary responsibility will be to assist with research and development of a comprehensive furnishing plan for the nine bedchambers in the Mansion. The intern will also create “desiderata” sheets for any proposed objects needed to implement the furnishing plan.
Other responsibilities may include:
Contributing information for object-based blog entries ().
Other projects as assigned.
Compensation and hours:
The intern is expected to fulfill a 100-hour commitment during the Fall 2013 semester (approx. 8-10 hrs/wk during the period Sept. 30, 2013 – Dec. 2013). The exact schedule will be determined in consultation with the supervisor. Compensation in the amount of $3,000 is offered for this internship, payable on Mount Vernon’s bi-weekly pay schedule. Mount Vernon is happy to work with the intern’s academic program to provide credit for the internship period.
Applicants should be currently enrolled in or recent graduates of M.A. or Ph.D. programs in American material culture or decorative arts, Museum Studies, American Studies, or Public History. Preference will be given to applicants who possess a demonstrated interest in and knowledge of 18th-century fine or decorative arts or Chesapeake social history. The ideal candidate will be able to work independently and possess strong research and writing skills.
Internship position with the Custer Battlefield Museum in beautiful Garryowen, Montana, May through September (exact dates are flexible). Responsibilities include assisting the Museum and store Staff in a variety of projects and research related to the Museum collection and displays. Additional duties include admissions, handling cash, helping with gift shop inventory, answering questions and online inquiries, and educating tourists in various aspects of the famous Battle. The Museum averages 100+ visitors daily. Interns will also be asked to maintain historical social media sites.
Custer Battlefield Museum is a state-approved tourist information center. In addition to answering questions about the Battle of the Little Big Horn, the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument, and the Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area, interns should be prepared to answer general questions about Eastern Montana tourist sites, Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore.
The internship is an unpaid position, 35-40 hours per week. We provide the educational training and materials, housing, food, adventure, and fun! The cost to the Museum for room and board totals $6500.00 per intern. If selected, the Museum will award a $6000.00 grant to cover the majority of these costs. The successful applicant will be responsible to furnish the additional $500.00 towards an unforgettable historical experience. Interns who wish to use this opportunity to receive college credits may make arrangements with the Museum Director and his/her college advisor.
Your summer home in Montana will include a clean and comfortable room adjacent to the Museum, which is located within the exterior boundaries of the Crow Indian Reservation next to the Little Big Horn River. This is a tremendous on-site educational opportunity in the Big Sky Country of Montana!
- Must be age 21 or older
- High School graduate, some college
- Enjoy interacting and visiting with the public
- Personable, outgoing, enthusiastic, positive attitude
- Reliable, responsible, flexible
- Strong attention to detail and good organizational skills
- A working knowledge of American history and a desire to learn more
- Capable of learning new material rapidly and willing to spend time and expend the effort necessary to study material
- Works well as a team member
- Able to work independently
- Able to accept supervision
- Physically able to lead tours around the museum
- Intermediate computer/Internet skills
- Knowledge and/or experience with eBay or with e-commerce websites is helpful