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Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program

Summer 2010 Internships

 

  1. City of Washington, Georgia

Battle of Kettle Creek Artifact Interpretation and the role Revolutionary War hero, Austin Dabney

Wilkes County, GA

The internship project is the initial organization and presentation of artifacts of the Battle of Kettle Creek and the development of an Austin Dabney display at the City of Washington Historical Museum. African-Americans played a pivotal role in the American Revolution yet their importance is underemphasized. Austin Dabney is a well-recognized hero, being highlighted in “ALMOST INVISIBLE:  Black Patriots of the American Revolution” by Kate Salley Palmer. The internship will expose the intern to museum curation experiences, historic artifact preservation techniques, heritage tourism marketing experiences, and exposure to the Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution membership. The internship compliments the “13th Colony Trail” heritage tourism project being developed in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

NOTE: An intern has already been chosen for this project.

 

  1. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, NPS

Cultural Resources and Interpretation Project

Bushkill, PA

The Delaware Water Gap NRA cultural resources and interpretation project will acquaint an intern with a range of cultural resource tasks (museum curation and cataloging, historic sites maintenance, archeological survey and excavation, and cultural landscape survey), as well as giving them experience with operations of a front-line visitors center.  Archeology:  The intern will shovel-test proposed development areas or other areas under the direction of the park’s archeologist or cultural resource manager.  Ethnography:  The intern will help to develop a draft Action Plan for park use when ground-disturbing activities encounter human remains. Historic Structures/Cultural Landscapes:  Interns will perform at least two weeks of historic structures maintenance or cultural landscape maintenance under the direction of the cultural resource manager and maintenance staff. Museum Management:  The intern will accession park collections and perform at least two weeks of object or archives cataloging and collections care (moving, cleaning, labeling).  Cultural Resource Interpretation:  The intern will perform interpretation of cultural resources at either the park’s Kittatinny Point or Dingmans Visitor Centers, or as a roving interpreter at cultural sites.  A privately-owned vehicle is recommended for personal, off-duty transportation while at the park and to-and-from the Bushkill, PA, duty station.

 

The successful candidate will have:

  • Basic computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, data entry)
  • Basic computational and writing skills
  • Basic manual dexterity and physical conditioning
  • General introductory courses in history, archaeology, historic architecture, or museum management

 

  1. Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, NPS

Managing and Interpreting Cultural Resources in Arizona

Silver City, NM

Over the course of this internship, the selected student will work with affiliated American Indian tribes, professional museum curators, conservators, archeologists, fire management officers, and exhibit designers.  The intern will participate in the rehabilitation of the Gila Visitor Center’s museum by: writing exhibit text, selecting artifacts for display, locating Mimbres pottery for long term loan, and collaborating with the designers from Arizona State Museum. The intern will work with regional and park staff to coordinate with affiliated tribes to review items in storage at the Western Archeological Conservation Center and develop a list of items to be returned to the tribes in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).  Finally, the intern will aid with the deaccessioning of all artifacts repatriated during the 2009 repatriation/reburial and 2010 ceremonial return NAGPRA projects, accession and catalog undocumented museum donations, and create complete accession folders to remedy annual accessions inventory problems.  A personal vehicle is required for this internship.  Mileage will be reimbursed.

 

The successful candidate will have:

  • Familiarity with MS Office applications
  • An interest in NAGPRA legislation
  • Basic understanding of archeological technique
  • Basic understanding of museum collections management

 

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  1. George Washington Memorial Parkway, NPS

Cultural Resources Intern

McLean, VA (greater Washington, DC area)

This internship will provide the selectee with a wide range of experiences within Cultural Resources Program Management.  The intern would assist with the continued organization, management, cataloging, and filing of research materials to assure that all GWMP library resource files and materials are accounted for (2 Weeks). The intern will assist with managing the Fort Hunt Oral History Project, which seeks to record the secret history of a highly classified WWII intelligence installation located within Fort Hunt Park, a unit of GWMP.  There will be opportunities for the intern to conduct research at archival centers such as the National Archives and Records Administration, as well as to participate in interviews with these veterans. (3 Weeks) The intern will learn about the role of archeology in the Section 106 compliance process, as well as to learn introductory archeological skills and concepts. A number of ongoing projects require archeological fieldwork, and an archeologist will be working at GWMP throughout the summer. (2weeks)  The intern will also participate in GWMP museum cataloguing on paper and in the Automated National Cataloging System (ANCS+) database.  These include archeological materials, items donated from veterans of the Fort Hunt Oral History Projects, and text and other ephemeral materials acquired from online auctions.  The intern will process (wash, sort) artifacts, as well as to conduct the initial cataloging. (3weeks) A privately owned vehicle or other arrangements by the intern would be necessary to reach the offices of the Cultural Resource Program but a Government vehicle is available for work throughout the park, visits to research repositories, or other official activities.

 

The successful candidate will:

·         Have the ability to conduct historical research

·         Be able to engage in occasional physical activities associated with field work

·         Have a knowledge of computers and MS Office applications

·         Have a valid driver’s license

 

  1. National Historical Landmarks Program, NPS

St. Augustine National Historic Landmark Boundary Revision and Updated Documentation (Archeology)                                        

St. Augustine, Florida/Introductory orientation in Washington, DC

When the St. Augustine Town Plan Historic District was designated as a National Historic Landmark (NHL) by the Secretary of the Interior in 1970, no complete survey of the resources within the implied boundary was conducted and no determination was made of which resources contributed to the historic district and which did not.  The intern will review preliminary material collected by Southeast Regional Office (SERO), compile information from archeological reports prepared for the first to current excavations performed in St. Augustine, and conduct additional primary and secondary research in local archives.  Under the guidance of NHL staff from both SERO and the Washington office (WASO), the intern will write a rough draft for an updated NHL nomination for the St. Augustine Town Plan Historic District to add Archeology as an area of significance and determine a definitive boundary based on the identified archeological resources.  A graduate student in archeology or related field is preferred.

 

The successful candidate will:

·         Have the ability to conduct historical research and produce written reports

·         Be able to use the citation method American Antiquity. 

·         Be comfortable reading archeological reports

·         Have basic mapping skills

 

  1. The National Public Housing Museum

Make Your Mark/Oral Histories Intern

Chicago, IL

The intern would assist the museum in developing and implementing a citizen participation program called “Our Stories,” which is designed to collect the oral histories of current and former public housing residents in accordance with the NPHM’s recently rewarded National Endowment for the Humanities Oral Histories planning grant.  The intern will schedule and conduct interviews with Chicago Housing Authority leaders, Chicago city government leaders, recognized local nonprofit and architectural leaders as well as museum board members and advisory council members.  The intern will transcribe interview notes and catalogue the results in the Museum archives and database.  The intern’s interviews and transcripts will be made available to the public through the Museum’s database.  The intern must own a personal laptop for use in the field. A personal vehicle is recommended but not required.

 

The successful candidate will:

·         Have a pleasant attitude and strong capacity for following directions

·         Be able to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines

·         Have a knowledge of computers and MS Office applications

·         Be flexible in an environment with limited resources

·         Creative problem solver

·         Strong desire to work in the public sector

 

  1. National Trust for Historic Preservation, Southern Office

Rosenwald School Survey Database

Charleston, SC

Since 2002, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has administered the Rosenwald Schools Initiative, a focused effort to raise awareness and provide resources to groups and individuals working to preserve the remaining Rosenwald schools.  The schools were the product of collaboration between Booker T. Washington, principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald to educate African Americans across the South and Southwest in an era of strict school segregation.  Today many of the schools are gone but an interest in their history and preservation continues to grow.  To assist in the difficult task of locating the schools, assessing their conditions, and allocating resources for their preservation and reuse, the intern will: 1) canvass all State Historic Preservation Offices and search files at the Southern Office, and 2) compile a database on all Rosenwald school survey information in the 14 states with schools remaining.  Additionally, the intern will update the Rosenwald Initiative website with links to new materials and resources available online, as well as blog on PreservationNation.org.  The intern will visit and interview staff at other Charleston preservation institutions including: Drayton Hall, a National Trust Historic Site; Historic Charleston Foundation; American College of the Building Arts; The Preservation Society of Charleston; and the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture.

 

The successful candidate will:

·         Be interested in the history and preservation of schools, sites of segregation, 20th century African American history and/or historical resources.

·         Have proficiency in Microsoft Access and Excel

·         Have excellent writing and communication skills

 

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  1. Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA

Conservation-related Farm Bill projects in Eastern Washington State

Spokane, WA

The intern will work on 2-6 small cultural resource management (CRM) inventory or assessment projects, including preparation of the report, under the technical supervision of an Area Cultural Resources Specialist (ACRS).  The intern will meet a NRCS conservation planner requesting NEPA/NHPA compliance assistance, participate in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and federally recognized American Indian Tribes, review historic maps and predict the types of resources that may be present, conduct field inventory through shovel-testing and interviews with knowledgeable landowners, and prepare site documentation. The intern will gain demonstrable vitae credits as a second author on the final CRM report.  The intern will also informally visit with tribal professional cultural resource staff, tour offices, and perhaps visit a tribally-operated curatorial facility that meets federal standards.  The intern will get the chance to work with rural ranchers, farmers, forest owners, Tribes, and enrolled Tribal members who have voluntarily applied to participate in Farm Bill conservation program, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. A graduate student in archeology or related field is preferred but not required.

 

The successful intern must:

·         Have a strong interest in Native American heritage and tribal consultation

·         Have basic computer skills, experience with GIS a plus

  • Be physically able to complete short hikes to archeological sites

 

  1. Ozark National Scenic Riverways, NPS

Experiencing the Cultural Resources of The Southeastern Ozark Highland

Van Buren, MO 

The intern will conduct archeological research with Dr. Rolfe Mandel, a paleo-archeologist from the University of Kansas, on early Paleo-Indian sites dating to as far back as 12,000 years ago in the Big Spring area of the park.  The intern will participate in the restoration of an historic Civilian Conservation Corps structure at Big Spring which served as a camp store in 1934-1937.  Work will involve the filling of nail and screw holes in wooden structural elements, the reconstruction of missing architectural fabric, and the careful tuck pointing of stone walls. The intern will help restore historic Ozark tools for use in craft demonstrations at cultural events in ONSR.  The intern will work with a professional conservator and learn the methods of metal and wood cleaning and preservation as well as tool sharpening and maintenance.  They will work side by side with skilled craftspeople in the restoration of period handmade Ozark furniture such as split wood chairs, spinning wheels, and other such objects.  The intern will also learn how to clean historic specimens and preserve them for the future.  They will be instructed in the use of electrolysis for the removal of rust and rust preventative techniques as well as the treatment of wooden tools and tool parts. Finally, the intern will prepare Ozark material culture artifacts for placement in curation cabinets and will also prepare and file original photographs, slides, documents, and oral history transcripts for the park archives.  Archive responsibilities include: scanning original historic photographs and placing the digitized images in the archives, cleaning cultural specimens ranging from prehistoric artifacts to objects of the Great Depression when the Civilian Conservation Corps was instrumental in developing state parks.

 

The successful intern will:

  • Have basic word processing and data entry skills 
  • Possess a valid driver’s license

 

10.  Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Documenting the History of Mexican Americans in the Santa Monica Mountains

Thousand Oaks, CA 

The interpretation on the history of Mexican Americans is greatly needed by the park to tell the diverse stories of former residents of the Santa Monica Mountains and surrounding communities.  The intern will research, compile information, and analyze the history of Mexican Americans living in California’s Santa Monica Mountains and surrounding communities following the Mexican American War.  The intern will conduct primary and secondary research at local archives and historical societies to investigate land ownership, land forfeiture, citizenship, homesteading, perspectives, social activities, and land use.  The intern will create web pages using the National Park Service’s content management software on his/her research findings and present those findings to coworkers and the management team.  In addition, the intern will job shadow cultural resource employees at a nearby National Park and attend local meetings of Cultural Resources organizations such as the Southwest Oral History Association, the Calabasas Historical Society, and the Ventura Archeological Society. Proficiency in reading Spanish-language documents and a privately-owned vehicle is required for the project.

 

The successful intern must:

·         Be Proficient in reading Spanish-language documents

·         Have strong English-language writing skills

·         Possess a valid driver’s license

·         Be Proficient in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. 

 

  1. Shenandoah National Park, NPS

Introduction to Cultural Resource Management

Luray, VA       

The intern will work with the Cultural Resource Program Manager and the staff Museum Specialist on a wide variety of cultural resource projects.  With the park’s archeology cooperator, the intern will perform an archeological survey and write condition assessments on historic structures located in the park in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).  Second, the intern will participate in cultural landscape restoration at Rapidan Camp, a National Historic Landmark, including working with and adding information to the cultural resource base map in GIS.  Also, the intern will work in the museum collection division by assisting with preservation cleaning, environmental monitoring of temperature and humidity, ultraviolet and visible light reading, conducting integrated pest management, and re-housing museum objects in archival containers.  The intern will catalog history museum objects including numbering, cataloging and working with the NPS museum collections software.  One project will include inventory of oral history interviews and their media types in preparation for migration to permanent storage and creating transcripts.  Finally, the intern will assist researchers by pulling objects and answering research queries at the park museum archives. 

 

The successful intern must:

·         Have basic computer skills

·         Be physically able to complete short hikes to park archeological sites.

 

  1. Yosemite National Park

Documenting Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Yosemite National Park through Ethnohistorical Research

El Portal, CA

Many conventional historical accounts of Yosemite National Park contain compelling clues about a long history of ethnic and cultural diversity in the park marked by important multicultural exchanges and interactions.  The intern will conduct ethnohistorical research to fill the gaps about the presence and contributions of diverse peoples and cultures with ties to Yosemite National Park, such as Asian immigrants, Basque sheepherders, African Americans, American Indians, and miners drawn from many ethnic groups and nationalities. The intern will conduct primary and secondary research in the extensive collections housed at the Yosemite National Park archive, research library, and museum.  The intern will also carry out research at other local repositories.  The intern and the park’s Cultural Anthropologist will make field trips to sites identified as important in Yosemite’s history of ethnic and cultural diversity.  The intern will review, analyze, and integrate information from oral traditions, photographs, maps, archeological findings, folklore, paintings, ecological data, published and unpublished manuscripts, and the travel accounts, personal diaries, and memoirs of early visitors and settlers in and around Yosemite National Park.  The intern will compile his or her research findings in an inventory database and also prepare a synthesis report detailing their project activities, findings, identified data gaps, and recommendations for future research.

 

The successful intern will:

  • Possess a valid driver’s license.
  • Be able to conduct systematic library and/or archival research
  • Have a basic introduction to/interest in the field of cultural anthropology
  • Be proficient with the Microsoft Office 2007 suite of software

 

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13.  Minidoka National Historic Site/Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument

Cataloging Archives related to Japanese American Internment

Hagerman, Idaho

Minidoka National Historic Site is significant because it represents an important component of World War II and American history and is a compelling venue for engaging in dialogue concerning the violation of civil and constitutional rights and the meaning of democracy. Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument contains world-class paleontological resources, and provides for continuing education and research, including scientific analyses that allow comparisons with modern ecosystems and the study of environmental changes and biodiversity, including climate change. The intern will organize and arrange archives relating to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII in southern Idaho and pertinent management documents relating to both Minidoka National Historic Site and Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument.  In addition, the intern will visit and perform curatorial tasks in the museum collections of the City of Rocks National Reserve and Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve in Southern Idaho.  The intern will also participate in park staff meetings and shadow staff from other divisions in order to better understand overall park operations and management. A privately-owned vehicle is required to drive between museum facilities in Hagerman, ID and the Minidoka National Historic Site.

 

The successful candidate will:

·         Major in history, archeology, museum studies and/or museum education, or related field.

·         Be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

·         Have strong organizational abilities

 

14.  Dinosaur National Monument, NPS

Interpretation Internship

Jensen, UT 

This project is one component of a larger Minority Population Conservation Internship Pilot Program that Dinosaur National Monument is establishing this year. The intern will work as a park interpreter to provide information to visitors through formal talks and informal contacts about the archeological, pioneer history, and paleontological resources of the park.  Second, the intern will research information, write text, and update the Park’s webpages on science/nature and history/culture. The intern will also shadow other Park staff on a variety of other cultural resource activities, including: invasive plant species mitigation, peregrine falcon monitoring, and paleontological excavation, surveying and recording.  A personal vehicle is NOT required for the internship but may be useful.

 

The successful candidate will:

·         Be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

·         Have a strong ability to communicate orally and in writing

 

15.  Frederick Douglass Memorial Home and Fort Circle Parks, National Capital Parks-East

NACE Curatorial Project

Washington, DC area

The intern will assist the parks with creating an organized photographic database so that photos can be easily found and retrieved for use in publications, programs and on the website.  Intern will also help with creation of a research archive/database for the Fort Circle Parks (multi-site project).  The intern will also assist the on-site curator with cataloging and research on objects in the collection, assist with routine cleaning and care of objects on display at Frederick Douglass NHS, assist with work on the collections housed at the off-site Museum Resource Center, which houses hundreds of thousands of artifacts from parks throughout the National Capital Region and the Department of the Interior.  The intern will participate in inventories, and may work with the curator to create a small exhibit for the Frederick Douglass Home visitor center display case.  Because the sites have a nice balance of cultural and natural resources, the intern should be prepared to work in natural settings as well as within historic structures.  Additionally, the intern will work with other curators in the region, tour of the National Archives for Black Women’s History at the Mary McLeod Bethune National Historic Site, shadow other curators in the National Capital Region to see how their collections and responsibilities differ from the curatorial staff at National Capital Parks-East. 

 

The successful candidate will:

·         Be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Access, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

·         Be literate in Microsoft Office scanning and imaging software

·         Major in history, museum studies and/or museum education, or related field.

  • Have a strong organizational skills

 

16.  Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, NPS (YIP#11818)

Restoring the 1900 Swedish American Cultural Landscape at Chellberg Farm

Porter, Indiana

The intern will implement recommendations to restore Chellberg Farm, one of the most popular cultural sites within Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.  Working with the lakeshores Resource Stewardship Program Manager and Historical Architect, the intern will facilitate restoration of the farm’s “Front Yard” by developing and implement a 5-year vegetable garden management plan, and developing an action plan to restore the one-acre orchard.  The plan will include locating sources for the plants, materials, and equipment and recruiting staff & volunteers.  The intern will also have an opportunity to participate in archeology digs within the park; observe the restoration of a log building at Bailly Homestead, a National Historic Landmark site; and assist with the installation of the exhibit “10,000 Years in the Making – The Material Culture of Indiana Dunes” in partnership with the Westchester Historical Museum. The intern will need to operate government owned vehicles; a driver’s license that is in good standing is required.

 

The successful candidate will:

·         Have an interest in landscape architecture, horticulture, botany, environmental planning, and related fields

·         Be able to use a variety of basic landscape tools.

·         Be able to perform physical labor in an outdoor setting

·         Be able to work independently and take initiative

·         Have strong organizational abilities

·         Be literate in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word and PowerPoint

 

 

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HOW TO APPLY!

The 2010 student application deadline was Monday, March 1, 2010. All student applications were processed through the Student Conservation Association (SCA).  Submit your scanned application materials by email directly to the SCA Coordinator:

Justin Chow, jchow@thesca.org, 703.524.2441

Students must provide the following information:

·         A General Application Form. Click the link for a WORD version.

  • A resume or a curriculum vita (1-2 pages) that includes: educational information; previous and current experience; publications or presentations; awards, scholarships, honors, etc.; and 2-3 personal references.
  • A cover letter that includes a brief statement, 150 words or less, of why you want the internship and why you are qualified. Please indicate 2-3 specific internships that you would like to fill.
  • A transcript. An unofficial one is acceptable.
  • At least one letter of reference from a professor or previous supervisor/employer.

Review the Frequently Asked Questions page for students for more information.

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