Maine Historical Society

Archival Finding Aid Description (EAD) Internship

On-site at one of MHS's Portland locations, hybrid, or remote
  • Master's required
  • Summer 2027
  • Remote
  • Internship

Listing details

  • Applications closed Mar 2
  • Last verified Nov 3

About the job

The Abbagadassett *Archival Finding Aid Description (EAD) Internship* is a 300-hour summer internship focused on converting archival finding aids (collection inventories) into Encoded Archival Description (EAD), the widely-used standard for describing and navigating manuscript collections. This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in careers in library science, archives, public history, or other humanities fields where working with primary sources is central.

Learning opportunities include working with archival collections; learning EAD methodologies; creating intellectual control of physical collections; and professional communication in a cultural setting.

The intern will review and analyze existing text-based finding aids, work hands-on with archival collections to reconcile data fields, and format content into EAD with consistent descriptions using ArchivesSpace. The intern will collaborate with staff to publish completed finding aids online.

Through project-based learning, students will explore varied aspects of archival work while building practical and transferable skills. This internship offers direct experience with EAD, one of the most important tools used in archives today, allowing archival collections to be found, searched, and understood more easily.

This position is performed on-site at Maine Historical Society's downtown Portland location, with some hybrid flexibility. This opportunity is open to graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited Library Science program, as well as recent Library Science graduates. Qualified applicants must have some experience with creating archival finding aids.

Application details

Applications for this opportunity are now closed. Thank you for your interest.