Barack Obama - College Park, MD - Artifact Collections Care Internship

Tasks & Responsibilities:

• Assist Registrar and Museum Technician with
• Inventorying museum collections
• Condition reporting and assessing object storage conditions
• Writing object descriptions to update database records
• Object photography
• Creating archival storage supports and/or enclosures for objects

Professional Development Opportunities:

• Interns will gain hands-on experience with museum collection management best practices. They will get a behind the scenes look at the policies and procedures of the National Archives while contributing to the preservation of our national history.
• Products created during the internship - such as updated descriptions and photographs - will be utilized by the public and National Archives staff to increase access to our holdings.

Work Environment:

• The work is mostly sedentary and performed while seated, yet interns must be physically able to perform the duties of this position.
• Physical demands may include climbing ladders, moving carts of records, and handling boxes of archival records.
• Interns will have regular access to a shared NARA computer workstation.

Education & Qualifications Requirements:

• Educational Level/Program:
• Current or former bachelor's degree or graduate students
• Degree program in museum studies, history, or related field
• Qualifications:
• Research capability
• Competent using computers for tasks including data entry, word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations
• Physically able to climb 15-foot ladders and work with boxes weighing up to 50 pounds
• Can work collaboratively as part of a team

Schedule:

• Internship Date Options:
• 6/1/2026 through 8/7/2026
• 6/8/2026 through 8/14/2026
• Weekly Schedule: 11-19 hours per week

Area(s) of Interest: Museums Collections & Exhibits Management

The selecting official for this internship may also request a letter of recommendation.

Summer 2026 interns have the opportunity to work in a variety of fields, including archival processing, museum exhibits, and more. Interns work between 10-40 hours per week for 10 weeks. Internships are unpaid, yet can be done for academic credit or volunteer hours.