Library Research Assistant Intern

The Missouri Historical Society is accepting applications from undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in historical research and seek an unpaid internship within the Library Department. This internship is in person, with the potential to include remote work. This internship position reports to the Library Outreach Manager. The Library Research Assistant will assist with historical research for multiple outcomes at the Library & Research Center.

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A PAID INTERNSHIP. UNPAID INTERNSHIPS MUST BE ACADEMIC IN NATURE AND THE INTERN MUST EARN ACADEMIC CREDIT BY PARTICIPATING IN THE INTERNSHIP.

Schedule

The intern will work a minimum of 15 hours per week during the semester. The work schedule will be dependent on the interns availability and other commitments and will be finalized with the supervisor.

The interns responsibilities will include (but not be limited to):

• Assist with the development of small exhibitions (pop-up exhibitions) at the Library & Research Center.
• Evaluate materials in the Missouri Historical Society Collections for inclusion in pop-up exhibitions.
• Write blog posts and social media content related to pop-up exhibitions.
• Conduct historical research for Library constituents.
• Develop content for public programming (how-to workshops, show-and-tells, and PowerPoint presentations).

Intern Qualifications:

• Pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in American history, public history, museum studies, or related field.
• Must have an interest in St. Louis and Missouri history, working with historical research documents, and learning new things about history.
• Must have prior experience using history research databases like JSTOR; America: History and Life; Ancestry; Newspapers.com; and Fold3.
• Previous experience doing research in an archive or special collections setting is a plus.
• Must be able to work independently without direct and consistent supervision.
• Must be able to communicate research findings, project ideas, and suggestions to supervisor and colleagues.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain experience in conducting historical research in special collections and repositories.
• Gain an understanding of how historical research can be utilized for multiple outcomes.
• Provide practical research experience that can be utilized in various professional settings.
• Learn new and exciting aspects of St. Louis and Missouri history.

The applicant must provide a résumé and a short statement of interest and/or intent in applying for the internship. For unpaid internships, an unofficial college or university transcript must also be uploaded with the application. For questions, please contact Kat Bourek at kbourek@mohistory.org.