Internships
Kansas Musem of HistoryCollecting, preserving, and interpreting the state's history is the mission of the Kansas Museum of History. Internships are offered to meet the needs of both student and museum. Interns learn about the museum field in preparation for a career, and the museum gains valuable assistance towards fulfilling its mission. The museum manages diverse collections of nearly one hundred thousand artifacts associated with the history of Kansas and the Great Plains. These collections include art, textiles, household items, political and military artifacts, and industrial tools and equipment. Kansas culture and history are interpreted in two exhibit galleries at the museum. The main gallery presents a chronology of Kansas history, while the smaller special exhibits gallery explores historical topics in greater depth. The collections and exhibits staff work together to create dramatic, educational exhibits. Unpaid internships are offered in the museum's two main areas of operation--collections management and exhibitions. Depending on the availability of projects, one internship is offered in each area a maximum of three times per year (fall semester, spring semester, and summer session). Interns are assigned directly to a professional staff member, and work regular hours towards the completion of one or more specific projects. A minimum/maximum hourly commitment is required, depending on the area of operation and the nature of the assigned project(s). Each internship option has its own set of parameters. Collections Management. Three distinct offices work together to manage the museum's collections.
Interns may work with any or all of these offices, depending on the nature of the assigned project. All internships begin with a general orientation to the museum facility and collections, but the majority of time is spent working intensively with artifacts and/or records. Some examples of projects previously assigned to collections interns include
Exhibitions. Designers, technicians, and carpenters work together to produce exhibits for the museum and other divisions of the Kansas Historical Society.
Exhibits interns typically gain hands-on experience working with computers (design), or power and hand tools using plexiglass and silk-screen materials (technicians) or wood and laminate (carpentry). Exhibits interns encounter technical and design work on a daily basis. In addition, interns are involved in major projects from the exhibits schedule whenever possible. Education/Outreach DivisionThe mission of the Kansas Historical Society is to identify, collect, preserve, interpret, and disseminate information pertaining to Kansas history in order to assist the public in understanding and appreciating their Kansas heritage and how it relates to their lives. The Education/Outreach Division is responsible for functions surrounding the interpretation and dissemination of Kansas history to the people of Kansas. Unpaid internships are offered in four of the departments of the Education/Outreach Division -- folk arts, publications, in-house, and outreach. Depending on the availability of projects, one internship is offered in each area a maximum of three times per year (fall semester, spring semester, and summer session). Interns are assigned directly to a professional staff member, and work regular hours towards the completion of one or more specific projects. A minimum/maximum hourly commitment is required, depending on the area of operation and the nature of the assigned projects(s). Each internship option has its own set of parameters. Internships in any of the four areas will be prefaced by a general orientation to the Education/Outreach Division's work areas and responsibilities. Folk Arts. The goal of the folk arts department is to promote the continuation of traditional arts as well as promote cultural awareness and sensitivity. Department responsibilities include organizing folk art festivals; documenting (orally and visually) traditional crafts; and providing technical assistance to local historical societies, museums, and other organizations. Publications. This department is responsible for the quarterly publication of Kansas History and Kansas Heritage magazines, promotion of the Society, the annual report, and publication of Society-related brochures. Education. The education division oversees the programs at the Kansas Museum of History, the Koch Industries Education Center at the Potawatomi Mission, and the Stach School. Responsibilities include development of classroom curricula on Kansas history, the museum tour programs, living history program, the hands-on Discovery Place, summer classes for students ages 4 to 13, special events, lectures, and workshops. This division also oversees the education programs that serve the entire state. These programs include traveling resource trunks, media loans, and traveling exhibits. It also is responsible for the Kansas History Day program, arranging teachers' seminars, providing technical assistance to local historical societies and museums, and the Community History Institute. Intern opportunities in any of these departments might include developing curriculum or tour related materials, researching projects, producing publications, and assisting in implementing programs. Historic Sites DivisionThe Historic Sites Division preserves and interprets sixteen historical properties across the state. Most of these are associated with the immigrant Indian tribes or with Kansas territorial history. Other major areas of emphasis are ranching on the Plains, the frontier military, the Oregon-California and the Santa Fe trails, indigenous Native Americans, and the Civil War in the West. The evolving cultural landscape of each site is of primary interest. Internships are available in four areas within the Historic Sites Division. Administration. Interns would observe a variety of administrative activities either in the central office or at a historic site. In order to provide greater focus for their experience, they would select one area in which to do an in-depth project and report. Research. Interns would investigate and complete a research report on a historical problem that is important for one or more of the historic sites. Interpretation. Interns would become familiar with divisional policies for interpretation and would observe interpretive activities at one or more historic sites. They would design and, if possible, implement an interpretive program for at least one site. Preservation. Interns would study and critique divisional preservation policies in light of normal practices in the field. They would create a preservation plan for a designated building or site. Library and Archives DivisionThe Center for Historical Research contains in excess of sixty thousand linear feet of library materials (printed), State and local archives (permanently-valuable governmental records), manuscripts (permanently-valuable non-governmental papers), photographs and audio-visual materials, and maps; records are in both original and microform formats. The center's records management section also stores noncurrent state agency records in the State Records Center and works with agencies on the retention and disposition of records. Interns are assigned directly to a professional staff member and work regular hours toward the completion of one or more specific projects selected from the following areas of interest: Library and Reference interns will gain experience in providing reference service to patrons of a specialized library and archives with many types of materials: books, periodicals, photos, audio-visual materials, state and local government records, manuscripts, and maps. Experience in the technical service needs of a specialized library in acquisition, cataloging, and processing of library material and microforms will also be offered. Archives appraises, accessions, arranges, and describes noncurrent state and local agency records of enduring value. Records Management works with state agencies to promote good recordkeeping practices, develop records schedules, and operate the State Records Center where non-current agency records are stored. Records management specialists visit with agency personnel, survey records held in State offices, advise agency personnel having problems with records, and compose records retention and disposition schedules for state agencies. Local records works with cities, counties, and other local governmental units to ensure that records with historical value are preserved and maintained; in addition the staff maintains those local records housed in the Center for Historical Research. Manuscripts works with potential and actual donors, appraises accessions, and arranges and describes collections of nongovernmental papers of individuals, organizations, and businesses having enduring historical value. Photographs deals with the appraising, accessioning, arranging, and describing collections of still images, motion-picture film, and audio- and videotape. Still photographs staff handle the collection of four hundred eighty thousand still images. Audio-visual staff deal with the growing number of films, videotapes, and audiotapes in the collection. Maps appraises, accessions, arranges, and describes the agency's collection of more than twenty-five thousand maps and architectural drawings. Internships in this area often concentrate on improving storage conditions, describing individual maps or collections of maps and drawings, and map conservation. Preservation/conservation management works with all sections of the division to coordinate and oversee preservation activities for the collections. This section also supervises the technical service labs that produce archival quality microform reformatting and photo reproductions. Lela Barnes Archival Internship In addition to the unpaid, for-credit internships offered through colleges and universities, the manuscripts section offers the Lela Barnes Archival Internship, an eight-week paid internship designed for graduate students in history, archival administration, or a related field interested in archives work as a profession. The internship includes a small stipend and is offered as funds permit. Applicants must have completed at least nine semester hours at the graduate level in an appropriate field. Specific criteria and application information is available from the curator of manuscripts. Cultural Resources DivisionThe archeology and historic preservation offices of the Cultural Resources Division offer unpaid internships. Archeology Office The preservation of archeological remains, both excavated artifacts and remains still in an archeological (site) context, is a primary goal of archeology. Unpaid interns will have the opportunity to learn more about the field of archeology, about cultural resource management, and about the preservation and curation of archeological collections and information. The focus of the intern's project will be determined by the intern's area of interest, staff availability, and the needs of the archeology office. Archeological Fieldwork. This option is subject to field conditions, time of year, and opportunities available to staff for fieldwork. Artifact Analysis. The level of analysis attempted will be determined by the intern's background, interests, and demonstrated abilities. Archeological Report Preparation. Normally, this level of project is limited to graduate students, though select undergraduates will be considered, particularly if the project is being used in conjunction with an undergraduate honors thesis or in some similar manner. Collections Management. This could include washing, cataloguing, stabilizing, and restoring and/or preserving artifacts. It could also include working with a data management system where prior computer experience would be helpful. Records Management. The intern might work with slide collections, photo collections, maps, photography, computer entry of archeological information, etc. Development of Educational Programming. Programming might be related to archeology or Native Americans in Kansas. The intern might work on designing or constructing portable exhibits, slide shows, brochures, etc. Records Research. Records research potential of the Society is considerable and the archives, library, and manuscript offices are regularly visited by archeology office staff. For example, our historical archaeologists do extensive historic research on virtually all projects that they undertake, and interns could assist in this research. Historic Preservation Office The Kansas Historic Preservation Office (KHPO) administers historic preservation programs for the state of Kansas. Possible internships include conducting special topic surveys, applied design review, and drafting building descriptions and histories for National Register properties. Projects also may relate to the Heritage Trust Fund, survey and planning, and Certified Local Government/community assistance. KHPO internships target students with academic backgrounds in history, architectural history, social history, architectural studies, architecture, urban planning and community design, anthropology, cultural anthropology, archeology, oral history, and landscape architecture. Prospective interns should display proven academic ability in the relevant subject matter and be able to demonstrate how the internship will broaden their horizons. Special Topic Surveys. Interns may conduct surveys on special topics such as railroad depots or round barns, using the KHPO inventory forms. These surveys would be conducted in the field with little staff interaction. Applied Design Review. Interns may work with the architectural team on design review issues to decide how character defining components of register listed properties are preserved. Aspects of this work might include product literature searches, learning about and applying the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, and the opportunity to participate in developing alternative solutions for review and compliance issues. National Register Nominations. Internships in this area involve working with the architectural historian on drafting building descriptions and histories for National Register properties. Architectural history books and dictionaries will be used by the intern to develop architectural descriptions. The architectural and social histories will be based on primary research material, nomination drafts, and other material in the property file, as well as architectural histories in the KHPO library. Survey and Planning. Interns may work with the survey and planning team on developing and implementing community based surveys. Aspects of this work might include reviewing survey materials, developing overall historical context statements, and working with the federal granting process. Archeology. Interns may be asked to work with the archeologist on review and compliance issues related to archeological site identification. Aspects of this work might include National Register nomination development, localized survey, site evaluation, and site mapping. Certified Local Government(CLG)/Community Assistance. This internship involves working with the CLG planner to assist these communities and others with preservation related needs. Aspects of this work might include assisting in reviewing and revisions of current CLG procedures and requirements, gathering data from communities outside the state for applicability to Kansas local government needs, and assisting in preparing design guidelines and ordinances. Public Information Office. Interns in the public information office will assist with publicity efforts including writing news releases, assist with web site maintenance updating exhibit and visitor information, and visitor studies. Candidates should have completed course work in writing, HTML, image scanning, and public relations. The position is unpaid. Minimum QualificationsThe Historical Society offers internships for undergraduates and graduate students. Internships are available for graduate students enrolled in museum studies, folk arts, education, archeology, anthropology, preservation architecture, history, library/archival science, and related programs. These students should demonstrate their knowledge of basic historical society operations through applicable coursework and/or previous internship or work experience. Prospective undergraduate interns should be able to demonstrate their qualifications through applicable coursework and previous experience. However, undergraduate internships may be designed to offer students an introduction to several aspects of public history with less focus on an in-depth project. Some divisions have minimum hourly commitments required for internships. Internships at the undergraduate level usually are 120 hours in length; some graduate programs may recommend longer terms. How to ApplyTo be considered for an internship, applicants must complete an internship application form and submit it along with a resume, cover letter, and the name and address of at least one reference who has knowledge of the applicant's public history and/or academic skills. Applications are reviewed by panels from each of the divisions in which the applicant expresses an interest. Staff members who will supervise the work of particular interns will evaluate and comment on applications before they are accepted. DeadlinesApplication materials should be received by June 15 for fall semester internships, November 15 for spring semester internships, and April 15 for summer session internships. Applications received after these deadlines will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Submit application materials to: Internship Coordinator The Kansas Historical Society does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operation of its programs. The Society requests prior notification to accommodate individuals with special needs or disabilities. Persons using TTY can access the above numbers by using the Kansas Relay Center at 1-800-766-3777. |
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