The New York Historical

Collections Intern

February - April 2022 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I loved the people at N-YHS! They made coming in everyday all the more enjoyable. The Collections staff were very helpful and kind as I learned new processes, shadowed different colleagues, and asked questions. I got to interact with various departments and learn from so many skilled museum professionals. There were always opportunities to grow in a specific skill or learn new ones. I gained a strong foundation in collections management because of this internship. After completion, I was at the museum for another year and a half in 2 other PT roles.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been introduced to art shipping and logistics management for collections

Advice

If there is an area you're interested in learning about, ask!

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Teen Programs Intern

May - August 2020 • New York City, NY

What I liked

I loved the environment at the N-YHS, it was well preserved online as the Internship Coordinator found ways to get people to meet. I was able to learn many new skills that I had wanted to explore as my supervisors created opportunities to learn. I also really enjoyed being able to meet interns at other museums during the Summer!

What I wish was different

Since the internship was virtual, I was missing the feeling of physically being in the historical society for work.

Advice

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Family Programs Intern

June - August 2019 • New York City, NY

What I liked

The office environment was very welcoming and supportive, and I enjoyed all my interactions with my supervisors and co-workers. Perhaps it was because I had worked with my supervisor when I did a high school program, but I always felt very comfortable and respected during my internship.

What I wish was different

I wish the work had been a little more intellectually stimulating. A lot of the time, I felt like I was being given busy work or tasks that didn't require much thinking, such as inventory or craft preparation. Talking to interns from other departments, it seems they felt similarly.

Advice

The experience is what you make of it. You have to ask for more work or for feedback from your supervisors and in turn they appreciate you being pro-active. They also encourage you to connect with supervisors from different departments, so don't be shy to introduce yourself.

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