Black Jewelers Research and Storytelling Curatorial Internship

NOTE: Applications submitted through Handshake will NOT be considered.

Desired Majors and Areas of Study: History, African American Studies, Decorative Arts, American Studies, Visual Art, Literature, Anthropology

The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s (NMAAHC) Office of Curatorial Affairs (OCA) facilitates the intellectual work of the Museum by collecting artifacts, ensuring collection preservation and stewardship, conducting research and scholarship, and sharing the rich history and culture of African Americans and all people of African descent with a diverse public in accessible, multifaceted ways including exhibition, digitization, and publication.

This internship offers an opportunity to explore the legacy and artistry of Black jewelers, past and present. Interns will contribute to the NMAAHC’s efforts to document and share the stories of Black jewelers represented in the museum’s collection and beyond. Through research, transcription, and digital storytelling, interns will help illuminate the cultural significance and creative contributions of these artists. Interns will work closely with one of the museum's Culture Curators and the Black Jewelry Research Initiative curatorial team to develop research profiles, transcribe oral histories, and craft a compelling online narrative. This internship is ideal for students interested in African American history, material culture, decorative arts, or digital humanities. This internship equips participants with essential museum skills while also developing highly transferable abilities like analytical thinking, clear communication, cultural competency, and project management. These competencies are valuable not only in curatorial and archival work but also across industries such as journalism, marketing, and other careers. By the end of the internship, interns will have learned to:

• Identify and describe at least 6 individual Black jewelers, including biographical and artistic details.
• Interview and transcribe oral history interviews with Black jewelers using museum standards.
• Write a publishable online story that synthesizes research findings and highlights jewelers in the museum’s collection.
• Articulate the importance of documenting Black jewelers within the broader context of African American cultural heritage.

Undergraduate students as eligible by program requirements preferred. Applicants should include a research paper for evaluation of your current writing and research skills with required application materials.

Duties Include (but are not limited to):

• Conduct archival and online research on Black jewelers.
• Create individual profiles and summaries of jewelers.
• Transcribe oral history interviews.
• Draft and revise an online story that may be used on the museum’s website.
• Participate in regular virtual check-ins and feedback sessions.
• Collaborate with museum staff across departments as needed.