Council Oral History Project Internship

NOTE: Applications submitted through Handshake will NOT be considered.

Council Oral History Project Internship

Hybrid Part-Time Internship

$425/week

January 25 – April 19, 2027

Desired Majors and Areas of Study: Oral History, Public History, Library Science, Archival Management, Museum Studies, Arts Management, African American History and Cultural Studies, Cultural Heritage and Preservation, Digital Preservation and Records Management, Museum Collections and Collections Management, Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy Studies, Archival Research and Information Management

The Office of the Director is responsible for guiding the museum’s operation and mission. In coordination with the NMAAHC staff and Council, the Office of the Director oversees the preservation, documentation, display, and dissemination of African American history and culture to a diverse and global audience. 

The Council Oral History Project Internship provides hands-on experience supporting the preservation and documentation of the history of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). The internship is a collaborative opportunity between the Office of the Director's Council Relations and Museum Initiatives team and the Oral History Initiative within the Office of Digital Strategies and Engagement. The project focuses on collecting, preserving, and organizing the oral histories of Founding Council members who played a significant role in the creation and development of the museum. This internship is designed to provide hands-on experience in oral history, archival preservation, museum operations, and board relations while developing professional communication, research, and project management skills. Through participation in the Council Oral History Project, the intern will gain practical experience supporting the collection, preservation, and interpretation of historical narratives within a museum setting. 

The intern will develop a greater understanding of how culturally specific museums operate and how oral history programs support exhibitions, research, collections, and public engagement. Through direct involvement with the Oral History Initiative and Council Relations and Museum Initiatives team, the intern will learn how oral history projects are planned, managed, and implemented from concept through accession into a museum collection.

As part of the project, the intern will gain professional experience in archival and oral history practices while supporting the preparation and management of oral history interviews and records. Responsibilities may include archiving Council meeting materials, conducting background research on interview subjects, collecting and organizing oral history documentation, reviewing and proofreading transcripts, writing interview summaries and field notes, preparing collections documentation, observing oral history interviews, and assisting with the planning and implementation of public programs. Key learning objectives include:

• Developing oral history research and documentation skills through conducting background research, gathering metadata, maintaining records, and supporting interview preparation; 
• Learning archival and digital preservation practices, including transcript review, file management, documentation collection, and preservation workflows; 
• Building professional writing and communication skills by preparing interview summaries, field notes, collections justifications, and other project documentation; 
• Gaining an understanding of board and donor relations through exposure to the museum’s Advisory Council and the Founding Council Oral History Project; 
• Learning ethical standards and best practices in oral history collection as established by the Oral History Association;
• Developing knowledge of museum collections management and the process of bringing materials into a museum collection;
• Observing and participating in oral history interviews, including interview preparation, documentation, and post-interview processing;
• Understanding how oral history content is integrated into museum exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives.

The internship provides hands-on opportunities through active participation in staff meetings, informational interviews with Smithsonian staff and leadership, oral history documentation, transcript processing, archival research, and public programming support. These experiences allow the intern to apply classroom knowledge in a professional museum environment while developing transferable skills in research, project coordination, records management, writing, digital preservation, and stakeholder engagement. 

These competencies are highly valuable within the museum field and are also transferable to careers in archives, libraries, public history, cultural heritage organizations, nonprofit management, research institutions, education, communications, and project management. The internship equips participants with both specialized museum knowledge and broadly applicable professional skills that support success across a wide range of industries.

This project is important because it preserves the firsthand accounts of the leaders whose vision, advocacy, fundraising efforts, and strategic guidance helped establish NMAAHC. Their experiences provide unique insight into the museum’s creation, from the early efforts to establish the museum through site selection, fundraising, and the museum’s opening. By documenting and preserving these stories, the project ensures that an important part of the museum’s institutional history is available to future researchers, museum professionals, and the public. 

The internship directly supports the work of both the Council Relations and Museum Initiatives team and the Oral History Initiative. The Council Relations and Museum Initiatives team is responsible for managing the museum’s Advisory Council and advancing museum-wide initiatives, while the Oral History Initiative works to document, preserve, and interpret African American stories through oral history projects that support research, exhibitions, programming, and public engagement. 

The project aligns closely with NMAAHC’s mission by contributing to the preservation, documentation, and dissemination of African American history and culture. Through oral history collection, archival preservation, and public access initiatives, the project helps ensure that the stories of individuals who shaped the museum and contributed to its success are preserved and shared with diverse audiences for generations to come.

The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in oral history, historical research, archives, museum operations, and the preservation and interpretation of African American history and culture. The internship is particularly valuable for students seeking careers in museums, archives, libraries, cultural institutions, public history organizations, and related nonprofit or educational sectors. Preferred qualifications include:

• Demonstrated interest in oral history interviews and oral history methodology;
• Interest in African American history, cultural studies, the history of philanthropy, and culturally specific museum leadership; 
• Interest in systems thinking, workflows, and process improvement; 
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently and manage self-directed assignments;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively both independently and in collaborative team environments.

Desired technical and professional competencies include experience or interest in conducting research, reviewing and proofreading written materials, maintaining records and documentation, managing digital files, and supporting archival or oral history projects. Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications, digital collaboration tools, and database or records management systems is beneficial but not required. 

The selected intern will support the Council Oral History Project through a combination of daily responsibilities, short-term assignments, and long-term projects that provide practical experience in oral history, archival preservation, museum operations, and research. These duties are designed to help the intern achieve the learning objectives of the internship while contributing to the preservation of NMAAHC's institutional history. These responsibilities provide the intern with progressive, hands-on experience in oral history methodology, archival management, research, professional writing, digital preservation, and museum operations while contributing to a project that preserves the stories of the leaders who helped shape the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Internship Duties Include (but are not limited to):

• Attend staff meetings and mandatory training sessions
• Participate in informational interviews with Smithsonian staff and museum leadership
• Conduct background research on interview subjects and topics related to oral history projects
• Collect, organize, and maintain oral history documentation and project records 
• Review, reformat, proofread, and process oral history transcripts 
• Write interview summaries, field notes, and supporting project documentation 
• Observe oral history interviews and assist with interview preparation and follow-up activities
• Support the planning and implementation of public programs related to oral history initiatives
• Support the archiving and organization of historical Council meeting records for the Council Oral History Project 
• Assist in documenting and preserving oral histories of Council members and other project participants 
• Prepare and compile background research materials that support oral history interviews and project development 
• Assist with metadata collection, records management, and digital preservation activities associated with oral history collections. 
• Draft justifications and supporting documentation for collections-related review processes
• Contribute to ongoing oral history project workflows from interview planning and documentation through transcript processing and archival preparation
• Support efforts to make oral history materials accessible for future research, exhibitions, programming, and public engagement