Built Legacy Archival Collections Internship

NOTE: Applications submitted through Handshake will NOT be considered.

Desired Majors and Areas of Study: African American Studies, History, Drama & Theatre Arts, Communication & Media Studies, Journalism, Sociology, Museum Studies, Documentary/Film, Radio, Television, Media, Anthropology, Creative Writing, Cultural & Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies, Linguistics, Philosophy/Ethics, Visual & Performing Arts, Liberal Arts

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is dedicated to documenting and celebrating African American history and culture. Since its formal establishment in 2015, the NMAAHC Archives has rapidly expanded its holdings, acquiring materials of national and cultural significance. Some of these collections were originally integrated with museum objects and later identified as essential resources for exhibitions, public programming, and scholarly research. 

The Built Legacy Archival Collections Intern will support a vital archival initiative, Documenting the Built Legacy: Research and Description of Archival Collections. This project focuses on researching, processing, and enhancing access to archival collections that reflect the historical impact and enduring legacy of African Americans across architecture, urban design, planning, and the built environment. The selected intern will contribute to the long-term goal of processing these collections for digitization, online access, and potential exhibition, helping ensure their broader visibility and usability. By the conclusion of the internship, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced research skills with a focus on African American history, urban studies, and cultural heritage documentation
• Understand and apply best practices in archival processing, arrangement, and description
• Gain proficiency in professional tools used in museums and archives, including ArchiveSpace and TMS
• Produce high-quality technical writing and descriptive content aligned with archival standards (e.g., DACS)
• Build professional competencies in collaborative work environments and cultural heritage stewardship

This internship provides a unique opportunity for a hands-on, learning experience with archival research, metadata creation, and collection management, all within the context of one of the world’s foremost cultural institutions. 

Duties shall include:

• Conduct historical and contextual research on individuals and organizations with significant influence on African American contributions to the built environment and cultural heritage
• Assist in the arrangement and description of archival materials, with a focus on developing finding aids and enhanced metadata
• Create bio-bibliographic profiles and reference guides using reputable primary and secondary sources
• Support data entry and updates within archival and museum systems, including ArchiveSpace and The Museum System (TMS)
• Collaborate with museum archivists to draft historical summaries, processing notes, and descriptive content for internal and external use
• Attend team meetings, cross-departmental briefings, and archival enrichment sessions to better understand institutional priorities and workflows