Summer internships offered at Lewes Historical Society
The Lewes Historical Society is seeking applicants for its 2017 summer internship program. Internships must be completed over the summer from May to August. Start and end days are negotiable based on applicants' academic calendar.
Located in Sussex County in southern Delaware where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, the Lewes area is rich in history dating back to 1631. Lewes has been recognized as a Preserve America Community and is one of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations identified by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The American Association for State and Local History awarded The Lewes Historical Society its Award of Merit twice for its role in promoting local history.
The completion of an internship with The Lewes Historical Society will help ensure a student's decision to pursue a career path in the public history field. Candidates with majors in history, archaeology, museum studies or library science are especially encouraged to apply. Experience with geographic information systems, website and blog development, and databases is appreciated but not required.
Typically, a single stipend internship is awarded per 10-week summer session, though each internship is also available for class credit for students currently enrolled in an undegraduate history, social studies or related program.
Collections and research internship
This 10-week program will be split into two unique sections. The first portion allows interns to explore the collections at The Lewes Historical Society and work to catalog objects, working with the society's collections software. Interns may also assist the executive director in special projects relating to the care, maintenance or display of objects. The second portion of this internship requires interns to perform extensive research and fieldwork on a topic of the executive director's suggestion or current need.
At the end of the internship experience, the intern is expected to present a paper or presentation documenting their experience to the executive director with the possibility of presenting a second time to other staff members, board members and volunteers. Note: Interns should have access to a vehicle in order to apply for this internship, though it is not a requirement for consideration.
Education and visitor services internship
This 10-week program allows students the opportunity to explore the field of informal education in a history museum setting. This program is designed for interns to gain firsthand experience in informal program development and execution, tour design and volunteer training. Interns will be expected to become familiar with specific educational theories and practices. Interns will absorb this material by participating in the training of tour guides and visitor services representatives.
Interns will also assist in educational programming such as the History Happy Hour lecture series. Interns will also have the chance to present during outreach programs to the public. At the end of the internship experience, interns will present a paper documenting their experience to the director of education.
The Lewes Historical Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in regard to age, sex, race, creed, national origin, disability, handicap, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.
For more information including application specifics, stipend figures and details, go to www.historiclewes.org/2017-public-history-internships or contact Marcos Salaverria, director of education, at 302-645-7670 or Marcos@HistoricLewes.org.
