Job Opening Title:
Summer Reference Intern
Name of Employer:
Smithsonian Institution, National Anthropological Archives
Job Site Location :
Suitland, MD
Application Deadline:
March 12, 2023
Minimum Degree Requirement:
Years of experience required:
Salary Range:
Job Description (if URL to posting not available). Include instructions for how to apply.:
Summer Internship in Archival Reference Services
Project Description:
The National Anthropological Archives (NAA) and Human Studies Film Archives (HSFA) is looking for a graduate student intern to support its reference and outreach program during summer 2023. This intern will work alongside archivists at the NAA and HSFA and gain hands-on training and experience with archival reference and outreach practices. The intern will have the unique opportunity to explore the intersection of archives and museum anthropology and investigate the way that archival principles are adapted in real-world settings.
Projects will include assisting researchers in the NAA reading room, responding to remote research queries, assisting with the collection of visitor and usage statistics, and helping with ongoing projects to improve accessibility and discoverability of NAA collections. The intern will also have the opportunity to propose and work on a self-directed project to improve accessibility and discoverability of materials. They will be able to tailor the project to their own learning objectives and interests. For example, the intern could process a small collection and create a finding aid in ArchivesSpace that will be posted online.
This internship takes place during the Summer Institute in Museum Anthropology (SIMA), a program hosted by the Department of Anthropology to promote broader and more effective use of museum collections in anthropological research by providing graduate students with an immersive, four-week training program and research experience at the Smithsonian. As a result of the NAA’s involvement with SIMA, the intern will have a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of archives and museum anthropology and learn how professionals of both fields can assist and enhance each other’s pursuits.
About the Collections
The National Anthropological Archives (NAA, located in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Department of Anthropology), collects and preserves historical and contemporary anthropological materials that document the world’s cultures and the history of anthropology. Its collections represent the four fields of anthropology- ethnology, linguistics, archaeology, and biological anthropology- and include the papers of anthropologists, anthropological organizations and projects, and Indigenous peoples from around the world.
The Human Studies Film Archives (HSFA), part of the NAA, is devoted to preserving, documenting, and providing access to anthropological moving image materials. The film archives officially began its mission in 1975 when, as the National Anthropological Film Center, it initiated a program that both created and collected films of anthropological research interest. The film archives promotes the importance of moving image materials as an integral part of the anthropological record related to documentation and research. HSFA collections and resources support research on world cultures, the development of ethnographic film, and the broad study of visual culture.
Learning Objectives:
To gain:
• Experience in archival reference services
• Improved written communication skills
• Archival and scholarly research experience in an outreach context
• Archival and object handling skills
• Understanding of how archival principles and standards are applied in real-world settings
The intern will have the opportunity to tailor projects to their own learning objectives and interests as the NAA hosts a wide variety of researchers and houses a wide variety of collections with multiple media formats, levels of organization, and challenges from both preservation and access perspectives.
Qualifications:
Applicants should be current students or recent graduates from an archives, library science, museum studies, or anthropology program. This position requires attention to detail, professionalism, and the ability to work independently. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 and proficiency in MS Word and Excel is also required. Preference is given to applicants with strong research, writing, organizational, and communication skills.
Timetable:
This 8-week internship runs from June 5 through July 28, 2023. Schedule will be Tuesday-Friday, 9:30-4:30.
Compensation:
$3,000 stipend
Location:
This internship takes place at the National Anthropological Archives, located in the Smithsonian’s Museum Support Center in Suitland, MD. The Museum Support Center is a 15-minute walk from the Suitland Metro Station on the Green Line and is also accessible via free shuttle from the National Mall. Free parking is also available.
To Apply:
Interested students should provide a resume and a brief cover letter explaining their qualifications, reason for interest in the internship, and the names and contact information for two references. Please assemble all materials into a single PDF document and include your last name in the file name. Send the document as an attachment via email to Gina Rappaport rappaportg@si.edu and Daisy Njoku njokud@si.edu. All applications should be submitted by March 12, 2023.
Mentors and Contact Information:
Gina Rappaport rappaportg@si.edu
Daisy Njoku njokud@si.edu
National Anthropological Archives
National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
(301) 238-1310
Archives Gig 