Internship Description

The collections department of the museum deals with the museums collected objects. While working with Historic Westville, the collections intern will learn the basics of registration, accessioning, collections care, inventory, and data management. As a living history museum, we offer students an experience with collections that are often still used for their intended purpose today. The internship will address the challenges and opportunities that this type of museum environment offers.

This year will mark a transition for Historic Westville because we are moving from Lumpkin to Columbus, Georgia. The move necessitates a complete inventory of our collections, the transition to digital collections records, and adjustments to our collection management policy. The collections intern for the summer of 2015 will primarily assist the Collections Manager in undertaking these tasks but will also assist in the regular day-to-day collections activities and other collections-related tasks, as they arise.

Learning will be facilitated through hands-on training, regular participation in collections activities, select assigned readings, and regular evaluation and feedback meetings with the Collections Manager. The intern will be expected to participate in the following projects: data entry, photographing artifacts, and inventory and packing of the museum village. The intern will be expected to complete the following project: minor research and writing on at least two museum objects to be featured (with the students byline) in our monthly newsletter.

Details

Length: 8 weeks during summer 2015 (flexible; preferably sometime within the months of May through August)

Mentor: Gillian Wong, Collections Manager and Archaeologist, email: collections@westville.org.

Qualifications: Must be 18 years of age or older; must be currently enrolled at a university or college as a student; it is preferred that the student be studying Art, History, Museum Studies, Anthropology, or a related field.

Hours: flexible, approximately 20 hours per week during museum/office hours (Tuesday-Saturday 9am to 5pm)

Location: The majority of the interns work will be conducted at the museum in Lumpkin, GA but the intern may be required to work occasionally in Columbus due to our move.

This is an unpaid, credit-only internship.