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Summer Collections Intern, Filoli Center, Woodside, CA

Posted April 6, 2015

Filoli Center is a non-profit historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th century. Situated on a 650-acre site, located 30 miles south of San Francisco, with a historic mansion, 16 acres of formal garden, and a nature preserve, Filoli is dedicated to the preservation, interpretation and stewardship of the cultural traditions and natural history of this country estate for public education and enjoyment.

This position is a unique opportunity for a student interested in a hands-on experience with the daily activities of managing an early twentieth century historic house. The Collections Intern will assist with the care, packing, movement, re-housing, and maintenance of 2,000 object fine and decorative arts collection. The collection includes paintings, furnishings, decorative arts, garden art, textiles and ceramics from the 16th through 20th centuries. Additional collections include three Library collections, Institutional Archives, Educational collections, Special Collections and the Sally McBride Nature Center Collection. The first floor of the mansion is displayed in a traditional historic house museum style showing the home much as it appeared during the periods of residency (1917 – 1975).

This is a paid internship. The schedule and hours are flexible, but must fall within normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00 to 4:30 pm) with up to 35 hours per week for approximately 3 months at a rate of $9.00 per hour. This is a temporary non-exempt hourly position.

Please note there is no public transportation to this site.

Special Summer Project:

The focus of the 2015 summer internship will be the rehousing of our porcelain collection into a new storage area. This project will include inventorying, cataloging and photographing the objects as needed.

Essential Duties and responsibilities include:

  • Assist with the care, packing, movement, re-housing, and maintenance of the collection
  • Updating current location, condition, and status of objects in Proficio database
  • Supporting department administration operations
  • Provide object movement assistance in the staging for special events, exhibitions, programs, and tours that take place inside the historic house
  • Object Photography
  • Uploading images to Proficio database
  • Updating and expanding Proficio database records from paper files
  • Regular and predictable attendance
  • Other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience:

  • BA in Museum Studies, Art History or related field required
  • Current Enrollment in a Museum Studies Graduate Program or a recent graduate of a Master’s program highly preferred
  • Some previous experience working at a museum or with a historic collection

Skills and Abilities:

  • Possess general working knowledge of collection registration methods
  • Proficiency in object handling
  • Strong computer skills, including familiarity with collections management databases (ReDiscovery Proficio currently in use). Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
  • Ability to demonstrate strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work diplomatically with a diverse staff and approximately 25 Library & Collections volunteers that assist the department three days per week
  • Ability to remain calm and demonstrate flexibility to meet changing needs and expectations

Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to:

  • Ability to climb stairs – Collections Department and Storage Rooms are only accessible by stairs
  • Ability to move and lift heavy pieces of artwork and furnishings around the house
  • Ability to exert force up to 50 pounds occasionally, up to 25 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds regularly to lift, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects
  • Ability to stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, handle, finger often
  • Ability to talk and hear instructions and warnings (at ordinary conversation levels)
  • Ability to see near & far acuity, depth perception, field of vision, accommodation and color vision
  • Excellent eye/hand coordination in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating tools and equipment as well as fine art objects and/or rare collection items
  • Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operation and maintenance instructions and procedural manuals
  • Ability to perform repetitive motions up to 30% of time using a keyboard & mouse
  • Ability to sit for long periods of time at a computer

To Apply:

  • Email resume and cover letter as an attachment using MSWord format or PDF – do not include resume in the body of the email – to: [email protected]
  • The email subject line must say: Summer Collections Intern
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