Collections Internship, Boston Children’s Museum, Boston, MA

Posted August 18, 2022

Description:

The Collections Management Intern is an integral part of the Museum’s Collections and Archives Team. BCM has been a collecting institution since it first opened in 1913. Although the collection initially focused on natural science, the holdings have come to include diverse natural history specimens, objects of American history, and global cultural materials including Indigenous belongings from across North America, the Pacific, and beyond. The Museum’s archives manage significant records and materials, which reflect the Museum’s origins, development, activities, and achievements of its officers, employees, and benefactors. It furthers an appreciation and an enduring understanding of the Museum’s history and importance.

This internship will focus on deaccessioning work including object description and cataloging, records reconciliation, digitizing materials, and background research on provenance and history of Museum use. The intern will prepare proposals for staff and Board committees to review and consider potential disposition, including transfer to other institutions, auction sale or consignment, or educational use.

LEARNING COMPONENTS
In consultation with the Curator, the intern will gain an understanding and application of the Museum’s Collections Management Policies, especially the Deaccession and Disposal and Ethics policies, and how these activities relate to the Museum’s current Collections Plan.

Collections Internships provide in-depth, hands-on training for students interested in gaining collections and archives management experience in a museum setting. The intern will be introduced to BCM’s collections policies, registration procedures, and collections and archives management practices. In addition, the intern will have opportunities to learn about many operations of the Museum, attend meetings, and meet with staff in various departments.

EXPECTATIONS

In consultation with the Curator, develop a project outline that is manageable during the given time frame
Learn and apply appropriate policies and procedures needed to successfully complete the project (e.g., cataloging, records management, digitization needs, etc.)
Gain a broad understanding of collections and archives management principles and approaches
Attend meetings and meet with staff in other departments or external partners, as needed (on-site, off-site, and remote)
Identify an appropriate means of sharing the project at the end of the internship (e.g., blog post, finding aid, exhibit display, etc.)

TERMS & CONDITIONS
Eligibility: Candidates must be currently registered students in a degree program during the internship; Graduate students preferred

Terms: The internship requires a minimum of 150 hours, typically distributed over the course of a semester. Hours will be coordinated around the student’s class and/or work schedules. Intern hours must be completed Monday-Friday; weekend hours may be available periodically. A stipend will be awarded to support the work of student selected for this internship.
Applicants must have:

Interest, experience, or completed course work in collections care and management, cataloging, records, or archives management, and/or historical research methods
Interest and/or experience in any of the Collection content areas, e.g., American History, Cultural Studies, Natural History, Public History, etc.
Working knowledge of office procedures and equipment
Computer proficiency; knowledge of Windows applications and Google Suite
Familiarity with database systems and digital imaging
Organizational skills and is detail-oriented, responsible, and dependable

The selected candidate must coordinate with their degree program/institution for the internship to be credit-bearing. Please note that internship applicants are responsible for providing copies of the internship description to their advisors, and for making all appropriate arrangements with their schools to receive credit for the internship. Interns must provide documentation showing that course credit will be given for completion of the internship.

How to Apply:

For more information and to apply, visit:

https://bostonchildrensmuseum.org/about/employment/collections-internship-paid