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Conservation Intern, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC

Posted March 19, 2025

Description

The Conservation Unit is seeking a Summer 2025 Conservation Intern to assist with the Vault Housing Project. Conservation has assessed the Archives’ book and paper Vault holdings and proposed a variety of enclosures for these Vault materials. Our Summer 2025 Intern’s primary project will be to participate in our Vault Collections housing workflow. The Intern will learn from the Archives Conservator how to build the following structures: archival folders, archival 4-flap wrappers, telescoping corrugated board boxes, and cloth clamshells, etc., to the specifications of collection material. In addition to working on the Vault Housing Project, the Conservation intern will also learn basic conservation techniques with the opportunity to work on one or more treatments (time permitting) through the Lab and under the direct supervision of the Archives Conservator. Our Summer intern will have the opportunity to shadow the Archives Conservator as they engage in preservation and conservation practices, such as collection examination, condition documentation, and treatment, integrated pest management, environmental monitoring of the Archives and State Record Center stacks, and exhibition preparation.

For more information on the Conservation Unit, please see here: https://archives.ncdcr.gov/summer-2025-paid-internships/open

Major Tasks Involved:

  • The Summer 2025 Conservation Intern will be engaged in the construction of custom housing for the Archives’ Vault Collection under the supervision of the Archives’ Conservator.
  • The Summer 2025 Conservation Intern may elect to learn basic conservation treatment(s) and stabilization(s) and work on collection material(s) selected by the Archives Conservator, walking through condition and treatment documentation, and researching the contents and context of these materials.
  • The Summer 2025 Conservation Intern will assist with any incoming custom housing requests.
  • The Summer 2025 Conservation Intern is encouraged to contribute to the Archives’ social media by completing a blog post for the Archives’ blog, History For All the People, and accompanying content for Twitter/ X, Facebook.
  • The Summer 2025 Conservation Intern is encouraged to compose and give a presentation about their work at the conclusion of their internship.

Education level preference: Seeking an advanced undergraduate, or pre-graduate program, or graduate student with coursework and/or course focus in Library/Information Sciences, Book Arts/Bookbinding, Conservation, Preservation, or a combination thereof. This internship would be suitable for those seeking experience in cultural heritage preservation and conservation. Candidates will be expected to articulate how this internship would contribute to prospective ventures. Previous experience in and/or a strong, demonstrated interest in the handling, care, treatment, or housing of museum, archive, and/or library materials is highly encouraged, as is hand skills from experience or interest in those or related institutions. A meticulous and thoughtful craftsperson who creates work attentive to the details would thrive in this internship, as it necessitates prolonged-period fine motor skills and independent work. This internship also necessitates strong written and oral communication, professionalism, a willingness to request assistance, and openness and initiative to accept and enact advice. The 2025 Summer Conservation Intern is expected to have and exercise good judgment and adhere to the code of ethics of the American Institute for Conservation: Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice.

Estimated hours: 30 hours/week for 10 weeks, May to August
Salary: $15.00/hr.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should apply before April 1, 2025.

Please see here to apply: https://archives.ncdcr.gov/support/volunteer-and-internship-opportunities

  • Once you have submitted the online application form, email your current resumé and cover letter. 
  • In your cover letter, address the following:
    • Your career goals
    • How this experience will help you achieve those goals
    • Skills, activities, prior experience, and/or coursework relevant to archives.

Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted by phone or email approximately four weeks after the application deadline.

For volunteer and internship inquiries, contact us at [email protected].

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