Introducing the Summer Session Interns, Part II

As Summer Session B and hot weather settles on Chicago, undergraduate History majors have taken up internships across the country.  In library stacks, on archaeological sites, and in collections storerooms, students are working with history-trained professionals putting the critical thinking, writing, and speaking skills that they learned in Loyola classrooms to work.  I invite you to read about their experiences on their blogs.

Archaeological digs have drawn Emily Bolte to a Native American site in Newton, Ohio as an intern for the Cincinnati Museum Center and Francesco Mancini to Hualcayán, Peru.  Emilie Stallman has been busy sorting artifacts discovered at an earlier dig and cataloguing textiles at the Ramsey County Historical Society in St. Paul, Minnesota.  At the Pritzker Military Library, AdamStirling has been developing a tour script for an exhibition that coincided with the NATO Summit.  He has also been alternating between hot and cold climes, in his mind at least, while constructing bibliographies on World War II arctic warfare and North African campaigns.  Navigating the vicissitudes of Facebook and other social media while also researching grants is offering ChrisKaraskiewicz a taste of the reality of running a twenty-first century non-profit institution at the National Veteran’s Art Museum.

You can also continue to follow the experiences of students who began their internships back during Summer Session A.  Brooke Frazier at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Arts in Santa Ana, Elizabeth Hanson at Historic Milwaukee, Inc., Cady Holmes in Loyola’s Women and Leadership Archives, Joe Karamanski at the First Division Museum at Cantigny, and Joe Ridenour at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum have blogged about solving challenging problems and learning new skills while contributing valuable work to their host institutions.

Finally, as much as I hate to admit it, the fall semester will be upon us before we know it.  Now is the time to start thinking about fall internships. Visit the undergraduate internship page for more information about the internship program and where students have interned in the past.  The registration process is simple: download and fill out an application, approach an institution of interest about internship possibilities, and when you agree on a project, download and submit a signed contract by the end of the day on Thursday of the first week of class. Need more information?  Email me (kroberts2@luc.edu).

Introducing the Summer 2012 Interns, Part I

As we settle in Summer Session A on campus, undergraduate History majors have spread out across the city and the country to take up summer internships for HIST 398 course credit. Working directly with history-trained professionals in a broad range of institutions, interns are spending a minimum of seventy-five hours this summer putting the critical thinking, writing and speaking skills that they have learned in the Loyola classroom to work in the real world. Interns are blogging weekly posts about their experiences.

Out at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Arts in Santa Ana, California, Brooke Frazier is bringing history to the airwaves as an intern in the museum’s Public Relations department.  Not too far away, Joseph Ridenour is developing scripts based on the experience of sailors on historic different ships at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum.  In Milwaukee, Elizabeth Hanson is working with Historic Milwaukee, Inc to develop tours of historic Brady Street.  Joe Karamanski is gaining first hand experience by working with the exhibition department of the First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton, IL, helping them install new temporary exhibitions and making suggestions on how improve permanent exhibitions.  Cady Holmes is working with collections of a different sort at Loyola’s own Women and Leadership Archives this summer.

There is still plenty of time to join your classmates who have arranged internships for Summer Session B as varied as an archaeological dig in Peru, the Pritzker Military Library, and the Cincinnati Museum. Visit the undergraduate internship page on the departmental website for more information about the internship program and where students have interned in the past. The registration process is simple: download and fill out an application, approach an institution of interest about internship possibilities, and if you agree on a project, download and submit a signed contract by the end of the week before (by June 29th) Summer Session B begins. It is also never too early to be thinking about fall internships! Need more information? Email me (kroberts2@luc.edu). Have a great summer!

Summer and Fall 2012 Internship Opportunities

A few of the summer and fall internships that have passed my desk over the past few weeks.  If you are interested in undertaking an internship during one of the summer sessions, we need the contract in hand the week before the session starts.  Remember, you can undertake a summer internship anywhere in the world – you do not have to be in Chicago.  For those of you looking ahead to the fall, now is a good time to set up an internship so that you do not have to scramble at the beginning of the semester.

·      National Veteran Arts Museum

·      National Hellenic Museum

·      Pritzker Military Library

·      Historic Wagner Farm

·      The Josephine Baskin Minow Fellowship for Achievement in American History

·      Chicago Maritime Museum

National Veteran Arts Museum – Summer/Fall

We have some very specific needs coming up.  We need at least one person (maybe two) who can assist in social media.  We have two promotions going where the intern would get to interact on a regular basis with people from CBS network and CBS local radio.  Additional duties would include helping with press/media activities. 

We also have a need for a person with computer/multi-media skills.  We are gearing up to launch our virtual museum on either Memorial Day (or July 4th).  Preparing for it will require someone adept at computers, website content writing and editing, and possibly photography. 

If interested, please contact:

Levi B Moore, Jr

levimoore@aol.com

312-972-0900

National Hellenic Museum – Fall

The National Hellenic Museum has several available internships for the fall semester.  You can find them listed here: http://www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/about-us/join-our-team/internships/

Pritzker Military Library – Summer/Fall

The Pritzker Military Library is now taking applications for Student Interns.  These Student Internships are ideal for History and English majors as well as GLIS students.  Student interns will create bibliographies and pathfinders as well as learn how to conduct reference interviews, work in our catalogue, and maintain the circulation desk.

Student Internships require six hours each week to be complete on one pre-scheduled day for a minimum of eight weeks.

Essential Position Qualifications:

·      Excellent communication skills

·      Advanced computer orientation skills

·      Attention to detail

·      Ability to work in teams and independently

·      Research skills

·      Upper level classwork

·      Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel

·      Excellent written and oral communication skills

Assigned Responsibilities and Duties

·      Work with catalogue

·      Create bibliographies, pathfinders, and a list of primary sources for the provided topic

·      Work with the library staff members to determine items to possibly add to collection

·      Manage the circulation desk (this includes answering phones as well as patron questions)

·      Work a minimum of six hours during one shift (including breaks)

Please send resumes and cover letters to Christy Stanford at cstanford@pritzkermilitarylibrary.org

sabbat

Paid Internship in Northern Chicagoland Area - Summer
Historic Wagner Farm
Glenview, Illinois

Site Description: Wagner Farm is operated by the Glenview Park District. The farm was founded in 1855 and functioned as a dairy and truck farm, supplying vegetables and cream to the surrounding areas. Throughout its history the farm witnessed urban development until the year 2000 when it became one of the last working farms in Cook County.  Wagner Farm offers educational opportunities to school, scout, and adult groups focusing on early 20th century agriculture and lifestyles. 

Internship Duties: Wagner farm is offering a paid internship opportunity starting in the spring of 2012.  Assignments cover all areas of museum work including:
program developmentday to day public interpretationcollections-based projectsassisting and leading special eventsvarious administrative dutiesfarm chores and livestock care

The duration of the internship is six months from the start date.
Deadline to apply is April 6, 2012.

If interested please send a resume, cover letter, and references to:

Sarah Hagye
Program Manager
Wagner Farm
1510 Wagner Road
Glenview, IL 60025
847-657-1506
sarah.hagye@glenviewparks.org

Chicago History Museum – Summer and Fall

The Josephine Baskin Minow Fellowship for Achievement in American History at the Chicago History Museum (CHM) is a competitive award that recognizes superior academic achievement by college students. The Fellowship is aimed to introduce minority college students to a career in history museums through a ten-week fellowship. Fellows work alongside CHM staff to contribute to institutional advancement in research and interpretation of the collections for diverse public audiences.

Minow Fellows will assist in projects that offer diverse audiences access to the museum and to history. Projects may include:

·      Assist in visitor research and data analysis

·      Participate in prototype of exhibit interactive activities to determine effectiveness in engaging the visitor and delivering key messages.

·      Contribute to the research and development of interpretive resources to assist targeted audiences in making meaningful and personal connections with history.

·      Participate in the coordination and delivery of public programs.

Eligibility: Minority college students who have excelled in the study of history (preferably American, Public, Urban) and have completed Junior year in college.

Application: Interested candidates must submit the following material by April 16, 2012:

·      Letter of nomination from a professor

·      Transcript of academic achievement

·      CHM internship application, http://www.chicagohs.org/aboutus/jobsvolunteering/internships/internships

·      A short essay (1000 words maximum) on the topic: Can museums play a role in helping people make meaningful, personal connections to history? If so, how do they do that? Why should museums make such connections?

The fellowship will occur during the summer or fall 2012. The Fellowship will last ten weeks and fellows are required to work a minimum of 15 hours a week. Fellows who successfully complete their work will receive a $1000 stipend. Please be advised that you must successfully pass a background check to participate in this program.

Send application packet to:

D. Lynn McRainey

Elizabeth F. Cheney Director of Education

Chicago History Museum

1601 N. Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60614

mcrainey@chicagohistory.org

312-799-2150

Chicago Maritime Museum – Summer and Fall

310 South Racine Avenue w Chicago, Illinois 60607 w 312 421 9096

Exploring our Waterways its History and People

Museum Cataloging Internship

The Chicago Maritime Society has several unpaid internship opportunities for students interested in assisting in the cataloging of the organization's collection of maritime artifacts. Currently, only a small portion of the society's collection is properly cataloged. The goal of this internship is to help the Chicago Maritime Society organize, clean, preserve, and catalog its collection using the MimsyXG software used by most museums. Scheduling is flexible, but interns need to work at least one or more days Monday-Friday for at least 4-6 hours.

The Chicago Maritime Society researches, educates, and celebrates Chicago's maritime heritage. The society holds a collection of approximately 10,000 objects, documents and images related to Chicago's maritime heritage and maintains historical files and records utilized by scholars, authors, and researchers. The organization is located on the 6th floor of the Helix Building, just one block from the Racine Blue Line station.

Responsibilities and Duties:

·      Ability to work at least one or more days Monday-Friday for at least 4-6 hours

·      Learn and use the MimsyXG system of museum software

·      Organize, identify and describe the museum's current collection of materials

·      Properly store and clean museum-quality artifacts

·      Prepare & scan photographic & document images in to the cataloging database

·      Prepare documents and objects ready for cataloging

Qualifications:

·      Previous experience or knowledge in the handling and preserving of museum artifacts

·      Interest in/or knowledge of maritime, Chicago, or Great Lakes history

·      Good computer knowledge and experience

Interested students should contact:

Don Glasell

Office Manager

312-421-9096

dongla1520@sbcglobal.net

Introducing the Spring 2012 Undergraduate Interns

This semester 19 Loyola undergraduate History majors are interning for course credit as part of HIST 398.  Working directly with history-trained professionals in a broad range of institutions across Chicago, interns are spending a minimum of five hours a week putting the critical thinking, writing and speaking skills that they have learned in the Loyola classroom to work in the real world.  Interns are blogging weekly posts about their experiences.  Check out their blogs.  Comment on their posts. Ask them questions.  Encourage them.

Several local history museums have opened their doors to student interns.  Andy Dorsey has a wonderful blog on his research for the National Public Housing Museum.  Three students – Anthony Argentine, Alex Gallipeau, and Nick Slater are diving into collections as diverse as Sami knives, straw artifacts, and the life of the author of one of the first postmodern novels at the Swedish American Museum.  Erik Saxon is following in the footsteps of Fall 2011 intern Maura Lang at the Hellenic Museum in its impressive new facility.  Over at the National Veterans Art Museum, Teolina Dosseva is working with digital art created by veterans.  Stephanie Dochterman is helping a researcher at the Field Museum revise its Egyptian exhibition, interviewing museum docents for their feedback on how to improve the exhibition. 

Several students have signed up to work on the initiatives of different History Department faculty.  The Medieval Garden may lay dormant now, but come this spring it will benefit from the research of Anastasia Graham into Medieval cloisters – perhaps even getting its own cloister wall!  If and when that wall goes up, Stephan Hassam is sure to bring it along with many other facets of the garden to the attention of everyone on campus and beyond. The rediscovery of Loyola’s first library catalogue (back when it was still St. Ignatius, c.1875) in University Archives this fall provided the opportunity for Brian Molitor and Zorian Sasyk to undertake a digital edition of the catalogue.  Want to see what Brian and Zorian are uncovering about the early history of Loyola? Check out their blogs!

Digging into area archives and libraries is another popular choice among Loyola interns.  Kahlee Leingang and Charis Caputo are both interning among the world-class collections at the Pritzker Military Library.  On campus, Anthony Cordaro is working with History Librarian Jeannette Pierce to develop a series of subject guides related to major American wars for Loyola students to use in their classes.  And over in the Women and Leadership Archives, Bushra Alam is processing collections related to the history of Loyola’s Gannon Center – and learning much about the history of women at Loyola in the process!

History doesn’t just happen within the walls of the museum, archive, or university department.  Undergraduate interns are exploring the importance of history in a range of other environments.  Alexandra Vranas is working with the Chicago Metro History Fair on this year’s “Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in Chicago” theme – and even helping out discouraged sixth graders!  Also engaged in History education is Andy Ansari who is reviewing the Chicago Public School’s Civil War frameworks.  Jenna Alia is getting a head start on her future career in law by interning with a lawyer who focuses on immigration law and learning all about the history of the subject.  Last but certainly not least, Elizabeth Dixon is writing a history of the Washington Square Health Foundation.  Have worked at the Foundation for the past two years as a public health intern, Elizabeth decided this semester to put her skills as a history major to work!

Not too late to find an internship for the winter/spring semester!

There is still plenty of time to arrange an internship for the spring semester.  As long as a signed contract is filled out and submitted by Friday of first week of the spring semester you can be registered for an internship.

Looking for possible internship ideas?  Why not work in Loyola's Medieval Garden?

"Medieval Garden and Labyrinth"

Options:
(1) Research and write educational material about various aspects of the Medieval Garden and Labyrinth.  Design and prepare educational and informative materials such as web pages, posters, brochures, and signage.  Create 'user guides' to the gardens and labyrinth for the university community and other potential users, such as preschool and grade school groups.  Become (or train someone to become) a docent for the garden and labyrinth.

(2) Help plan and implement the expansion of the Medieval Gardens.  Possibilities include: in cooperation with other groups on (and off) campus, create a compost pile for the garden; research and plan the vegetable and herb sections of the garden; working with Midwest Fruit Growers club or the Botanic Gardens, learn how to espalier and graft fruit trees; design and implement trellises and arbors for the garden; come up with ways to use the fruits of the garden once it becomes productive.

To sign up for the Medieval Gardens-Labyrinth History (Medieval Studies) Internship, go the History Department's Undergraduate internship page and download the internship application and email it to Dr. Roberts (kroberts2@luc.edu).  Then contact Dr. T. Gross-Diaz (tgross@luc.edu) to discuss your contract.

Possible internships for winter/spring 2012

Here is a sampling of different internships available for the winter/spring 2012 semester:

• The Newberry Library has several internships available for the spring working with Genealogy and Local History, Public Programs, and Map cataloguing.  To apply go to the Internship page of the website or email internships@newberry.org. Application deadline: December 1^st.
• Edgewater Historical Society: “Now I am coming back to you with another volunteer opportunity with us that some of your students might be interested in, and that is doing independent research on some aspect of Edgewater history.  We have a number of architects that designed buildings in Edgewater of which very little is known.  Researching them and their works and then writing an article on them that would be published in our newsletter and then on our website would be a helpful contribution to our knowledge of Edgewater history and would give some belated recognition to those who contributed so much to the built environment.  It would also be nice for your students to say that they have published even before graduation from Grad School.  Researching architects is relatively easy to do. We have done articles on several.  We have other such topics that would take longer such as "Drug Stores in Edgewater" and "Taverns in Edgewater."  I am in the process of researching grocery stories and writing an article for our newsletter on them.  It could be used as a template for such other but similar research.  There are many more topics.  We are also interested in assistance in researching individual buildings--who designed them and when.  Training would be provided.” Interested students should contact LeRoy Blommaert directly at 773-728-1498. Application deadline: open.
• The Great Lakes Naval Museum, the official history program of the Department of the Navy, has internships available for the coming semester.  Download the Internship guidelines for more information.  Interest students should contact the Museum directly, glnm@navy.mil, 847-688-3154. Application deadline: open.
• The Women and Leadership Archives at Loyola University has internships available for processing a collection, creating or adding a digital exhibition, or helping plan, design and brand an outreach campaign targeting Loyola faculty to turn them into advocates for the archives.  Interested students should contact Beth Myers directly at emyers@luc.edu. Application deadline: open.