Indigenous Collections Internship
Department: Library
Salary: $20.00 per hour
Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
Application Deadline: Rolling/ongoing
Hours: Flexible part-time or full-time
Duration: 3-6 months
Organization Description:
The American Antiquarian Society (AAS) cultivates a deeper understanding of the American past, grounded in its ever-growing collection of printed and manuscript sources. The Society fosters a broad community of inquiry through inclusive programs and generous support of scholarship. A national research library and learned society founded in 1812 by Revolutionary War patriot and printer Isaiah Thomas, AAS is located in Worcester, Massachusetts. The AAS library today houses the largest and most accessible collection of books, pamphlets, broadsides, newspapers, periodicals, children's literature, music, and graphic arts material printed before the twentieth century in what is now the United States, as well as manuscripts and a substantial collection of secondary texts, bibliographies, and digital resources and reference works.
Internship Description:
This internship provides an opportunity to deeply engage with our Indigenous collections, primarily those of our local Nipmuc community, on whose ancestral lands the Society is built. This internship can be full or part-time, between 3 and 6 months, depending on the intern's interests and schedule. This internship is generously funded by the United Way of Central Massachusetts.
This internship is subject to project manager availability at the Society at the time of the application, and we will work with successful applicants to design an appropriate project.
Internship Compensation:
- Hourly rate: $20.00/hour
- Any costs associated with trainings and site visits
- For non-local full-time candidates, a travel stipend to/from Worcester and free housing on-site at AAS (if over 21 years of age)
- For local or part-time candidates, a commuting stipend is available
Hours: Can range from 2-5 days per week; the Society is open 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday
Internship Qualifications:
Successful candidates will have demonstrated prior work experience with, or commitment to, archival and historic preservation of Indigenous materials.
Work environment:
The Intern will perform most of their duties in a shared office environment with artificial light and cool, controlled temperatures. Training in library software will be provided. The Seiler Intern will work with historical documents, which may result in exposure to dust, mold, and other irritants with occasional periods of climbing or balancing, pulling/pushing items, lifting/carrying items weighing up to approximately 50 pounds. Training in handling historical materials will be provided.
Benefits: Not eligible for benefits except accrued sick time as per state law.
To apply:
We are accepting applications on a rolling basis.
Equal Opportunity Employment:
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to equal employment and promotion opportunity regardless of ability, age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
For questions about the internship, please contact careers[at]mwa.org. Please do not submit applications to this address.