Description
As a Historical Collections and Research Intern, you will work alongside our professional staff and gain hands-on experience with Delaware State Park’s historically significant collections across a wide span of cultural and historic periods. You will use PastPerfect museum software, take and upload photos, label objects with their accession number, conduct object inventories, and other associated tasks involved with maintaining physical and intellectual control on the collections. It is a varied collection ranging from furnishings, historic objects, archival materials, art, and ephemera. The Intern may also assist with resource and collections based public programming. Collections are maintained at various Delaware State Park sites located statewide so there is potential for work at various parks including but not limited to: Fort DuPont, Cape Henlopen, Bellevue, Central Office (Dover).
Locations
- Auburn Valley State Park – Yorklyn, DE
Victorian Mansion & world’s largest collections of working steam automobiles
Term of Service
- 6-9 months (up to 36 weeks)
- Part Time 20-29 hours/week
- Full-time 30-35 hours/week
Responsibilities
- Be a part of the Park team taking care of behind-the-scenes museum work
- Assist in the inventory, documentation, maintenance, and cataloging of Park collections
- Entering objects into the PastPerfect database
- Performing environmental checks on storage spaces
- General housekeeping of storage spaces
- Other duties as necessary
Required Skills
- Must be able to work flexible hours, including a weekends and holidays
- An interest in history, collections, or small museums
- Willing to learn collection management database software
- Able to do basic research of objects and documents in the collection
- Ability to understand and appreciate the historical context of the collection
- Professional appearance and demeanor, responsible and trustworthy
- Good customer service skills
- Works well independently or as a cooperative, contributory team member
- Able to use basic computer equipment and standard Office software programs
- Able to assist with both indoor and outdoor programs
- Comfortable working around, and with, fragile items
- Organized and detail oriented
- Performs duties in compliance with Division and Park Customer Service Guidelines and Safety Guidelines
