The Department of History maintains relationships with many local cultural institutions, including museums, media outlets, historical societies, libraries, and archives. Below are some of the internships available for the 2019 – 20 academic year. Please review the information carefully. If you have questions or are interested in earning History 3191 credit for an internship, please contact Raymond Irwin (irwin.8@osu.edu).
Columbus Historical Society
717 West Town Street
Columbus Ohio
The mission of the Columbus Historical Society is to educate the citizenry, to preserve the historical artifacts of Central Ohio, and to instill pride, love and respect for ourselves, our cultures, and our ways of life. The Columbus Historical Society is looking for a student intern for Spring Semester 2020 who is interested in gaining valuable knowledge on the inner workings of a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Student will assist with managing membership lists, development tasks, events and programming, social media, and special projects. They will also assist the office by managing email and phone inquiries and tracking RSVP lists. Specific non-profit interests of the student will be discussed at the beginning of internship. Intern must be able to complete internship hours during Tuesday 9:30-2:30, Wednesday 10-3, and/or Friday 9:30-2:30. Self-motivated, excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong customer service skills, and experience with Microsoft Office and Excel are required. Intern will have reached junior standing or higher and will have taken an English course and at least three History courses. Interested students should contact Aimee Briley at abriley@columbushistory.org indicating the History 3191 course in the subject and send a résumé and cover letter.
Columbus Metropolitan Library
96 South Grant Avenue
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Metropolitan Library represents thriving community where wisdom prevails. CML seeks a Digital Collections Intern, who will use a variety of sources and techniques to identify and describe historical primary source materials for digitization for the library’s My History digital collection (www.columbuslibrary.org/myhistory). Responsibilities include: researching unidentified slides and photographs; creating metadata (descriptive information) for primary source materials; fact-checking existing metadata; developing slideshow exhibits for the library’s Discovery Boards; and digitizing primary source materials. The Digital Collections Intern must exhibit an ability to think critically and work independently; intermediate research skills; working knowledge of computer systems; and progress toward a bachelor’s degree in a humanities field. Interested persons must complete volunteer application and pass a background check here. Note that you are interested in working in Local History & Genealogy.
Dublin Historical Society
6659 Coffman Road
Dublin, Ohio
The Dublin Historical Society is organized for the purpose to discover, collect and preserve documents and materials relevant to the history of Dublin and the surrounding area. The Society displays these materials at the Fletcher Coffman House and barn, 6659 Emerald Parkway, adjacent to Coffman Park. Photographs and documents relevant to the history are online in a “Dublin Memories” database hosted by the Columbus Metropolitan Library (Research/My History/Collection/Dublin Memories). Further, the Society plays a role to identify, mark and encourage preservation of historic sites and buildings in and around Dublin. Additionally, the Society encourages study of and an appreciation for Dublin history.
For Spring 2020, the Dublin Historical Society will offer three internship projects that may be completed off-site, using a variety of libraries, archives, and record depositories.
- Prepare a history of the transportation routes in the Dublin area (Washington Township and Perry Townships). Explain when routes/roads were created, why they were created, when and how they were named (why they were given that name). Show and explain how the routes changed throughout the years to get the picture we have today. Include bridges and important stops/taverns/hotels along the routes.
- Research the Wyandot Club. This organization placed the monument marking the execution site of Chief Leatherlips on Riverside Drive. The organization also met at a site along the Scioto River in the late 1800’s. What was it and who were the members? Why did they establish themselves and why did the Club cease to exist and when? What were its ties to Dublin? Was the Wyandot Club related to other social clubs/organizations in the area?
- Research the role of the Wyandots in the Dublin area. We remember and honor them even today. However, we do not have a history of the Wyandot Indians in the Dublin area (Washington and Perry Townships). We know about the Chief called Leatherlips and about Bill Moose. But how many indigenous persons were here when white settlers started arriving, where were Wyandot villages/camps/settlements/ how did indigenous people interact with the early white settlers, how many stayed in the Central Ohio area after the U.S. Government ordered the tribes out of Ohio and why did this happen? What were their occupations and how did they assimilate with the white settlers?
Contact Mr. Tom Holton, President, Dublin Historical Society (tom.holton@dublinohiohistory.org).
Legal Aid Society of Columbus
1108 City Park Ave #100
Columbus, Ohio
The Legal Aid Society of Columbus represents veterans in disability benefits and discharge upgrade cases, often 50 years after the events actually occurred when very little evidence seems readily available to prove their stories. Historical research supporting the veterans’ story can sometimes be a dispositive factor in whether or not a veteran gets the compensation she or he deserves. For example, last year an OSU history student prepared a report on the history of and barriers to hardship discharges during the Vietnam Era. The Board cited this report as persuasive in a decision regarding a veterans whose claims were initially denied. If you are interested in doing similar work and can commit to at least 70 hours during the semester, please contact Karin Nordstrom (knordstrom@columbuslegalaid.org).
National Veterans Memorial and Museum
300 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM) in Columbus, Ohio represents a national initiative of profound importance for our nation’s 20+ million living veterans. There was previously no single monument or museum dedicated to the veteran’s experience in the US. With 30,000 square feet available for exhibit space, this new institution celebrates the service and honors the sacrifice of veterans throughout history. Envisioned by the late Senator John Glenn (1921-2016), Colonel, USMC (Retired), as a gathering place for veterans across the country. The museum opened to the public on October 27, 2018. NVMM presents the veteran experience through the lens of personal stories and life-changing experiences from which visitors will be inspired to learn more about our country’s history and actively engage in their own communities as informed citizens.
An intern at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum volunteers time, knowledge and talents with the Museum, and its visitors. Students who occupy the un-paid positions below report to the Intern and Volunteer Manager. Intern positions are usually short-term and include opportunities for educational growth and training. Interns must successfully complete the volunteer on-boarding process, which includes orientation and drug and a criminal background screening. All interns must follow the same applicable policies and procedures that apply to paid staff.
The following positions are available to OSU students for the 2019-2020 academic year (contact Raymond Irwin [irwin.8@osu.edu] for the complete descriptions and additional information):
- Administrative Assistant (2 positions available)
- Associate Museum Educator (3 positions available)
- Event Assistant (2 positions available)
- Legal Assistant (1 position available)
- Professional Writing/Grants Assistant (1 position available)
- Tour Guides (3 positions available)
- Veterans Outreach Assistant (1 position available)
- Visitor Services Associate (6 positions available)
- Visitor Services Data Analyst (1 position available)
Ohio History Connection
800 E. 17th Ave.
Columbus, Ohio
The Ohio History Connection, formerly the Ohio Historical Society, is a statewide history organization with the mission to spark discovery of Ohio’s stories. As a nonprofit organization chartered in 1885, the Ohio History Connection carries out history services for Ohio and its citizens focused on preserving and sharing the state’s history. This includes housing the state historic preservation office, the official state archives, local history office and managing more than 50 sites and museums across Ohio.
Internships for spring will be posted in early October. After the first week of October visit here. Indicate “History 3191” on the OHC application. Students will only be enrolled in History 3191 after approval of the OHC application and the submission of a completed, signed MOU prior to the end of the first week of the spring semester. See Raymond Irwin (Irwin.8@osu.edu) for details.
The Ohio Statehouse Museum and Education Center
1 Capitol Square
Columbus, Ohio
The mission of the Ohio Statehouse Museum and Education Center (OSMEC), which is a department of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB), is to interpret the role of Ohio's Statehouse in national and Ohio history, to celebrate its art and architecture, and to highlight its ongoing impact in the daily lives of Ohioans. OSMEC is seeking an intern for the Spring Semester of 2020 to assist with public programs and museum collections. The prospective intern will have the opportunity to assist with programs that will include performances by We’ve Known Rivers, Girl Scout Day, presentations for women’s history month, the Repose of Abraham Lincoln, and others. A major project that will be central to the internship is the Region 6 competition for History Day; the prospective intern will be expected to help plan and run the event (February 29, 2020). He or she will also have the opportunity to create content for Teach Me Tuesday educational videos and assist with organizing the Statehouse’s collection of historical objects, label objects, and catalog objects using PastPerfect. He or she will be able to assist with the set-up and/or tear-down of special exhibitions and may help to create educational materials such as scavenger hunts, informational guides, and object labels for display during exhibitions. The ideal candidate can commit at least 5 hours per week (75 hours over the course of the semester) at the Ohio Statehouse. To pursue this opportunity or for more information, please contact Dayna Jalkanen at DJalkanen@ohiostatehouse.org.
Worthington Historical Society
50 West New England Avenue
Worthington, Ohio
The Worthington Historical Society is dedicated to creating experiences that inspire and promote public interest in Worthington’s history. To maintain Worthington’s legacy for future generations, the Society will preserve and interpret its properties and collections and provide educational opportunities to the community. In this internship, applicants will have the opportunity to work in a local history setting and experience the many tasks undertaken by the director. In a small non-profit organization, such as the Worthington Historical Society, the paid staff member(s) often wear many hats. That is certainly the case here. From working with the Society’s collections, membership, fundraising, research requests and publicity; this internship will allow for students to experience a taste of the wide variety of skills required to keep a local history organization operating. The student will further develop skills in several different writing styles in helping develop letters and articles serving various purposes. The intern and director will work together to select several smaller projects, from a variety of organization areas, that will provide experience and exposure to the wide breadth of activities undertaken by the administrative office. A qualified candidate will be willing to work on a number of projects, and ready to be exposed to a variety of different tasks. An interest in history and historical research is important, as well as the ability to write clearly and concisely in a variety of styles suitable for a variety of audiences. Willingness to learn our museum cataloging software, PastPerfect, as well as use programs such as Excel, Word and Photoshop required. At the outset of the internship, the student and Society director will select projects of interest to the intern, and determine a timeline and deadlines for various components of the internship. At the conclusion of this internship, the student will have a first-hand perspective about the wide range of skills used by an individual who runs a local history organization largely comprised of volunteer labor. The student will have experience working on several projects chosen from the following; working with museum collections, including exposure to the museum cataloging database, PastPerfect; creating publicity pieces and drafting press releases for at least one event; creating an issue of the Society’s monthly newsletter including authoring an article about an aspect of Worthington history from our collections; co-authoring a membership letter, assembling an annual membership mailing & processing membership renewals; responding to a research request that comes in from the public with guidance from staff and/or the archivist.
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