History 3191 Internships -- Spring 2018
Brief Descriptions
NOTE: To participate in a History 3191 internship, you MUST be registered for History 3191 for spring 2018. The internship is offered in conjunction with the internship class and counts for three credit hours toward your History major. Only History majors with senior, junior, or sophomore standing are eligible to register. Internships require a total of 60 hours at the internship site over the course of the semester, as well as a number of short, written assignments associated with the class.
Part I: Internships Located at the Ohio History Connection
800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, OH 43211
Mission: Spark discovery of Ohio's stories. Embrace the present, share the past and transform the future.
Community and Government Relations
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: Assisting with annual advocacy event on February 28; attending legislative hearings at the Ohio Statehouse; conducting online research of public policy issues affecting Ohio history; providing some online advocacy content; other special projects as assigned.
Desired Qualifications: Ideally, the candidate will have some familiarity with the Ohio History Connection and/or Ohio history. A background or interest in political science is helpful, but not necessary. Ability to write well and good interpersonal skills are important.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: At completion of the internship, the student will have a deeper understanding of Ohio history, Ohio’s political environment and nonprofit advocacy work. They will have the opportunity to make an impact on the work of the Ohio History Connection and gain exposure to potential future employers.
Digital Projects
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: This internship would focus on the digitization and description of materials in our GOHI (Gay Ohio History Initiative) Collection to create online access through Ohio Memory (www.ohiomemory.org). These materials relate to the experience of LGBT Ohioans over the past several decades, including local clubs and organizations and national events like the 1979 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
The intern’s work will consist of two components:
- Digitization: Scanning historical materials according to best practices and standards in the field of digital preservation.
- Metadata: Metadata is the information related to our digital materials that makes them searchable, understandable and manageable over time. You can see the type of information included in metadata by looking at any record on Ohio Memory. The intern will research and describe the materials being digitized, and receive training on attaching this metadata to the digital objects using CONTENTdm Digital Collection Management software.
Desired Qualifications:
We’re interested in candidates with a passion for Ohio history and an interest in the digital side of preserving and providing access to historical materials. Potential interns must be extremely detail-oriented with excellent writing and research skills, and have the ability to follow complex written or oral instructions. Some familiarity with computers and content management is desired, but training will be provided for both digitization and metadata software programs. Experience with the Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Photoshop and databases systems is preferred.
Candidates must be able to work independently and receive instruction from the supervisor. He or she should demonstrate thoughtfulness, critical thinking skills and decision-making abilities while performing the duties associated with this position, as well as the ability to manage time effectively, pay attention to detail and work well with minimum supervision.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: At the conclusion of this internship, the intern will have gained knowledge on digitization and metadata creation, two important components working with historical materials and building digital collections. He or she will also have learned about the LGBT experience in Ohio and in the larger national context over the last several decades.
Experience in Digital Services will also improve the intern’s understanding of how resources are made accessible online (including how to most effectively search for them in future research), and of the important work that goes into describing digital content in an effective way to share historical primary resources with a wider audience.
Marketing Division
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: The marketing and communications department intern will help communicate and deliver the value of the Ohio History Connection’s products and services. This position will work with the marketing team and assist with and learn about all marketing functions of a busy statewide history organization.
Responsibilities include:
• Assisting with preparing and executing promotional plans
• Reviewing and editing website content and style through a content management system
• Writing copy for advertising and promotional materials
• Contributing to the organization’s social media calendar
• Staffing special event booths
• Researching and analyzing the organization’s online analytics
• Writing press releases or newsletters stories as needed
• Coordinating and distributing collateral
• Other duties as assigned
• Occasional nights and weekends may be required
Desired Qualifications:
• Software skills (Microsoft Office, Google Drive, etc.)
• Social Media management
• Ability to collaborate and work in fast-pace setting
• Comfortable reaching out to potential partners to promote Ohio history
• Managing website content
• Willing to drive within Central Ohio to drop-off print collateral to partner sites
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
Specific Projects
• Developing target marketing skills for community outreach
• Drafting radio and print ad copy
• Managing website content
• Creating promotional content for social media and partners
• Understanding industry expectations and career opportunities
Oral History
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: Interns will be working on several strategic initiatives for the Ohio History Connection (OHC). The Ohio Veterans Oral History Project collects the oral histories from veterans around the state of Ohio. Each of these oral histories involves pre-interview research, the interview itself, video editing, indexing, and placing the video on the OHC Oral History Repository webpage.
Interns will also get to assist in the collecting of Oral Histories for the new Museum of Ohio initiative. OHC is collecting the stories of famous or influential Ohioans in order to make a bid for a new Museum of Ohio. Interns may also become involved in the redesign of the Oral History Repository webpage to make it more visually impactful, easy to navigate, and assist in the creation of thematic videos based around existing oral histories.
All interns will assist in the creation, editing, and indexing of oral history videos. Interns will also gain experience in interpreting history videos and website development. Some experience with video editing or website design would be applicable, but not required for the internship.
Desired Qualifications: A knowledge of history and video production are key. Preferable skills are video editing, website design, archives and library cataloging.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: The student will learn to conduct and interpret oral histories, gain skills in indexing videos for archives and libraries. The student may also gain experience in creating thematic videos based on existing oral histories and some website development experience. Having a flexible schedule will greatly increase the chances of being able to assist in collecting oral histories since the schedule for interviews is based on the availability of the interviewee.
State Historic Preservation Office
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: The intern will assist with scanning file documents and entering file information into a database with the goals of eliminating paper files. Files include State Historic Preservation Office Awards files, Certified Local Government grant files and documents from rehabilitation projects that applied for federal historic rehabilitation tax credits.
Desired Qualifications: Attention to detail, ability to work with little supervision.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: As a result of working with the files, the intern will become familiar with many warding winning projects and rehabilitation of significant historic properties from throughout the state.
State Historic Preservation Office, Inventory & Registration I
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: Project will create a research aid for nominating Ohio industrial properties to the National Register of Historic Places. Project will include research and preparing written information about Ohio’s industrial heritage and types of industrial architecture; identify and prepare brief summaries about existing Ohio industrial properties listed in National Register discussing why they are significant; and compile a bibliography of references for Ohio industrial history and architecture.
Desired Qualifications: Interest in learning about historic preservation and Ohio history and architecture.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: Internship project will provide student with hands-on experience
• conducting historic research,
• learning about historic architecture including architectural styles and terminology, and placing historic architecture within appropriate historic contexts,
• gaining knowledge about the National Register of Historic Places program and its role in historic preservation.
State Historic Preservation Office, Inventory & Registration II
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: Assist in the research and development of a web page for the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office initiative – Ohio Modern: Preserving Ohio’s Recent Past. Intern will add information about mid-century architecture in Ohio, summaries of National Register nominations for mid-century properties, and links to related web sites.
Desired Qualifications: Interest in learning about historic preservation and Ohio history and architecture.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: Internship project will provide student with hands-on experience
• conducting historic research,
• learning about historic architecture including architectural styles and terminology, and placing historic architecture within appropriate historic contexts,
• gaining knowledge about the National Register of Historic Places program and its role in historic preservation.
State Historic Preservation Office, Resource Protection and Review Department
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
1. Assist in the development of a list of Historic Preservation Organizations throughout the state of Ohio. List to be published on our website
2. Assist in the development of a list of Native American Tribes with interest in Ohio that would like to be consulted on federally funded projects that occur in Ohio. List also to be published on our website.
3. On behalf of the SHPO, the RPR Department routinely enters into Programmatic Agreements and Memorandums of Agreement with state and federal agencies. All agreements older than 5 years need to be scanned and archived. Agreements less than 5 years old need to have all Stipulations documented and put into a tracking system.
Desired Qualifications: History student with a desire to learn more about the field of Historic Preservation. Organized and detail oriented.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: Greater understanding of the value of Historic Preservation in the success of our communities and professional opportunities available within Historic Preservation.
Timeline (Publication of the Ohio History Connection)
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
This is a very exciting time for TIMELINE magazine and the Ohio History Connection. The January-March issue of the magazine will be the last in its current format. Beginning in May of 2018, the Connection will merge the magazine with our newsletter, Echoes, in a redesigned package that includes feature stories about Ohio’s history as well as a calendar of events and news about the goings on at the Ohio History Connection. Our intern may be asked to:
• Interview curators, archivists, historians, archaeologists and the like and to write short (2 to 4 page) stories on a variety of historical subjects.
• Research historical topics and fact-check stories to appear in the magazine.
• Edit copy for grammar, accuracy, etc.
• Learn about and assist in the production process as we approach the May 2018 launch of the new publication.
• Help the magazine staff with getting the message out to our membership of 10,000 about the new publication.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
The student should leave TIMELINE/Echoes with an understanding of the processes involved in putting out a bimonthly popular history magazine.
Visitor Experience
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: This internship will consist of several small research projects geared toward obtaining thematic historical information for the Ohio Village. The Ohio Village is a recreated Ohio Town in which we interpret everyday life of the 1890s time period. These projects may focus in on sports, leisure activities, religion, politics, etc. that would impact everyday life of residents of a small Ohio town. Other projects may include interpreting already existing activity carts or programs in the Ohio History Center. You may also be used in prepping the Ohio Village for the upcoming season summer season or prepping for upcoming school and public programs.
Desired Qualifications: Ability to do historical research and a desire to interact with museum visitors of all ages.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
• Development of research skills through the use of primary source documents such as newspapers, city directories, etc.
• Learn the tools to put together an interpretive program from the research information gathered, In other words finding a way for the information gathered to be presented to an audience varying from students to adults.
• Obtaining skills on how to interact with our visitors from school age students to multigenerational groups.
Part II: Internships Located at The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University Alumni Association
2200 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio
Mission: Through time and change, we enrich firm friendships among Buckeye alumni and The Ohio State University.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: Researches and writes a variety of materials, including stewardship reports and social media content, especially for Throwback Thursday and other historical records.
The Advancement History Intern will work on a variety of assignments as part of the Advancement Communications team, including: executive level acknowledgements, corporate and individual stewardship reports, social media content and more. He/she is expected to have a strong communication and research background, and exhibit the behaviors associated with the Office of Advancement's core competencies: Leadership, Continuous Improvement, Teamwork and Collaboration, and Communication/Interpersonal Effectiveness.
Desired Qualifications: Strong communications and research skills. Knowledge of digital and social media. Experience with Microsoft Office Suite
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: Experience in communicating with multiple audiences; choosing historical materials likely to speak effectively to particular audiences; working effectively on a team; understanding stewardship responsibilities of a major organization.
Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
110 Sullivant Hall
1813 N. High St.
Columbus OH 43221
Mission: The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum’s primary mission is to develop a comprehensive research collection documenting American printed cartoon art, to organize the materials, and to provide access to these resources. The scope of the collection includes: editorial cartoons, comic strips, comic books, graphic novels, sports cartoons, and magazine cartoons.
Description of Project/Internship Responsibilities:
Research, describe, and provide access for the original editorial cartoons (work spans from 1985-2012) in the Mike Ritter Collection of the Cartoon Library & Museum by entering metadata into the PastPerfect Museum Software program for the online Art Database.
• Learn the data entry interface of BICLM’s PastPerfect Museum software
• Research the people represented and the subject matter of each cartoon
• Enter key information about the cartoon into the database record – title, artist, date, size, medium and keywords
• May photograph and upload images to records if time permits
Mike Ritter worked on the Arizona State University newspaper, and was awarded 10-Gold Circle Awards from Columbia University’s Scholastic Press Association. He also won two first-place awards in the editorial cartoon and comic strip categories. He went on to work at Phoenix’s Tribune newspapers as an editorial cartoonist for thirteen years and was syndicated with King Features Syndicate. He served as President of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists from 2003-2004. During his tenure at the Tribune, he won several awards including the Arizona Press Club’s first-place award for cartooning in 1993, 1995, and 1996; and the Thomson newspaper chain’s highest award for illustration as well as a Freedom of Information Award from the Arizona Newspaper Association in 1999. He moved to Atlanta in the mid-2000s and took a job at the Southern Voice magazine until 2009. Ritter then became Art Director at the Georgia Voice. He also did work for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper and David Atlanta magazine. His rhetoric changed sharply over his time as a cartoonist, as he was originally deep in the closet. Over time his right-leaning views shifted left as he became an openly gay cartoonist. Mike Ritter passed away at the age of 48.
Desired Qualifications:
• Interest in recent politics and history helpful
• Ability to work independently with strong attention to detail
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills with a good command of English grammar
• Ability to type 50 wpm with accuracy
• Reliable with good attendance
Educational Outcome: Student will learn to decipher editorial cartoons (cartoons using humor and satire) and enhance their research skills to describe their historic and/or contemporary events, issues, personalities from the opinions of their creator; student will learn the functions and purpose of a collection management system in providing access to the materials in a library archive; student will learn project management skills and accountability.
Goldberg Center for Excellence in Teaching
207 Dulles Hall
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
The Goldberg Center promotes the study of history by producing a variety of digital initiatives. This project involves the creation of an online exhibition to be housed on the eHistory.osu.edu web site. The intern will choose from a list of 4 or 5 proposed topics. Research will then be carried out by the student on that topic and a series of web pages including text and images will be created with the assistance of Goldberg Center staff. Intern will learn about copyright and guidelines for creating an exhibit. The student will also create an original short video on the topic to include in the online exhibition. Goldberg staff will teach the basics of Adobe Premiere Pro and work together with the intern to create the video.
Desired Qualifications: Interest in digital history and video projects preferred.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: The intern will learn about the components of an effective digital exhibit. They will also learn the basics of Adobe Premiere Pro and how to create an educational video.
Ohio State Historic Costume & Textiles Collection
175 Campbell Hall
1787 Neil Ave
Columbus, Ohio 43016
The Historic Costume & Textiles Collection is a scholarly and artistic resource of apparel and textile material culture. The 11,500+ holdings encompass a range of three dimensional objects such as textiles and articles of clothing and accessories for men, women, and children, including national dress costume, from the mid-18th century to contemporary 21st century designers. The Collection also houses a number of period fashion magazines, fashion plates, swatch books and commercial patterns. Particular strengths of the Collection are objects pertaining to central Ohio and the U.S. fashion industry.
The mission of the Historic Costume & Textiles Collection is to:
• Collect and preserve apparel and textile artifacts of global and diverse origins that meet the needs of department and university classes and represent the spectrum of American consumers and material culture,
• Provide access to the artifacts for researchers and scholars including faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, industry partners and community members through direct and electronic means,
• Interpret artifacts via educational opportunities including classroom use, public exhibitions, and programs.
Vision
Through exhibitions and educational programs the Historic Costume & Textiles Collection provides diverse audiences with the opportunity to participate in experiences that enhance understanding of the technical aspects, the aesthetics, and the social meaning of apparel and textiles. Knowledge gained from these experiences nurtures innovation and creativity in design and professional practice in the global marketplace.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
General on-site collections management:
• logging in use of artifacts in exhibitions, classes, tours and returning to storage locations
• clerical recordkeeping for accessions/de-accessions
Online database and collection blog:
• Create online exhibition of archived physical exhibition on HCTC’s Fashion2fiber website
• Research artifact(s) and write a blog post
Exhibition preparation:
• Assist in initial research for Fall 2018 exhibition
Desired Qualifications:
• Able to lift 10 lbs overhead
• Able to take direction and be self-motivated
• Ability to climb ladders without fear of heights
• Not recommended for individuals with sensitivity or allergies to dust/mold
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: The purpose of this internship is to supply students with a balance of the practical and theoretical information needed to work in the museum world. It is our desire to provide students with a tangible product which can be shared with prospective employers and a set of skills which would allow them to begin work in any museum collection. For the Historic Costume & Textiles Collection, this will include the following specific outcomes.
• Gain experience with costume/textile museum collections management practices and understand their purpose
• Learn basic operation of PastPerfect software
• Learn to create online exhibitions with Omeka open source software
Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute
Thompson Library Special Collections, OSU Libraries
1858 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
Research on Theatre Troupe Scrapbook (c. 1910)
The Orpheum Stock Company Scrapbook consists of candid photos of a traveling theater troupe (circa 1910), depicting their travels through small towns in Ohio, Illinois, Saskatchewan and Nevada. The photos are generally taken at local parks, but also include theatres and some photos of the cast in costume. The plays depicted include "Uncle Tom's cabin," "The two orphans" and "The tidal wave." The group's pet bull terrier is also featured prominently. This project would include the following:
1. The student researches the time period and the theatre company to get an understanding of the entertainment industry in the Midwest during the early 20th century and of the historical context for this scrapbook.
2. Student works with the scrapbook to try and identify the photographs and to (possibly) map the tour of the company using the information discovered through the research.
3. The student writes a brief report of their findings about the company, filling out as much of the history as possible. (Length to be determined by the amount of information the student is able to find).This information will then be added to the scrapbook’s online description and a copy will be kept in the box with the scrapbook to be available to future researchers.
4. Student chooses photos from the scrapbook to be digitized and writes a short piece about the company that will then be posted to the Theatre Research Institute blog.
Desired Qualifications: Capability of some self-direction in researching. Solid writing skills. Basic computer literacy.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
1. Deeper knowledge of early-1900s entertainment, and history, in general.
2. Experience in handling early-20th-century artifact.
3. Experience in conducting research with both primary and secondary sources.
4. Enhanced information literacy skills.
5. Experience in presenting information online in a concise and effective way.
6. Resume-building project that provides online proof of writing and research skills.
Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute
Thompson Library Special Collections, OSU Libraries
1858 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: In support of preparation for Dance at OSU, an exhibition scheduled for the Thompson Gallery in Fall 2018, the intern will assist the supervisor in identifying and selecting visual, moving image, and documentary materials from multiple collections in the Lawrence and Lee Theatre Research Institute and from University Archives, and motion capture and other moving image materials from the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design.
This exhibition celebrates OSU’s long history of excellence in dance in the context of the 50th anniversary of the Department of Dance in 2018 with the goal of bringing recognition of that excellence to a wide audience across campus and the Columbus community. Highlighting teaching, research, collaboration, and diversity, this exhibition connects OSUL, university, and departmental goals with vivid examples of accomplishment in these areas through the art of dance.
Desired Qualifications:
Good personal organization skills
Research interest
Effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
Developing skills in exhibition planning which includes identification of
• collections and items to be highlighted,
• needs the exhibition will address,
• accurate reflection of exhibition goals through object selection, and
• meaningful connections between Department of Dance history and accomplishments and OSU Libraries’ holdings and outreach/engagement goals.
Developing project management skills
Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute
Thompson Library Special Collections, OSU Libraries
1858 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: In preparation for a larger digitization project in collaboration with U.S. Czechoslovak heritage organizations, the intern will work with a collection of Sokol images on period postcards, make selections for digitization, and do research on the particular competitions, Sokol teams (represented by physical buildings), and the historic importance of the Sokol movement in the context of Czech nationalism and Slavic cultures.
Sokol was founded in Prague in 1862 as a gymnastics organization to promote the principle of “a strong mind in a sound body.”
Desired Qualifications:
Good personal organization skills
Research interest
Effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
Developing research skills, especially in working with visual materials and non-English sources
Developing digitization skills based on OSU Libraries’ standards which are in line with field-wide standards
Developing project management skills
Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute
Thompson Library Special Collections, OSU Libraries
1858 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
Theatre Research Institute Blog: Acquisitions Reporter
The Theatre Research Institute is a world-class repository of collections related to a wide array of performing arts including: theatre, vaudeville, dance, film, magic, circus, etc. Our collections contain books, photographs, ephemera, posters, recordings, and other miscellaneous materials. We are constantly acquiring new materials for use by students, faculty and general researchers, and one of the ways in which we inform our patrons about new acquisitions is through our blog. This project would consist of the student conducting research and writing blog posts about newly acquired items approximately every other week throughout the course of the internship.
Intern responsibilities would include:
1. Working with the Curator of Theatre to identify items to feature in Theatre Research Institute blog.
2. Researching items in order to be able to write a post that will accurately describe, contextualize, and provide history for the blog readers.
3. Photographing the items so that a photo can accompany each post.
4. Writing a blog entry approximately once every other week and then working with the TRI Assistant Curator to get the entry correctly formatted and posted to the web.
Desired Qualifications:
Capability of some self-direction in researching. Solid writing skills. Basic computer literacy. Basic photography skills.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
1. Deeper knowledge of some primary source materials held in special collections
2. Experience in conducting research with both primary and secondary sources
3. Enhanced information literacy skills
4. Enhanced skill in writing short informational pieces and presenting them effectively online
5. Resume-building project that provides online proof of writing and research skills
Medical Heritage Center
5th floor, Prior Hall
376 West 10th Ave
Columbus, Oh 43210
The Medical Heritage Center (MHC) is the special collections of the Health Sciences Library at The Ohio State University. The Center preserves, promotes, teaches and celebrates the health care legacy of central Ohio as the essential foundation from which the future of the health sciences is born.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: Able to accept one to two interns and the possible projects include
• Transcribe and/or write summaries for a collection of about 80 oral histories
• Photograph artifacts and add the photos into Past Perfect, our collection management database, linking them with their object record
Desired Qualifications: Familiarity/knowledge of Microsoft Word
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: Enhance a student’s education by allowing them to experience the inner workings of a special collections unit in an academic health sciences library.
Office of the Historian in Residence for the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) at the Ohio State University
The historian in residence is a strategic partner of the DPAA that creates historical products to help locate the remains of missing servicemen from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and other Cold War conflicts. The Office of the Historian at Ohio State is 220 Dulles Hall.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: The DPAA is a Department of Defense agency that focuses on locating the remains of unaccounted for servicemen. Interns who work for the historian in residence at the Ohio State University will work on a variety of projects related to taskings issued by Washington D.C. Possible projects include building a database that identifies the location of manuscripts, maps, and other historical evidence in Ohio. Another project available to interns is a study determining if there is evidence of American prisoners of war in Soviet gulags. The program also has an active oral history program of Korean War and Vietnam War veterans. At the end of their internship, interns will report to leadership at the DPAA on the outcome of their research.
Desired Qualifications: Students should come in with a passion for history. An active interest in military and/or diplomatic history is helpful.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: By the end of the internship students will gain real world writing and presentation experience. Weekly one page reports will give the student the chance to focus their writing. Students will gain experience in designing a research plan, adjusting according to supervisor feedback, and executing the plan. Toward the end of the internship, interns will be able to present what they learned to the DPAA. Historical products they create will be placed in the DPAA library for researchers to draw on. Lastly, the historian in residence will offer feedback on one cover letter and resume.
Special Collections Description & Access Department (within Thompson Library at OSU)
Mission: To increase the patron’s ability to discover and access library collections, represent the unique qualities and contextual relevance of special collections materials within an online environment, develop consistent metadata standards in collaboration with university curators, and support the research needs of scholars who access the Ohio State University Library collections.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: Interns in SCDA will perform hands-on work with archival materials to prepare these materials for use in the special collections reading room at Thompson Library. Tasks may include any of the following:
• Unpacking and inventorying recent donations
• Organizing archival collection materials (primarily paper formats) for research use and creating proper long-term housing for these materials
• Conducting research on the history and/or context of materials in an archival collection and writing narrative description about the materials that will enhance researcher understanding
Desired Qualifications:
• Previous experience performing research in an archival repository and/or experience volunteering or working in a library, museum, and/or archival repository
• Knowledge in one (or more) of the topical areas of the collections we will be working most with during spring 2018: dance, theater, 20th/21st century American literature, 20th century American military history
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
• Hands-on work with historical primary sources
• Introduction to the work archivists do to make archival collections available for researchers
• Experience researching the historical context of archival collections and writing about collections according to archival guidelines and standards
University Archives
2700 Kenny Rd
Columbus, OH 43210
Established in 1965, The Ohio State University Archives serves as the official memory of the University. Since then, the Archives has collected more than 30,000 linear feet of manuscripts materials and roughly 2 million photos and other images to serve this purpose. The Archives has a wide variety of materials to help researchers create their own interpretations of University history.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: Student will help prepare the Archives for the celebration of The Ohio State University’s 150th anniversary of its founding through research of early activism for diversity and inclusion at Ohio State.
Specifically, the student will assess manuscript collections and other archival resources chosen by the Archives staff as appropriate to the project, with the goal of finding material related to activism. The student will keep track of locations of individual resources and write brief summaries of their relevance to advancing a particular activist movement.
The Archives staff will use the document created by the student in preparing for sesquicentennial-related exhibits, presentations, classes and other events aimed at educating the community on diversity and inclusion or activism on campus.
Other duties that fit into the scope of the internship may be assigned.
University Libraries-Area Studies Department
William Oxley Thompson Library
1858 Neil Avenue Mall, Columbus OH 43210
Mission of Organization:
The Ohio State University Libraries is a dynamic partner and campus leader in advancing discovery and learning for OSU, for the state of Ohio, and for an ever expanding community of world scholars.
We create, acquire, organize, disseminate, and preserve scholarship in traditional and digital forms; we foster an environment conducive to academic inquiry, scholarly communication, creative achievement, and lifelong learning; we help students become information literate and globally aware; and we contribute to the University’s drive to eminence in teaching, research, and service.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
Project 1:
University Libraries’ Billy Ireland Library & Museum is home to one of the world’s largest collection of materials related to cartoons and comics including comics from the Spanish and Portuguese speaking world. In collaboration with the Latin American Studies Librarian, the Undergraduate History Research intern would work to make OSU’s Latino/Portuguese comics collection discoverable by updating the Multicultural Resource online guide. The student intern would research new and existing comics in the OSU Latino/Portuguese Comic collection. In conjunction with the maintenance of the Multicultural Resource Guide, students would receive training on special collection research, comics as an information format and global information sources. The student fellow would also have an opportunity to create an exhibit as well as publish a local magazine article on a unique aspect of the Latino Comic collection of their choosing. Basic computer programming (HTML) and/or basic Spanish language and reading skills are preferred, but not required.
Project 2:
The Latin American, Hispanic, Spanish and Portuguese (LAT) Collection at OSU is the premier resource in the state and among the largest collections in the Midwest region. Materials are available in over 11 non-English languages including Portuguese, Catalan, and nine indigenous languages of the Americas. Quechua, Nahuatl and Aymara are the indigenous languages most represented in the collection. In conjunction with the Latin American Studies Librarian, the Undergraduate History Research Intern would work to research the libraries’ indigenous language holdings in order to create an annotated bibliography of this print collection. As a part of this project, the intern would propose and create a digital access point to the collection (i.e. blog, website or interactive map) that would highlight unique aspects of the collection. Basic Spanish language and reading skills are preferred, but not required.
Desired Qualifications:
Reading knowledge of Spanish is preferred. Academic coursework in Latin American history is recommended. Must be able to work independently with strong attention to detail and be highly reliable. Must be curious, creative, and flexible.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
• Students would receive training on special collection research, comics as an information format and working with multi-lingual information sources.
• Students will be able to apply tools and strategies to effectively gather, filter, evaluate and curate library information for public use.
• Students will be able to identify, define and investigate authentic problems and significant questions related to global information.
• Student will learn how to create an exhibit and/or online resource related to a special collection.
• Student will receive an opportunity to publish a local magazine article on their internship experience.
WOSU Public Media
2400 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1027
The mission of WOSU Public Media is to enrich lives through content and experiences that engage, inform and inspire.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: While the student will be designated as a research assistant, the intern will learn multiple facets of production for delivery on television and online. History continues to be a major thematic strand for Columbus Neighborhoods. In 2018, the major challenge for our intern is to find the most compelling local connections of Lancaster to the Civil War and of the historical ties of Westerville to Prohibition. We expect the intern to play an important part in finding the stories and the artifacts that will make the narratives come alive on TV and the web.
Desired Qualifications: Creativity and excellent writing skills. Competence in online technology beginning with basic applications such as Word and Excel; proficiency in online research tools. We need a person who is a self-starter and can work independently.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: Initiation into the foundation and components of effective multimedia storytelling and ample opportunities to practice and to hone skills
Part III: Internships Located Elsewhere in the Columbus Area
Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board of the Ohio Statehouse
1 Capitol Square
Columbus, OH 43215
The Role of CSRAB: The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board is responsible for maintaining the historic character of the Statehouse and Capitol Square while providing for the health, safety and convenience of those who work in or visit the complex.
Statehouse Mission: The Ohio Statehouse shines a light on the history of this great edifice, its symbolic meaning and its vital historic and ongoing connections to the daily lives of all Ohioans.
Statehouse Vision: The Statehouse Vision 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 on the daily lives of Ohioans and thereby inspire all Ohioans to participate in State government.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:The prospective intern will work with the staff of the Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center (OSMEC). OSMEC is responsible for the public tours of the Ohio Statehouse, educational programming, educational materials, and maintaining the collection of the Ohio Statehouse.
One of the main purposes of OSMEC is to interact with the visitors to the Statehouse. We do so by providing public tours and information. The prospective intern will learn the basics of providing tours, and will help the permanent guides with tours, particularly large school groups (which abound in late March, April and May). Depending on his or her interest, the prospective intern can develop an interpretation of one or two of the Statehouse spaces, and can provide their interpretation during tours. The prospective intern will also spend time at the tour desk to interact with visitors and answer questions.
The prospective intern will have the opportunity to assist with public programs that take place during the spring semester. These programs will include performances by We’ve Known Rivers, Girl Scout Day, Happy Birthday Ohio, presentations for women’s history month, the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, and others. He or she will also have the opportunity to create content for Teach Me Tuesday videos.
The prospective intern will have the opportunity to work with OSMEC in organizing the Statehouse’s collection of historical objects, label objects, and catalog objects using PastPerfect. He or she will have the opportunity 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.
Desired Qualifications: The prospective student must be reliable, professional, and have excellent communication skills. In addition to having an interest in history, he or she should have an interest in working with the public, and some familiarity with state government.
He or she should be detail-oriented, able to work independently and as part of a team, and have strong speaking skills. He or she should be interested in working in a museum setting. He or she must also be willing and able to be physically active—climbing stairs, standing, walking, and carrying objects or supplies will be a required aspect of the internship. That said, we will be as accommodating as we can be considering the challenges of working in a 150-year old building that was not built with accessibility in mind.
He or she must be comfortable “rolling with the punches” so-to-speak. We talk a lot about flexibility in our department; due to the fact that the Statehouse is a working government building, we often have last-minute changes or adjustments, and no two days are the same. We need to be able to think on our feet, and be comfortable adjusting on schedules on a whim to accommodate members of the legislature or other government officials, special events, adjusted tour schedules, etc. Our ideal candidate will need to enjoy working in a lively and active environment. He or she will also need to enjoy working collaboratively. While some of the work will be independent, many of our large programs, events, and exhibitions are all-hands-on-deck.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: The prospective intern will:
• Experience the excitement and challenges of working in a functioning government building that is also listed on the National Registry of Historic places. It is a place where “history happens every day.”
• Learn about and partake in a variety of roles in the museum field including education, curatorial and registrar.
• Gain experience working with and presenting information to visitors in an educational setting.
• Gain experience working on public programs in an educational setting.
• Experience working with staff and volunteers in a museum setting.
• Gain experience working with historical objects, and following museum procedures for storing and cataloging objects.
• Create educational resources for use by the volunteers and the public.
City of Columbus Historic Preservation Office
Development Department, Planning Division
50 W. Gay Street, Fourth Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Mission Statement: The Columbus Historic Preservation Office manages the city's official listing of individual properties, groups, and districts of historic and architectural significance. The H. P. Office provides technical assistance to property owners, potential buyers, developers, and the general public who have interest in the rehabilitation and preservation of historic properties. The Preservation Office Staff works across departments and disciplines as a resource for the preservation of the existing historic fabric throughout the City of Columbus. By furthering such purposes, the office staff serves to promote the public welfare, to strengthen the cultural and educational life of the city, and to make the city a more attractive and desirable place in which to live and work.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities: In consultation with supervisor, the Intern will select a property, group of properties, block, or portion of block within the Italian Village Historic District and document development over time within the neighborhood, from its establishment in 1973 to the present day.
- Identify and document the effects of development and changes to the property/properties over time.
- Identify and document the owners and residents of the selected property/properties over time.
- What do these changes demonstrate over time about the neighborhood and its residents?
Desired Qualifications: Intern must be able to complete hours during office hours (Tuesday 9-2, Wednesday 10-3, Friday 9-2). Intern should be detail oriented, self-motivated, and familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel. Intern will have reached sophomore standing or higher and will have taken an English course and at least three History courses. Prefer some experience with writing history research papers
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: Student will learn some of the basics of registrar work and will get the opportunity to apply what has been learned. Intern will also learn the basics of using PastPerfect Museum Software.
Columbus Historical Society
717 West Town Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
CHS Mission
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.
1. To research, document, and collect the history of the Columbus metropolitan area by traditional historical methods, oral histories, and the most advanced technological means available.
2. To disseminate, educate and promote the diverse histories of the Columbus metropolitan area through programs that arouse public interest and invite wide community participation.
3. To publish books, monographs, documents, etc. with exacting scholarly standards.
4. To identify and mark historic sites of the Columbus metropolitan area.
5. To protect and preserve items, sites or properties of historic significance to the Columbus metropolitan area.
6. To identify and acquire materials, artifacts, and information.
7. To establish a base of operations, which includes a museum, library, office facilities, public meeting rooms, and serves as a repository of items of historic significance to the Columbus metropolitan area.
8. To protect, preserve, and make accessible all property in the custody of the Columbus Historical Society.
9. To cooperate with other historical societies, libraries, institutions, or organizations seeking our resources.
INTERNSHIP I: COLLECTIONS
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
Collections intern will assist with cataloguing, inventory, and maintenance of collection and archives. This will entail researching artifacts, using PastPerfect Museum Management software to input data into database. Previous experience with PastPerfect software is not required. Student will also assist, as needed, with history research requests.
Desired Qualifications:
Intern must be able to complete hours during office hours (Tuesday 9-2, Wednesday 10-3, Friday 9-2). Intern should be detail oriented, self-motivated, and familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel. Intern will have reached sophomore standing or higher and will have taken an English course and at least three History courses. Prefer some experience with writing history research papers
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
Student will learn some of the basics of registrar work and will get the opportunity to apply what has been learned. Intern will also learn the basics of using PastPerfect Museum Software.
INTERNSHIP II: NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
The Columbus Historical Society is looking for students who are 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 programing, and special projects. They will also assist the office by receiving mail, managing email and phone inquiries, and tracking RSVP lists. Specific non-profit interests of the student will be discussed at the beginning of internship to help tailor the internship with the goals of the student.
Desired Qualifications:
Intern must be able to complete hours during office hours (Tuesday 9-2, Wednesday 10-3, Friday 9-2). Self-Motivated, excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong customer service skills, comfortable speaking on the phone, and experience with Microsoft Office and Excel. Intern will have reached sophomore standing or higher and will have taken an English course and at least three History and/or Business and/or Hospitality courses (or a combination).
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: The student will learn about the many and varied facets of working in a small non-profit and get the opportunity to assist in areas that include membership, development, customer relations, mission, programming and events, volunteer management, publicity, and more. This is a very hands- on internship and one that can help a student identify professional areas of interests and develop skills in those areas.
Columbus Jewish Historical Society
1175 College Ave (near College and Livingston)
Columbus, Ohio
The mission of CJHS is to collect and preserve the history of Jewish central Ohio and to educate about that history.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
Project 1:
Develop and design a program for the premiere of a new play written by CJHS and based on letters from our archives. The play is called "Letters Home: Central Ohio Jews in WWI." It will be performed on May 30. Work consists of preparing biographies of the individual, historic figures in the play (local soldiers and their families), bios of actors and writers, general information about the play and CJHS, then creating the program including photos. Finished project must be ready to go to print by May 1.
Project 2:
In connection with our next exhibit, 1918: Jewish Central Ohio and the War, which opens in January 2018, the intern will create a biographical "book" of the 256 Jewish soldiers from Central Ohio. This project includes incorporating war records with personal information about each soldier. All of the soldiers have been identified and much of the military background has been collected, but it needs to be compiled in a format that will be of use to exhibit visitors and eventually on our web site. There will be some new research required within our archives or via online services.
Project 3:
CJHS provides First Sunday programs each month. These are usually related to the current exhibit, but may vary if they are of interest to CJHS members and guests. Several program ideas are being discussed currently for 2018, including medical advancements in WWI, a program on the knitting effort by women in 1918 in support of the War, a photography program related to a collection of 1950-60's photos in our archives, and several more. The student would prepare the outline for the program, work with the presenter or our staff to collect background material, gather any multimedia needed, prepare advertising and collect and prepare information to present to the public to introduce the speakers or activity. Delivery date will depend on the program selected and the date on which it will occur.
Desired Qualifications:
Qualified candidates must be able to write well, be independent, creative and interested in the ways that history can be made relevant to today's world. Note that students DO NOT need to be Jewish to take part in this internship. Knowledge of Judaism or Jewish community life is not a prerequisite.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
Students gain an understanding of the work done by local historical societies, their reach and their impacts. Depending on the project selected, they will gain research experience as well as experience in collecting and presenting data in ways that the general public will find useful. Based on their experiences with us several of our interns have gone on to careers in the museum world.
Columbus Landmarks Foundation
57 Jefferson Ave. Columbus, OH 43215
Columbus Landmarks advocates for, promotes and preserves Columbus neighborhoods and buildings.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
1. Support of publication of 2018 Most Endangered Buildings List including identification, research, writing, web content, social media, publicity and advocacy efforts. (mostendangeredcbus.org)
2. Support of creation of program and tour focused on the architecture of Gilbert Coddington who designed the mid-century A-frame St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on the OSU Campus.
Desired Qualifications:
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: Experience in Historic Preservation, Architecture, Design, Local History, Revitalization, Adaptive Reuse, Marketing, Project Management, Media Relations, Social Media and Non-Profit Management.
Columbus Metropolitan Library
96 S. Grant Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215
Mission: A thriving community wisdom prevails.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
The Digital Collections Intern uses 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:
• Research unidentified slides and photographs
• Create metadata (descriptive information) for primary source materials
• Fact-check existing metadata
• Develop slideshow exhibits for the library’s Discovery Boards
• Digitize primary source materials
Desired Qualifications:
• Ability to think critically and work independently
• Intermediate research skills
• Working knowledge of computer systems
• Progress toward a bachelor’s degree in a humanities field
• Must complete volunteer application and pass a background check at: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?ap=540161573 Note that you are interested in working in Local History & Genealogy
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
• Apply research methods to identifying historical primary source material
• Develop effective metadata writing skills
• Learn about the digitization process and digital collections
• Experience the field of applied history in a library setting
The German Village Society
588 S. Third St. Columbus Ohio 43215
Members of the German Village Society serve as Caretakers of a Legacy, dedicated to retaining the character and distinction of the past while creating a thriving and contemporary community in German Village.
German Village Historic District is the oldest recognized district in Ohio, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It encompasses 233 acres of predominantly residential parcels, interspersed with commercial. The German Village Society maintains extensive archival material pertaining to the Village.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
Past interns have participated in researching individual properties, developing tour programs, working with the public through our Visitor Center, Interpretive planning and participating in administrative duties typical of a non-profit.
We are interested in having an intern conduct extensive research in two areas:
1) A comparative analysis of ‘green’ building practices and sustainable living practices such as recycling, rain water retention., etc. of today with historic building and living practices found in German Village from roughly 1860 to 1940.
2) The impact of WWI on German Village as a predominantly German American community and how these impacts are or are not articulated in the built environment today
Both of these areas of research should result in content able to support educational programming/tours. We are NOT looking for finished product, however all content should meet professional research standards.
Desired Qualifications: Strong interest in interpretive programs, architectural history, social and economic aspects of historic preservation, excellent writing and research skills.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
Knowledge of daily operations of a member driven, non-profit educational and advocacy organization;
Research experience in sustainable building practices through an historical perspective;
Research experience analyzing impacts of WWI on an ethnic community in the U.S.
Owen & Eastlake Ltd.
P.O. Box 10774
Columbus, Ohio 43201
Owen & Eastlake Ltd is a cultural resource management and historic preservation consulting firm that works with non-profit institutions, private businesses and governmental entities.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
Current projects include a National Register multiple property documentation form about 20th century African American civil rights in Ohio and a local historic district designation. Each project includes online and archival historic research, public meetings, architectural surveys and completing various forms.
Where Work Will Take Place:
• Archival research will take place at the Ohio History Connection, the Ohio State University Library, Columbus Metropolitan Library, State Library of Ohio, and Ohioana Library.
• Architectural survey work will take place in Columbus, Ohio.
• Some tasks may be completed online.
Desired Qualifications:
Student should be familiar with Microsoft Office products, online mapping applications such as Google Earth and Bing Maps. Archival work and the survey process may be tedious and patience is required. Some walking during the survey process may be necessary. Knowledge of African American and Ohio history helpful.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student:
The student will gain private sector experience in the cultural resource management field. The student will learn research methods through primary documents and maps. The student will learn about architectural styles, construction methods and materials. The student will learn about the National Register process. The student will also learn about producing various reports and forms.
Worthington Historical Society
50 West New England Ave
Worthington OH 43085
Mission: 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.
Description of the Project and/or Internship Responsibilities:
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.
Desired Qualifications: 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.
Educational Outcome(s) for the Student: 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.
0