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Internship Guidelines and Directory

Introduction

The purpose of this page is to help you get started in your search for an internship slot. Securing a good internship position is the joint responsibility of the program and the student. The program coordinator’s responsibility is to provide you with general direction and advice. The student’s job is to explore possibilities and make applications based on your interests and career aspirations. Ideally, you should make numerous applications to give yourself an opportunity to make choices.

Internship Requirements

The History Undergraduate Internship Program (HIST 398) allows students to earn three course credit hours while gaining valuable professional experience as an intern in public and private institutions and organizations generally engaged in history-related projects. This course fulfills the Engaged Learning requirement of the Core Curriculum. Interns work for a minimum of five hours per week (75 hours a term) in an internship position jointly agreed upon by the student and the History Department Internship Coordinator, Dr. Brad Hunt (dhunt1@luc.edu). Throughout the semester, interns keep a weekly blog of their experience, and at the end of the semester they write a short paper reflecting on their experience.

Students need the permission of the History Department Internship Coordinator in order to register. Steps for undertaking an internship are listed below. 

Steps for Undertaking an Internship for HIST 398 credit:

1. 1. Download the Internship Application, fill it out, and submit it to the History Department Internship Coordinator.  Approval of this application will trigger registration in History 398 by the Department.
   2. Contact institutions about possible internships. Look at the list of institutions below. Please note students are not limited to that list and can work with any institution as long as the internship project has a historical component to it. Some institutions have internship information on their website.  Pay attention to the process and deadlines they have identified as important for securing an internship at their organization.  If an organization does not have information on internships, contact the institution directly, introducing yourself, attaching your resume, and asking to arrange an interview or meeting to discuss an internship.
   3. Once an internship has been obtained, complete the Undergraduate Internship Contract between the student and the sponsoring institution. Be sure to include the contact information of the person who will supervise the internship. Both the student and the supervisor need to sign the contract.
   4. Submit the signed contract for review to the History Department Internship Coordinator. or in person to the History Department Office, Crown Center 515.
   5. Get to work! Interns
      1. Should plan on committing 5 hours a week to the institution;
      2. Should write a weekly blog post (1–2 paragraphs) documenting their experience. Describe the history and work of the institution, the tasks undertaken, and problems encountered and how they are being solved. 
      3. Should be in touch with the History Department Internship Coordinator in the event that any issues arise.
   6. At the end of the semester, interns will submit a final paper (1000 words) reflecting on their experience and its relationship to the Jesuit mission. The prompt for this essay is set by the Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship. The supervisor from the internship organization will submit the Intern Evaluation directly to the History Department Internship Coordinator. The final grade is based on blogging (40%), supervisor’s evaluation (40%), and the final reflection paper (20%).

Forms

• Undergraduate Internship Contract
• Intern Evaluation

Internship Possibilities

ºÚÁÏÍø undergraduates have interned at a wide range of institutions and organizations in Chicago and across the country. Below is a list of internship possibilities that you might consider for History 398. What follows is a sample, but by no means an exhaustive list of the many internship opportunities that are available. Use your imagination and follow your career ambitions in searching out placements. To find the most recent information about internships and deadlines, check institutions' web pages. The ºÚÁÏÍø  is also a useful resource.

 

Departmental Opportunities

English Court Project Research Internship: Contact Dr. Robert Bucholz: rbuchol@luc.edu.

Eating Disorders Research Internship:  Contact Dr. Alice Weinreb, aweinreb@luc.edu

On-Campus Opportunities

Their willingness to accept interns varies by semester. The University Archives has not been accepting interns and it is not clear when it will resume providing opportunities.

Women and Leadership Archives. Contact Emily Reiher, ereiher@luc.edu

University Archives. Contact Kathy Young, Archivist: kyoung3@luc.edu.

Chicago Area Internships

Internship opportunities are advertised through the Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship:  /celts/  If you check this page each month, you will find other opportunities:   /celts/resources/forstudents/.    

Archdiocese of Chicago Archives & Records Center. The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives & Records Center is the official repository for the records of the Archdiocese of Chicago and gateway to its past. As the institutional archives, its purpose is to identify, preserve, and make available Archdiocesan records, which have long term value for local, national, and international communities. The Center’s collection, with more than 8, 000 cubic feet of archival materials, constitutes one of the world’s largest repositories of Archdiocesan Archives. Interns’ duties will depend on students’ interests, educational backgrounds, experiences, and the Archdiocese’s needs. Projects have included: Preservation and microfilming of documents and photographs; indexing collections; assisting reference staff; updating the database of the collections; and conducting tours of facilities and exhibitions.  They usually have paid summer interns. For more information see:

Chicago History Museum. Internships at the Chicago History Museum are challenging, educational experiences designed for undergraduate and graduate students. Working alongside staff members in a tutorial arrangement, interns gain valuable skills and training in museum practice, archival administration, arts administration, and historical scholarship. While specific projects fluctuate with the institution's needs and priorities, a diverse assortment of opportunities is generally available. Examples include:  Archives and manuscripts internship; Collection processing internship; Prints and photographs internship; Costumes collection internships; Conservation internship; Education internships. These are usually unpaid internships. For more information see:

Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum.

Chicago Metro History Education Center. The Chicago Metro History Education Center (CMHEC) promotes an approach to history education based on local and community history, project and inquiry-based methods of learning, and the use of primary as well as secondary sources. This approach is distinguished by student-centered initiative, cooperative learning and cross-disciplinary thinking. Through academic competitions, family and community history projects, teacher training, and educational materials, CMHEC aims to revitalize the learning and teaching of history in the Chicago metropolitan area, to encourage the development of critical thinking and core learning skills, and to foster increased civic interest and responsibility. Its main program is the History Fair, an annual academic program and competition for over 20,000 Chicago area students in grades 6–12. They seek volunteers to help coach student research at the Harold Washington or Woodson libraries on weekends in December through March; coach student work on thesis, project development, and research in classrooms on weekdays; and judge or do other support work during History Fair events with students on weekdays, evenings, and Saturdays in February through April. They have a greater need for interns in the spring and fall than in summer. See Chicago History Museum website.

The First Division Museum at Cantigny. The First Division Museum at Cantigny is dedicated to American military history, specifically the history of the Big Red One, which is the famed 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army. The museum is located on the Wheaton, Illinois estate of the late Colonel Robert R. McCormick. Its 38,000 square foot facility includes 10,000 square feet of state of the art interactive and experiential exhibits. The museum has a wide variety of exhibits ranging from life-size dioramas to tanks and artillery pieces found in the military park. Internships. Fellowships. The First Division Museum at Cantigny offers research fellowships to history majors, graduate students, doctoral candidates and post-doctoral scholars. Contact staff in the area you are interested in working in:

Glessner House.  THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS ON HIATUS, AND NO APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME. Built in 1885, the Glessner house was a radical departure from traditional residential design. Nestled inside the fortress-like, rusticated granite exterior is an oak-paneled English Arts and Crafts interior and a charming central courtyard. The stories that live within the walls of Glessner House tell the tale of Chicago in an era that, more than any other, shaped urban America—the family life and fashion trends, masters and servants, high culture and crass consumerism, intellectual achievements and industrial brawn. The spirit of the Gilded Age lives in Glessner House and visitors not only learn its cultural history, they experience the ambiance of this bygone world. Glessner House Museum has over 6,000 artifacts, most of which are original to the Glessner family. In addition to Aesthetic Movement and English Arts and Crafts Movement furniture, the collection includes a large number of ceramic vases and tiles, Art Nouveau glass, silver and other decorative objects. Staff works closely with the students to determine internship objectives and to set project priorities. They provide interns with knowledge and training they can take with them into their careers, placing each student into a working environment where each becomes part of the GHM team. As of January 2023, NOTE: THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS ON HIATUS, AND NO APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME. The museum is closed in January so check again in February or March.

National Museum of the American Sailor, Great Lakes Naval Museum in Great Lakes, IL As an official Department of the Navy museum, the Great Lakes Naval Museum's mission is to select, collect, preserve, and interpret the history of the United States Navy with particular emphasis on the Navy's enlisted Sailor.  The Great Lakes Naval Museum is located at the U.S. Navy's historic Naval Station Great Lakes.  Additional information about the museum can be found at:

Mitchell Museum of the American Indian. Mitchell Museum of the American Indian is the only museum in the Chicago-area that focuses exclusively on the history, culture and arts of North American native peoples. The Museum's collections range from the Paleo-Indian period through the present day. Permanent exhibitions depict the Native American cultures of the Woodlands, Plains, Southwest, Northwest Coast and Arctic. Two temporary exhibit galleries have special thematic shows that change two times a year. Interns would develop a project that would fit with the museum's needs and their own interests. Most internships here are unpaid but can provide good experience. If interested contact the director.

Chicago Transit Authority Internship (paid): In the past the CTA has had a records management internship available applying essential metadata and geographic codes to architectural and engineering records.

National Public Housing Museum. The National Public Housing Museum is a museum in making located in Chicago. Interns work with staff at the Public Housing Museum on research related to the museum’s focus in documenting the history of public housing in Chicago and understanding the impact of public housing on residents and communities from the past through the present. Born out of the early vision of public housing residents, the National Public Housing Museum will bring to life the many stories and voices of residents, and examine public housing’s effect on the larger patterns of community and urban development in Chicago and other US cities. .

National Hellenic Museum. From ancient Greek civilizations to contemporary artistic movements, the National Hellenic Museum produces original exhibitions for the public to enjoy. Exhibits offer comprehensive, historical depictions of Greek communities in the United States, the artistic and literary expressions of Greeks worldwide, and the art and history of ancient Greece. The Museum also contains a library and media archives. The Library is a non-circulating research library, primarily collecting original source and out-of-print materials. From an archival perspective, the Museum also maintains a collection of rare 16mm films, which have been digitized and are available for viewing and research. The NHM library also contains over 5,000 Greek record albums, one of the largest collections in the United States. The NHM offers unpaid credit and non-credit internships for college students throughout the year. An internship would be a great way to gain real-life experience working in a mid-size museum during the fall, spring, or summer. .

Swedish American Museum. The Museum Center is located at 5211 North Clark in Andersonville, a traditionally Swedish area of Chicago's north side. The mission of the Museum is to preserve and present the Swedish American heritage in the United States for the education and enjoyment of all ages and ethnic background. Each year more than 40,000 visitors enjoy the many programs that include special exhibits, Swedish language classes, crafts, genealogy classes, folk dancing, concerts, lectures, films, and the interactive Children's Museum of Immigration. The Children's Museum uses interns to staff the museum, lead tours, and learn to role play. Located on the third floor of the museum, the Children’s Museum of Immigration is an interactive hands-on exhibit that teaches children about Swedish immigration, culture, and history. Children travel back in time to an authentic Swedish farmhouse and experience life at the turn of the century, where they tend to farm animals, stack wood, wash the laundry, and cook by the hearth. After the work is done children pack a trunk and board an immigrant ship bound for pioneer America, where they step inside a real log cabin and learn about pioneer life. Through first-person interpretation educators teach students about Swedish immigration in the 1870’s. This includes dressing in period costume and monitoring the museum space.  Interns can also be given a special project to focus on (for instance, writing descriptions of artifacts). Applicants should submit a resume and a short paragraph on why they are interested in an internship.  .

WTTW Television, Chicago-area History & Architecture Research Internship Chicago Tonight. WTTW’s flagship nightly news and public affairs program, features a popular weekly segment called “Ask Geoffrey.” Producer Geoffrey Baer answers viewer questions related to the Chicago-area history and architecture. Learning opportunities include: Assist in the research of content for writing of scripts for the “Ask Geoffrey” segment. Assist in gathering and organizing of archival images, film, or video to support research for the “Ask Geoffrey” segment. Help research and gather archival materials for periodic Chicago Tonight stories as needed. May participate in field production shoots as needed. Provide general office assistance as needed.  Most work will take place at WTTW studios on the northwest side of Chicago. Interns may need to travel to libraries, museums, and other institutions to complete their research assignments. Interns may also accompany and assist on field production shoots. REQUIREMENTS Eligible candidates must be at least 18 years old and an undergraduate student, graduate student, or have graduated from an accredited college or university within 12 months of beginning this internship. Interns should have excellent research, writing, communication, and computer skills, be resourceful, mature and professional. An interest and/or education in Chicago history are important. Familiarity with Chicago is very helpful. Knowledge of TV production is useful, but not required. We prefer interns to be available at least 16 hours per week during the fall, winter and spring terms; additional hours available during the summer and for recent graduates. It is also helpful if the intern has a car or driver's license, but not required. This is an unpaid position. .

DuPage County Historical Museum. 102 E. Wesley St, Wheaton, IL 60187. DuPage County Historical Museum is the only collecting organization focusing on DuPage County History. Contact the director or the curator if interested.

Chicago Cultural Alliance.  The Chicago Cultural Alliance is a membership based organization that seeks to connect, promote, and support centers of heritage for a more inclusive and culturally vibrant region. We welcome students and graduates to gain experience in museum and cultural center management, cross-cultural public programming and non-profit administration most specifically in marketing and development. This unpaid internship program will require a commitment of 16-24 hours a week for 3 to 6 months. CCA internships are project-based and vary based on the program cycle and needs of the organization. ºÚÁÏÍø the Chicago Cultural Alliance: The Chicago Cultural Alliance’s mission is to connect, promote, and support centers of cultural heritage for a more inclusive Chicago. We are a proud consortium of Chicago-area heritage museums, cultural centers and historical societies who span 24 neighborhoods and 7 suburbs in Chicago area and represent 28 different cultures from around the world. Through the CCA, Members are connected to a wide range of civic and arts organizations, our Partners can invest resources to help grow their capacity and visibility. The CCA’s programming and services celebrate diversity, preserve history, and honor tradition while amplifying cross-cultural collaboration. CCA offerings include large-scale collaborative programming that showcase Member assets, shared services that build capacity, promotion and networking opportunities throughout the year through our member meetings and conferences. The CCA was formally created in 2008 after beginning at The Field Museum as the Cultural Connections program in 1998. Contact the director for possible summer internships. .

Frances Willard House Museum and Archives. Evanston, IL.  Contact: Lori Osborne: director@franceswillardhouse.org

Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Be part of the world-renowned as an intern in its archives. Many different talents and skills are needed to provide management and support for this cultural treasure. Job responsibilities include: assisting the Rosenthal Archives staff with the organizing, processing, and cataloguing of archival materials as well as reference and research services. .

Chicago Council on Global Affairs: The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, founded in 1922 as The Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, is a leading independent, nonpartisan organization committed to influencing the discourse on global issues through contributions to opinion and policy formation, leadership dialogue, and public learning. The Chicago Council brings the world to Chicago by hosting public programs and private events featuring world leaders and experts with diverse views on a wide range of global topics. Through task forces, conferences, studies, and leadership dialogue, the Council brings Chicago’s ideas and opinions to the world. The Council offers undergraduate juniors and seniors the chance to learn about our organization and participate in a variety of duties associated with ongoing projects through internships. While intern responsibilities vary by department, tasks may include researching prospective speakers, donors, studies, and corporate members, writing communications, assisting in the development of marketing/program materials, audience and outreach development, administrative duties (filing, faxing, data entry, preparing mailings, assembling program/meeting materials), assisting at Council events, and other projects as assigned.

Museum of Contemporary Art:

Dank Haus German American Cultural Center.  Contact:   or Rosa Gallagher: rosa@dankhaus.com .

Field Museum of Natural History, Summer Internship Program,  Chicago, IL There are a variety of openings both paid and unpaid.

Newberry Library. The Newberry Library offers internships in most of its departments. Newberry interns benefit professionally and intellectually from challenging work assignments as well as participation in the library’s lively community of scholars.

National Archives, Great Lakes Branch, Chicago. Our Chicago office offers college-level students and other individuals the opportunity to participate in non-paid internships at the facility. If accepted, students are required to work 160 hours within a specific time frame to successfully complete an internship. Interns at the National Archives at Chicago work in a variety of program areas including: basic preservation, reference and research services, digitization, arrangement and description of historical records. For more information about internship opportunities at the National Archives at Chicago, contact: Director, Archival Operations, The National Archives at Chicago, 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60629-5898,Ph. (773) 948-9001, E-mail:   chicago.archives@nara.gov

City of Chicago, Historic Preservation Division. Department of Planning & Development is seeking students who want to acquire knowledge and valuable work experience in public sector/city government operations while assisting with various duties in the Historic Preservation, Urban Planning and Design Division. The Historic Preservation, Urban Planning and Design Division is responsible for overseeing the Chicago landmark designations and permitting process of historically significant buildings and districts; manages the creation and/or implementation of new and existing urban plans, and provides urban design assistance for planned development and complex projects in Chicago. As an intern, you will gain a unique insight into the workings of city government. The ideal student is highly motivated and dedicated to improving public service while obtaining “hands-on work experience in a fast-paced environment."

Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. Skokie, IL.

Chicago Maritime Museum. The Chicago Maritime Society researches, educates, and celebrates Chicago’s maritime heritage. The society holds a collection of approximately 5,000 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. Contact: Dylan Hoffmann, Curator, Dylan.chimaritimemuseum@gmail.com. Website: . 

Chicago Women’s History Liberation Union. The CWLU is a feminist organization that was born in Chicago in 1969. From 1969 – 1977, CWLU members dedicated themselves to developing grassroots programs for women while working towards a long-term revolution in American society. They have extensive online archives and welcome undergraduate interns.

Edgewater Historical Society. The Edgewater Historical Society was founded in January of 1988 to involve the Edgewater community in the preservation of its history. The impetus to form the Society was the 1986 celebration of the Edgewater Centennial, during which the Edgewater Community Council conducted an oral history project. From that project grew a great interest in researching and documenting neighborhood streets and structures. The Edgewater Historical Society operates the Museum located in the converted firehouse at 5358 N. Ashland Ave. and conducts Home Tours and Walking Tours throughout the year. Internships might involve researching and putting up of exhibits and displays; helping with oral history to get the recording of information for our files; projects; and storing collections information. Skills required could range from history, art, computer skills, office management, research, photographer, etc.

The HistoryMakers. The History Makers is dedicated to preserving African American history as the missing link in American history. Focused on American history, oral history and education in general and more specifically on African American history, education, music, law, the arts, science, technology, media, medicine, entertainment, fashion & beauty, business, the military, politics and sports, The History Makers is a combination archive, library, museum, stock footage collection, on-line educator and educational PBS/TV programming. Its topics include but are not limited to African American organizations and associations, slavery, reconstruction, the labor movement, the civil rights movement and black authors. Internships are available on a semester or January-term basis and can be tailored to fit the skills and interests of the student. Areas of intern activity include: conduct background research on individual HistoryMakers prior to interviews using periodicals, the Internet, monographs, and other materials; research and writing HistoryMaker biographies for The HistoryMakers website; copy edit transcripts of interviews; work in the library or archives to assist in the processing of video collection as well as to write and develop finding aids.

Gerber/Hart Library and Archives. Founded in 1981, Gerber/Hart’s collections focus on the culture and history of LGBTQ peoples and additional marginalized sexual and gender minorities in Chicago and the Midwest. Open to all, Gerber/Hart serves these communities by collecting, preserving, and making accessible collection items of individuals, organizations, and businesses, as well as publicly distributed items. Additionally, Gerber/Hart provides programming and exhibitions related to items in its collections and on other topics in LGBTQ history and culture. .

Evanston History Center, Evanston, IL.  .

Busy Beaver Button Museum.  After years of growing their personal collections, siblings Christen and Joel Carter decided to show an American history through pinback buttons. In August of 2010, they created the and opened it to the public.

Washington, DC Internship Opportunities

Virtual Student Federal Service. Government agencies post virtual, unpaid internship opportunities to current college students who, in turn, contribute to projects that advance the work of government. Projects range from developing virtual programs and building apps to mapping economic inequality and analyzing data.

The White House Historical Association is a private non-profit educational organization with a mission to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the Executive Mansion. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy founded the Association in 1961 to help the White House collect and exhibit the very best artifacts of American history and culture. Today, our acquisition, preservation, research, and education efforts continue through generous private donations and the sale of our books, products, and the official White House Ornament. Internship opportunities are periodic and generally unpaid.

Supreme Court of the United States, Internships in the Office of the Curator. The Curator’s Office was created by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger in 1973 to record and preserve the Court’s history. Our mission is to promote a greater public understanding and appreciation of the nation's highest court. To this end, we collect the institution’s rich history, share it with a diverse audience through a variety of programs, and preserve it for future generations. Internships in the Office of the Curator Interns in the Curator’s Office develop a substantial working knowledge of the role and functions of the Supreme Court, its history, and the architecture of the building. Each intern is assigned to work with a staff member on curatorial projects, such as Visitor Programs, Collections Management/Archives, and Digital Assets Management. In addition to their individual projects, all interns gain valuable public speaking and interpersonal skills by conducting tours and Courtroom Lectures and staffing a visitor desk. Examples of Past Intern Projects: Drafting a visitors’ self-guided map to highlight exhibits and architecture. Creating catalogue records, rehousing objects, and developing finding aids. Processing camera RAW files, digitizing films, and incorporating scans along with detailed metadata into various digital asset databases. Assisting with exhibitions. For more information see:

Smithsonian Museum, Washington, DC Internship Opportunities. World’s largest museum has numerous internships both paid and unpaid, .

Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Intern projects, conducted under the guidance of the Center’s professional staff, often focus on research and production for the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives, and educational outreach. Internships are open to students and non-students alike. They can be from six weeks to one year, full- or part-time, though working at least fifteen to twenty hours per week is preferred. Unless otherwise specified, these are non-paying internships. Students in folklore, American studies, American history, music, library science or other fields may be able to arrange course credit for their work here. For more information see: .