Oral History Internship at the National Museum of African American History and Culture Fall 2022 | Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Office of Curatorial Affairs (OCA), including the Centers, facilitates the intellectual work of the Museum by collecting artifacts, ensuring collection preservation and stewardship, conducting research and scholarship, and sharing the rich history and culture of African Americans and all people of African descent with a diverse public in accessible, multifaceted ways including exhibition, digitization, and publication.

The Culture division of OCA documents, collects and preserves information and materials related to the cultural heritage of African Americans and other select groups, whose actions have influenced and/or contributed to the African American experience, including those associated with the African Diaspora. Specific areas of focus include: sports, music, the performing arts, oral history, literary arts, dress and textiles, decorative arts, foodways and folklife in their many diverse forms.

The Oral History Intern will support the Oral History Initiative at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) with basic research support and administrative duties. This internship is designed to provide an introduction to professional oral history work in a museum setting, and the intern will develop their verbal, written, and professional skills. Each assigned duty will help with the development of skills needed to succeed in a museum setting. The coordinator of the Oral History program will mentor the intern on reviewing recordings from our Reflections Booths, maintaining records, conducting background research for interviews, and reviewing transcripts. The Oral History Intern will also be able to observe how oral history projects are carried out from conception to implementation, including research, developing questions, contacting interviewees, gathering metadata, and writing justifications. The selected intern will learn how to develop an oral history project from idea to implementation, process oral history content, maintain oral history metadata, and utilize oral histories in a museum setting.

Duties Include (but are not limited to):

·      Reviewing oral history interviews.

·      Reviewing interview transcripts.

·      Reviewing Reflection Booth Recordings.

·      Assisting in the creation of research packets on potential interviewees.

·      Drafting interview descriptions and biographical summaries.

·      Assisting with the completion of justifications for the collections committee.

Apply at:

https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/internships-fellowships