Employment & Internship Opportunities & Funding

Summer Internships | Funding (including Swarthmore Summer Opportunities) | Other Opportunities, including Employment

Internships

By upcoming deadline:

The Library of Congress

The Library of Congress may have opportunities for you!

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center

This presidential library in Ohio usually has internships available for each semester and the summer.

The Judah L. Magnes Museum

This museum of Jewish art and history in California has internship opportunities for people of many fields. Contact them with your interest at info@magnes.org.

Native American Congressional Internship

Sponsored by the Native Nations Institute, these internships aim to encourage Native Americans and Alaska Native students to learn more about issues and take action on issues affecting tribal communities. The application deadline is three months prior to when you'd like to begin.

Harvard Business School's Research Associate Program

Positions seem to be constantly open and available. Rolling. ($)

Missouri Secretary of State's Archives

Missouri's archives have a number of internships available. No deadlines listed.

National Archives

Large directory of various internship opportunities throughout the country. These include positions at presidential libraries and regional archives. ($)

The National Conference of State Legislatures

The internship page at the National Conference of State Legislatures website is regularly updated and provides you with the resource of having many internships within state legislatures listed on a single page. ($)

The National Council on Public History

The internship page at the National Council on Public History website is regularly updated and provides you with the resource of having many internships listed on a single page. ($)

Night Kitchen Interactive

Examples of projects past interns have assisted with: the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's interactive web feature based on the U.S. citizenship exam and with the Smithsonian Archives and Gilder Lehrman Institute's web redesigns. Based in Philadelphia, they are often looking for interns to join their team. They are currently looking for animators and compositors, graphic designers, and unity/interactive game designers.

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

Right on Independence Mall in downtown Philadelphia, the DVRPC is a federally-designated Metropolitan Regional Planning Commission that has a variety of internships available all of the time. ($)

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Located in Washington, DC, this Smithsonian Institution preserves American History through sound recordings. Swarthmore students have interned here in the past. The application deadline is rolling for the remainder of the year and for the summer is March 15.

Smithsonian Institute

Large directory of Smithsonian's many internship opportunities, including online internships that can be done remotely. ($)

SS United States Conservancy

This conservancy aims to preserve the SS United States and often has internships available in DC, NYC, and Philadelphia. They are currently seeking a preservation & curatorial intern ($).

Historic Stagville Foundation

Intern at one of the largest antebellum plantations in North Carolina. "Stagville is dedicated to teaching about the lives and work of enslaved people on the plantation." No deadlines listed.

Student Conservation Association

Large directory of a variety of internships available to students interested in conservation work. The Career Discovery Internship Program ($) focuses on college first- and second-years; the Aramark Sustainability Internship ($) prefers juniors, seniors, and recent graduates; and the NPS Academy ($) is more intensive and provides a program that leads to career development. Applications are accepted year-round.

Penobscot Marine Museum

Located in Searsport, ME, these internships are targeted for history, art history, and museum studies students. They are often offering positions in photo archives, curatorial, marketing, and museum education. Applications begin being reviewed March 15 until positions are filled.

St. Mary's City

One of the first British settlements in America, St. Mary's City, in Maryland, is often looking for interns in a variety of fields throughout the year. Summer application deadline is usually in April.

Archives of American Art

Another Smithsonian institution in Washington, D.C., this archive hires a variety of paid interns. Deadline for the fall is June 1, for the spring is October 1, and for the summer is February 1. ($)

Dominican Studies Institute at the City University of New York

Our students have been involved with this program before. Speak with Diego Armus or one of the two students to find out more. Internship application deadlines are June 1 for the fall, November 1 for the spring, and January 30 for the summer.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives and Records Center

The House has internship opportunities throughout the year, including in the summer. Feel free to contact them via email or by phone: 717-783-3866 with any questions or interest. Deadline for fall is June 1, for spring is November 1, and for summer is March 1.

National Museum of American History

Swarthmore history students have participated in this internship program with the Smithsonian Institution in the past. The application deadline for the fall is June 22, for the spring is October 26, and for the summer is March 1. ($)

North Carolina Museum of History

The NC Museum of History hires a few interns each year based on need. Their deadline for fall is July 1, for spring is November 1, and for summer is March 1.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The History Programs Office at NASA is hiring interns throughout the year. The deadline for the fall is July 9, for the spring is October 1, and for the summer is March 5.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

As with most of the Smithsonian Institutions, NMAAHC hires interns. Deadlines are July 15th for the fall, October 15 for the spring, and March 15 for the summer. ($)

Lewes Historical Society

The Lewes Historical Society in Lewes, DE, has a number of internships available each summer. It currently looks like they're accepting volunteers.

Others, alphabetically:

American Documentary

You can always look for employment opportunities with this organization whose docs are often on PBS, but they also have internships. The internships have been suspended due to COVID-19.

The American University in Cairo

The American University in Cairo has a number of internship opportunities available every year. They provide interns the opportunity to work within an international university and learn Arabic. The program has been suspended due to COVID-19. ($)

Arden Craft Shop and Museum

The Arden Craft Shop and Museum always welcomes volunteers, and occasionally hires interns.

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum

This presidential library in Atlanta, GA, has internships available all year round. The application deadline for summer is April 17, for fall is July 31, and for spring is December 11. However, it is currently closed due to COVID-19.

Wharton Esherick Museum

A museum dedicated to the craftsman, Wharton Esherick, just outside of Philadelphia. Internships have been suspended due to COVID-19.

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Located in Philadelphia, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is looking for some interns. All of these internships have been suspended due to COVID-19.

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is always looking for volunteers. However, it is currently closed due to COVID-19.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum usually has a variety of internships available. The application deadline is based on need and has not been updated since the COVID outbreak.

National Center for Preservation Technology and Training

The NCPTT's internship page provides links to opportunities with a number of agencies, including the National Park Service. Their 2019 deadline was December 15, which means they have not updated their internship page recently. ($)

National Museum of American Jewish History

NMAJH has a number of internships available in the summer, but also provides paid internships throughout the school year. However, the internship program is currently suspended due to COVID-19.

The Newberry Library

Located in Chicago, The Newberry Library's internship program is currently suspended due to COVID-19. Deadline for the spring is December 1, for the summer is March 31, and for the fall is August 16. The internships have been suspended due to COVID-19.

Newlin Grist Mill

Located in Glen Mills, PA, Newlin Grist Mill is looking for volunteers. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, internships and volunteer positions have been suspended.

Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

The Nixon Presidential Library and Museum hires interns on a semester-by-semester, rolling basis. However, it is currently closed due to COVID-19.

Penn Museum of Archeology and Anthropology

Regularly seek counselors for their summer camp, which has a different theme each summer. Positions are seasonal and contractual. Counselors report to the Summer Camp Director. Questions and applications can be directed to summercamp@pennmuseum.org. The application deadline for summer 2021 has not yet been announced ($).

They also regularly seek interns. Deadline for 2021 has passed. ($)

Scott County Historical Society

The Scott County Historical Society in Minnesota is currently only seeking volunteers.

Washington County Historical Society

This historical society in Minnesota often has paid internships available for the summer in Scandia and Stillwater, MN. Currently, they're only seeking volunteers.

University of Louisville's Center for Arts and Culture Partnerships

L'ville's Center for Arts and Culture Partnerships seeks interns most years. Last year's deadline was in November, but nothing is listed for 2020 internships yet.

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

A variety of internships are available at the PHMC, located in Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Swarthmore history students have participated in this program in the past. The internships have been suspended due to COVID-19.

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is always looking for volunteers. They also have some internship opportunities. The application deadline has not been updated since the COVID outbreak. ($)

Supreme Court Internship Programs

The Supreme Court is seeking interns! Application deadlines are March 1 for the summer, June 15 for the fall, and October 15 for the spring. The internships have been suspended due to COVID-19.

The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum always welcomes volunteers, but also hires interns all year long. Currently, their operations are suspended due to COVID-19. The spring deadline is December 1, the summer deadline is April 1, and the fall deadline is August 1.($)

Application deadlines have passed:

Center for Jewish History

Located in New York, NY, they have a number of volunteer opportunities available.

Chadds Ford Historical Society

Gain insight on what happens at a small historical society. Take on numerous roles and engage in work catered to your strengths and interests. Apply for an internship with Chadds Ford Historical Society, located south of campus just before the Delaware border. They currently have no openings.

The Friends of the Texas Historical Commission

The Friends of the Texas Historical Commission is looking for interns from Texas. This is a paid internship called the Preservation Scholars Program. Application deadline has passed. ($)

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

A competitive summer scholarship internship program in American history for high school and college students based in New York City. This is a great opportunity to conduct primary-source research and work closely with eminent scholars. History students Madalyn Baldanzi `08 and Kevin Kim '11 have participated in the program. The 2021 application deadline has passed. ($)

American University's Investigative Reporting Workshop

This program is paid and is looking for undergraduates and graduates to be their summer interns. The application deadline for 2021 has passed. ($)

Johns Hopkins University's Center for Talented Youth

Johns Hopkins University's Center for Talented Youth has many opportunities for History students. You can read more on the program and apply. They begin review of new applicants for 2022 in January.

Lower East Side Tenement Museum

Swarthmore history students have participated in this internship program in the past. No internships or deadlines for 2021 are listed.

The Minnesota Historical Society

Internships are available all year round. The application deadline for summer has passed. ($)

Moore Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program

This program, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is designed to help usher students into graduate school. If you think you're interested in pursuing a graduate degree in the humanities, social sciences, or fine arts, this might be an excellent way to introduce you to the rigors or test the waters. The deadline for 2021 has passed ($).

The Mütter Museum

Philadelphia's Mutter Museum has internships, and they are all currently filled.

George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens

Close to Washington, D.C., Mount Vernon hires many interns in archeology and other areas ($) every summer. They also have a Leadership Fellowship ($) with a has passed. Application deadline for the summer has passed.

Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden

Located in New York, this summer fellowship with a modest stipend is open to anyone who is enrolled as a student in spring 2021 and will be enrolled in fall 2021. The deadline is March.

Museum of Jewish Heritage

This museum in NYC has a number of internships and other opportunities throughout the year. Most occur during our semesters. Deadline has passed. ($)

Swarthmore College's National Security Archive Internship

Join recent students who have taken a deep dive into the National Security Archive! Deadline has passed. ($)

New-York Historical Society

The New-York Historical Society hires a variety of interns for the summer. ($)

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

Located in Philadelphia, these internships are targeted for individuals interested in learning the inner workings of a metropolitan museum. They have 10 stipends of $3,000 each this summer. Their application deadline has passed. ($)

Tudor Place Historic House and Garden

The Tudor Place in Washington, D.C., often has internships. No internships are currently available.

White House Fellowship Program

Available only to graduating seniors, the deadline for 2021-2022 has passed.

Funding Opportunities for Research or Internships

Center for Jewish History

Located in New York, NY, these fellowships are targeted at researchers. They have a number of internships available, as well. You can find the application for undergraduate fellowships 2018 here.