Esther Kenyon Fortenbaugh Internship

Esther Kenyon Fortenbaugh Internship

Special Collections/Musselman Library

Fall Semester 2010

The Special Collections Department of Musselman Library invites undergraduates to submit applications for the Esther Kenyon Fortenbaugh Spring or Fall Internship.  While this internship is open to all students regardless of major, it offers exceptional opportunities to students of history or related disciplines who wish to gain firsthand experience in archives and history-related work (historical agencies, museums). 

Special Collections consists of a variety of materials including rare books, letters, diaries, college publications, photographs, historic maps, memorabilia, oral histories and audio and videotapes.  It is the home of the Gettysburg College Archives, which includes documents related to the history of the College.  Special Collections has an exceptional collection of Civil War materials and local history as well as notable named collections including the Stephen H. Warner Southeast Asia Photograph Collection, the Stuckenberg Map Collection and the Asian Art Collection.

The Esther Kenyon Fortenbaugh Intern should expect to spend eight hours per week in Special Collections when classes are in session.  This internship carries a stipend ($8.00 per hour, 8 hours per week, 15 weeks).  The Special Collections staff will make every effort to tailor the internship duties to the talents and interests of the intern.  A few examples of the kinds of work an intern might engage in:

• Assist in processing new accessions:  involves gaining basic physical and intellectual control of College records or manuscript collections, preparing finding aids and indices.
• Assist in the development of exhibitions:  conducting primary and secondary research related to exhibits, learning exhibit techniques, mounting an exhibit, and assisting in curatorial duties.
• Assist in collection of metadata for digital projects.
• Assist reference archivists:  providing reference service on textual and audio-visual materials to patrons by mail, by telephone, by e-mail, and in person.

To apply, submit a letter indicating your interest in this position, your educational goals, any relevant courses, and the name of your references.  Please be specific about why you would like to be an intern in Special Collections.   The application deadline will be announced in the spring of 2010.  Please submit to:  Karen Dupell Drickamer, Director of Special Collections and College Archivist, Musselman Library, Box 420.  If you have any questions please send an e-mail to kdrickam@gettysburg.edu.