The Tricia Smelter ’71 Internship in Special Collections and College Archives is designed to link conservation with exhibit curation. The intern will be introduced to conservation skills. Projects may include the conservation of rare books, mending paper, and housing artifacts; encapsulation of posters and maps; and creation of exhibit mounts.
The intern will research and curate an exhibit using items selected from Special Collections and College Archives to be mounted in the Special Collections Reading Room. The size and timeline of the exhibit will be determined during the course of the Fall semester.
Training is given onsite. Experience is not required. This internship is open to all students from all majors.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Conservation
- Learn best practices in materials handling and housing historic materials
- Identify the conservation needs of unique materials and determine conservation and storage solutions
- Prepare materials for exhibit, which may involve cleaning, mending, and creating mounts under the supervision of the Conservator
Curatorial
- Engage in research and planning of an exhibit
- Learn and practice storytelling through exhibit writing for the public
- Study exhibition design and construction, create storyboards to visually plan exhibit
REQUIRED SKILLS:
- Must be dependable, detail-oriented, and organized with the ability to manage time
- Have a demonstrated interest in research and handling historic materials
- Have a proven ability to gather, analyze, and interpret historical information
- Have good hand skills and demonstrate care when interacting with collection materials
- Intern must be able work independently and finish tasks
Application Process: Applications accepted through Handshake only.
The search begins in March 17, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Center for Career Engagement for guidance on effective resumes and cover letters.
- Submit a copy of your resume including past work or volunteer experience
- Submit a letter indicating your specific interests in this internship including work and academic experiences. No experience is required for this internship, but please include any hands-on or observational experience you have had in collections care and any experience you may have had with exhibit research, design, or curation.
- Include the name and contact information of one reference who can speak to your research, organizational, and communication skills.
- All completed application materials submitted through Handshake on or before the deadline will be evaluated by Special Collections and College Archives search committee members.
- Potential candidates will be selected from all applicants for interviews.
- Interviews will take place April 14-18, 2025 and our intern will be selected from those invited for interviews.
Application Deadline: Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 11:59 PM. For questions, please contact Amy Lucadamo, College Archivist, alucadam@gettysburg.edu; Mary Wootton, mwootton@gettysburg.edu; or drop by Special Collections (4th floor, Musselman Library.)
EVALUATION PROCESS: The intern will participate in a mid-semester check-in and end-of-semester performance review with the Department Head.
Musselman Library Diversity and Inclusion Statement
Musselman Library is committed to creating, through our learning spaces, programs, services, collections, and policies, an environment that supports, values, and respects everyone in the Gettysburg College community. At Gettysburg, diversity includes but is not limited to age, country of origin, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, geography, learning differences, political beliefs, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic level.