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Internship Opportunities in the Washington, DC Area
The National Archives and Records Administration invites undergraduate and graduate level students to submit applications for our voluntary internship programs:
ARCHIVAL INTERNSHIPS
- Research Support Branch – Physical site is Washington, DC
- Provide public service
Assist staff in answering questions and providing assistance to researchers in the Central
Research Room and Microfilm Reading Room in Washington, DC. Also assist in the
consultants' office by providing guidance and assistance to researchers, answering basic research
questions, referring researchers to the proper reference unit(s), and registering researchers for
research cards.
- Prepare microfilm publications
Assist in the preparation of accessioned microfilm for conversion to a National Archives
microfilm publication. Involves scanning the film to determine its contents and preparing written
descriptions of the pertinent information.
- Initial Processing Division
- Update Navy deck logs database – Physical site is College Park, MD
Using FILEPRO software, update locations and identify information relating to deck logs of
U.S. naval vessels, 1945-61, to reflect move of records to National Archives at College Park.
Special Requirements – Interest in and knowledge of 20th-century U.S. naval history would be
helpful. Prospective interns should be aware that the work is routine in nature.
- Assist archivists in processing new accessions – Physical site is College Park, MD
Provide assistance to staff archivists involved in gaining basic physical and intellectual control
of the large volume of records being accessioned at National Archives at College Park. Assignments include
verification of the nature and content of the records; performance of basic holdings maintenance
functions, such as reboxing and preparation of computer-generated labels; preparation of data
entry forms for the Master Location Register; and in some cases, preparation of box and folder
lists for reference use. The records are from a variety of federal agencies, and specific
assignments would depend upon the workload at the time of the internship.
- Assist archivists during the development and implementation of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Arrangement and Descriptive Database Project –
Physical site is Washington, DC
Provide assistance on an ongoing archival arrangement and description project that seeks to gain better physical and intellectual control over a large group of Immigration and Naturalization Service records. Assignments include performing data capture through direct examination of the records; performance of basic holdings maintenance functions, such as re-boxing and the preparation of computer-generated labels; perfecting arrangement through extensive records inter-filing; and populating the expanding Microsoft Access 97 database.
- Old Military and Civil Records LICON* – Physical site is Washington, DC
- Provide public service: Reference in records of Federal agencies
Assist the staff in providing service to the public by responding to public inquiries by letter, by
telephone, and in person. Specific subject areas include the Civil War; Indian wars; World War
I; the Navy; Indians/Interior Department; social programs; the Supreme Court; DC Government;
New Deal; maritime matters, ships, and shipwrecks; and Labor.
Special Requirements – The intern must have the ability to communicate effectively both orally
and in writing.
- Civilian Records LICON* – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Provide public service: Reference in records of Federal agencies
Assist the archival staff in providing service to the public by 1) responding to public inquiries by
letter, by telephone, and in person, and 2) performing arrangement and description activities on
specific series of archival records. Subject areas concern: most civilian agencies including the
Departments of State, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Labor, Commerce, Energy, Transportation, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and their related agencies.
Special Requirements – The intern must have the ability to communicate effectively both orally
and in writing.
- Assist in developing finding aids for records relating to African Americans
Work on one or more projects aimed at the creation, in electronic form, of finding aids, such as box and folder lists, brief descriptions of correspondence, statements on reports and surveys, and special lists. A number of topical areas are covered by the various projects, including American slavery, the Tuskegee Airmen, Robert C. Weaver, the NAACP during World War II, public housing, and the post-World War II Civil Rights Movement.
- Military Records LICON* – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Provide public service: Reference in records of Federal agencies
Assist the archival staff in providing service to the public by 1) responding to public inquiries by
letter, by telephone, and in person, and 2) performing arrangement and description activities on
specific series of archival records. Subject areas concern: modern (post-1940) military records of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of
Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other military and intelligence agencies.
Special Requirements – The intern must have the ability to communicate effectively both orally
and in writing.
- Center for Legislative Archives – Physical site is Washington, DC
- Assist the staff of the Center in core archival programs
Work with Center staff to provide reference services to Congress, congressional scholars, and
the public. Support the program to describe the historical records of Congress, concentrating on
modern records.
- Special Access/FOIA LICON* – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Provide public service: Reference in records concerning the assassination of President Kennedy.
Assist members of the Access and FOIA Staff in providing service to the public by 1) responding to
public inquiries by letter, by telephone, and in person, and 2) performing arrangement and
description activities on archival records relating to the assassination of President John F.
Kennedy.
Special Requirements – The intern must have the ability to communicate effectively both orally
and in writing.
- Cartographic and Architectural Records Unit – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Assist staff in processing archival projects.
Complete one large or a number of smaller projects involving maps, plans, and aerial photography. Regardless of size, each project will consist of the arrangement and description of the records and the creation of detailed finding aids in electronic form. Some liaison work with our photographic and document conservation laboratories may be necessary. Potential interns should be aware that a significant portion of the assignment will involve holdings maintenance (i.e., refoldering, reboxing, and transferring old identification information to new folders and jackets or into an electronic file).
- Still Picture Processing Team – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Assist staff in processing archival projects.
Complete one large or a number of smaller projects involving graphic and/or photographic
records. Regardless of size, each project will consist of the arrangement and description of the
records and the creation of detailed finding aids in electronic form. Some liaison work with our
photographic laboratory may be necessary. Potential interns should be aware that a significant
portion of the assignment will involve holdings maintenance (i.e., refoldering, reboxing,
rejacketing negatives, and transferring old identification information to new folders and jackets or into an electronic file).
Intern will be working in a modified self-directed work team environment. Part of the experience during the internship will be to actively participate as much as is possible with team members, and learn about how work teams function at NARA. Participation and attendance at regularly scheduled and special team meetings will be a part of the internship experience.
- Center for Electronic Records – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Assist the staff of the Center for Electronic Records in the archival administration of
electronic records.
The Center for Electronic Records is the custodial unit that holds permanently valuable electronic records created by federal agencies. It is located within the Electronic and Special Media Records Services Division. The internship typically involves work in one of the Center functions: accessioning, preservation, description, and reference. Work is usually with databases. An internship depends upon the Center's having an appropriate project for the requested time period. The Center requests receipt of applications two months prior to beginning an internship.
Special Requirements – The intern must have knowledge of archival principles and practices, through experience and/or education, computer skills, and some knowledge of electronic records. The intern should also have a career interest in archives, preferably in electronic records. The Center may ask applicants to supplement their applications with a narrative description of how they meet these requirements.
- Special Media Preservation Laboratory – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Assist the staff in providing photographic services to the Still Picture Branch.
Work in the photographic copy camera, duplication camera, and processing laboratories and
assist staff in the completion of systematic preservation orders. Such orders would include the
preservation of deteriorating original negatives and the copying of original photographs for
which no negative exists.
Special Requirements – The intern should have basic course work or employment experience in
one or more of the following: large-format camera operation, automated film processing, copy
photography, color photography, black-and-white photography, and photographic sensitometry.
- Assist the staff in providing photographic services relating to cartographic and
architectural records.
Work in the photographic/aerial copy camera, duplication camera, and processing laboratories,
and assist cartographic photo staff in the completion of systematic preservation orders. Such
orders would include preservation of deteriorating original negatives and the copying of original
photographs for which no negative exists.
Special Requirements – The intern should have basic course work or employment experience in
one or more of the following: large-format camera operation, automated film processing, copy
photography, color photography, black-and-white photography, and photographic sensitometry.
- Assist the staff in providing duplication and post-production services relating to motion picture, audiotape, and videotape holdings.
Work in the audio- and videotape duplication and post-production labs and assist the recording
staff in the completion of systematic preservation orders.
Special Requirements – The intern should have basic coursework or employment experience in
one or more of the following: real-time audio recording from many different formats, film to
video transfer recording, and video duplication.
- Presidential Materials Staff – Physical site is Washington, DC
- Assist staff with Presidential and Vice-Presidential materials.
Interns will work with Presidential and Vice-Presidential materials on courtesy storage for
eventual transfer to a Presidential library.
- Nixon Presidential Materials Staff – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Provide public service: Reference in Nixon Presidential Materials.
Assist members of the Nixon Presidential Materials Staff in providing reference services to the public about textual and audiovisual materials by mail, by telephone, and in person. The Nixon Presidential Materials Staff provides reference and archival processing on the materials of former President Richard Nixon, which are in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration.
- Archives Library Information Center (ALIC) – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Assist in the development of a variety of reference materials relating to the New Deal Era
The intern will assist the library staff in developing a new web site as well as related educational brochures announcing our newly accessible online collection of Historical Records Survey materials and other Depression-era publications. The web site will relate published library materials on the New Deal era to the primary records in NARA's archival holdings, recently relocated to National Archives at College Park in College Park, on the subject of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration and the New Deal period. The holdings include extensive records on the New Deal's Works Project Administration (WPA). These NARA records relate to New Deal activities of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, Maryland, and records of the New Deal-era planned community of Greenbelt, Maryland. Both Beltsville and Greenbelt are Washington suburbs only minutes away from the National Archives at College Park.
Special Requirements – We are looking for an intern with creative ideas, a firm grounding in the history of the United States during the Depression Era, the ability to communicate both orally and in writing, and an ability, or at least an interest, in developing web-based reference materials.
- Assist in the identification, selection, and organization of Internet resources in order to facilitate their access through the ALIC online library catalog.
The intern will enhance the ALIC online library catalog through the addition of metadata: information to make the searchable catalog more useful to archivists and researchers by links to full-text versions; to biographical materials, to Record Group descriptions. Work with the Systems Librarian to edit data in the library's Cuadra STAR catalog through a careful analysis of the online catalog to locate non-standard entries.
Special Requirements – We are looking for an intern with education and/or experience in library cataloging and/or indexing, as well as an interest in web-based information.
EXHIBITIONS AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH INTERNSHIPS
- Public Programs Division
- Assist in the development of exhibitions – Physical site is Washington, DC
Work with exhibition curators and registrars in the preparation of upcoming exhibitions. Includes opportunities to do secondary, and in some cases primary, research related to upcoming exhibits.
Special Requirements – We welcome applications from creative students interested in providing information to the public about the National Archives and American history. Students must write well. A background in history, political science, museum science, or a related field would be especially valuable.
- Assist in the development of educational programs – Physical site is College Park, MD
Assist in researching and/or writing educational products (in print or digital format) or assisting in the development of film, lecture or dramatic arts programs.
Special Requirements – We welcome applications from creative students interested in providing information to the public about the National Archives and American history. Students must write well and/or have computer or arts production training, as appropriate. A background in history, political science, museum science, or a related field would be especially valuable.
- Product Management Staff – Physical site is Washington, DC
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Assist in the development and/or marketing of publications, both print and electronic
Interns will assist Product Management Staff in compiling materials for publication in print or
electronic media. These materials will appear in Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives,
books, brochures, and catalogs, and on NARA's website. Interns may organize and update information about NARA
publications for easy public access, conduct photo research, or check accuracy of information
destined for publication.
Special Requirements – Students with creative ideas and good organizational and computer skills who wish to
learn about the publications process are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have a firm
grounding in history and an interest in working with photographic images to enhance the written
word.
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Center for Legislative Archives
– Physical site is Washington, DC
- Assist in the development of an educational publication, "Congress and the Shaping of American History."
This educational document resource will dramatize pivotal events and eras in American history. It will provide American high school students the opportunity to learn about the history of their country through the workings of its most diverse and representative branch of government. Featuring realistic, color reproductions of original documents from the records of the House and Senate at the National Archives, "Congress and the Shaping of American History" will bring to life important legislative dramas and issues reflected in our history.
Interns will: a) identify and create lists of documents in House and Senate records on a variety of broad topics; b) conduct secondary research to create topical time lines, historical essays, and biographical sketches of important congressional figures; c) conduct research of contemporary media; d) select images to illustrate historical text.
EDITORIAL INTERNSHIPS
- Office of the Federal Register – Physical site is Washington, DC
- Assist in the cataloging and maintenance of the Office of Federal Register Legal Library
The Office of the Federal Register maintains a library of its own publications, of materials filed
for Incorporation by Reference in the Code of Federal Regulations, and of related materials
necessary or useful for conducting research in the Federal Register system. Assistance is needed
in cataloging the collection, collecting appropriate additional materials for the library, organizing
the collection, and identifying and obtaining missing materials.
- Proofread presidential documents for the Public Papers of the Presidents and the Weekly
Compilation of Presidential Documents.
Each week, dozens of oral and written transcripts of Presidential statements and copies of
materials issued by the White House Press Office are received by the Office of the Federal
Register for editing and publication. These materials are published because of their evidential,
informational, and historical value. The published versions must be perfectly true to the original
documents, and careful proofreading is required.
- Assist in the conversion of the card file of executive orders and proclamations to an
electronic database.
The Office of the Federal Register maintains the only complete catalog of all executive orders
and proclamations issued by the President of the United States. The catalog is maintained in card
format. Because the cards contain information about both the subject of the orders and
proclamations and about existing orders and proclamations that they amend or supersede, this
catalog is a valuable research database. The Office needs assistance in making the database more
accessible through conversion to an electronic format.
- Assist in the receiving and filing of Federal Register documents.
An average of 150 documents are received each day in the Office of the Federal Register for
public inspection and publication in a daily issue of the Federal Register. Before documents can
be put on public inspection, several administrative steps must be undertaken to ensure their
authenticity, their reference in various finding aids, and verification of technical compatibility
with Office publishing systems. Assistance is needed in this daily production effort, which will
expose an intern to the entire spectrum of federal rules, proposed rules, and notices that are
found in the daily issue of the Federal Register.
- Assist in the creation of finding aids for Federal Register publications.
For the information contained in Federal Register publications to be useful, and for researchers
to be able to conduct research on the development of federal regulations, it is necessary that the
Office of the Federal Register develop and maintain adequate finding aids. Significant editorial
assistance is needed to make these finding aids both accurate and timely. An individual working
on finding aids will develop expert knowledge of the federal regulatory system and the
relationship between the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL INTERNSHIPS
- Policy and Planning Staff – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Provide staff support to policy and program analysis projects
Assist in a broad range of policy and program analysis work, including but not limited to:
– Tracking progress on the NARA Strategic Plan
– Participating in ad hoc studies of management controls and audit followup
– Responding to and coordinating with units of NARA on a wide variety of policy initiatives
This position familiarizes the intern with the policy development, coordination, and implementation process at NARA and provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the various programs of the agency nationwide.
Special Requirements – The intern must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Assist in developing administrative and program-related directives.
Assist in drafting and revising internal directives relating to administrative and program procedures. This position will expose interns to the administrative review and analysis process, allow interns to interact with agency officials on a broad range of topics, and challenge interns' oral and written communications skills.
Special Requirements – The intern must have excellent oral and written communications skills.
- Congressional Affairs – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Assist the Congressional Affairs program of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Assist in a variety of the ongoing activities of the unit. Duties include monitoring the Congressional calendar and other online and printed resources for items of interest to
NARA, identifying and tracking legislation of interest to NARA, responding to telephone inquiries, assisting with incoming Congressional correspondence, and attending hearings of interest to NARA.
- Public Affairs – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Assist the Public Affairs program of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Assist in a variety of the ongoing activities at the National Archives facility in College Park, MD, and occasionally the National Archives building in Washington, DC. Duties include administrative and clerical tasks as well as some substantive projects. Support the Public Affairs staff by handling media inquiries and crews filming at NARA and NARA press events.
Special Requirements – An interest in history or public affairs is necessary.
- Facilities Management Branch, and Renovation Project Staff – Physical sites are College Park, MD and Washington, DC
- Assist in Building Management
Assist facilities staff in carrying out a comprehensive facilities management program, particularly the review of contractor performance and inspections of the building for operation of mechanical systems, preventive maintenance program, landscaping and grounds keeping, custodial functions, and safety concerns.
Special Requirements – Potential interns should be majoring in one of the following disciplines: Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, or Industrial Engineering.
- Assist in Renovation Projects.
Assist in major renovation project at the National Archives Building. Assist in obtaining requirements from building occupants, review architectural design and layouts, assist in the oversight of demolition and renovation activities.
Special Requirements – Potential interns should be majoring in one of the following disciplines:
Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, or Industrial Engineering or Construction Management.
- National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC)
– Physical site is Washington, DC
NHPRC internships provide a nationwide overview of historical editing projects and archival programs. Students interested in gaining hands-on experience in humanities/cultural organizations, public policy, and/or communications should apply. Allow four-six weeks for processing.
NHPRC internships are primarily for academic credit. Stipends may be available. Depending on the intern's work schedule, interests and skills, and the current needs of the Commission, interns may be assigned a combination of responsibilities and activities.
- Assist the Commission with communications
Provide support to the NHPRC's communications and public relations efforts. Activities may include production assistance for various communications-related products; writing press releases and other press tools; assisting with marketing and branding printed and electronic materials; and contributing to the newsletter, Annotation, and other regular communications materials of the Commission.
- Assist the Commission with grants management
Provide support for all aspects of the grant making process, including applications, review, data entry, filing, organization and reports management. Tasks may include assisting with editing grant guidelines and application materials; processing incoming grants; reviewing applications for completeness and eligibility; participating in review processes; preparing for Commission meetings and producing related meeting materials; entering grants data into a database; producing award and rejection letters; and generating statistical and narrative reports.
- Assist the Commission with research
Contribute to a variety of projects that further NHPRC programs and initiatives. Activities may include collecting data from primary and secondary sources; compiling bibliographies of sources relevant to the Commission and its constituents; fact checking and database entry in support of various public policy initiatives; analysis of grant data and assessment of grants impact, and preparing written summaries of research for reference briefings, publications, and the NHPRC website.
Special Requirements – The Commission seeks the following qualifications when selecting interns:
- Excellent research, oral, written, and organizational skills;
- Ability to work efficiently both independently and in a team environment;
- familiarity with the Windows environment, MS Office software, data entry and website maintenance
- Office of Human Resources and Information Services – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Serve as Systems Security Assessment Team Member
This position familiarizes the intern with the development and implementation of systems security processes. Assist in broad range of system security procedures, including designing computer systems assessment processes; testing NARA computer system security; testing intrusion detection and prevention technologies; and assisting in preparation system of certifications.
Special Requirements – The intern must be familiar with general systems security concepts, possess strong analytical and research skills, have excellent oral and written communications skills.
- Assist in the development of system testing
This position familiarizes the intern with the development and implementation of systems testing. Assist in design of rigorous system and applications test process guidelines, practices, test plans, and scripts, including testing applications according to guidelines and practices, preparing applications test reports and correction plans.
Special Requirements – The intern must be familiar with general systems security concepts, possess strong analytical and research skills, have excellent oral and written communications skills.
- Assist in usability testing and business process analysis
This position will provide the intern with practical experience in the application of software testing theory. Assist in design of application usability test process and plans, including testing usability of applications in context of business process, preparing applications usability test reports and correction plans, assisting in design or refinement of user interface standards, evaluating COTS applications for compliance with standards and preparing reports of findings.
Special Requirements – The intern must understand software testing theory and phases, be detail oriented, possess strong organizational and writing skills.
- Assist in configuration management support and operations
This position will expose the intern to various aspects of configuration management. Assist in a broad range of configuration management processes, including assisting in design of configuration management plans and operating processes, assisting in operating the configuration management process, assisting in training staff in configuration management practices and process refinements
Special Requirements – The intern must be familiar with usability test methods and heuristic evaluation.
- Assist in desktop software evaluation
This position provides the intern an opportunity to evaluate software and ensure compliance with existing standards, architecture, government requirements, and usability. Assist in desktop software evaluation and application testing, including assisting in the review of potential IT applications for compliance with architecture and standards, researching and evaluating desktop applications for inclusion in applications standards, preparing application assessment reports and implementation plans.
Special Requirements – The intern must understand configuration management theory and methodology used in the management of systems enhancement and software bug fixes, possess strong oral communication skills, exposure to automated configuration management tools and Netware, Microsoft desktop, and Oracle administration is preferred.
- Assist in architecture and technology evaluation support
This position exposes the intern to the requirements and processes that ensure compliance with NARA's IT architecture. Assist in developing technology architecture and standards, frameworks, and reference, including assisting in the review of IT systems designs for compliance with architecture and standards, researching and evaluating key technologies and applications for inclusion into architecture, preparing technology assessment reports and implementation plans.
Special Requirements – The intern must be a detail oriented person with strong research, analytical, and writing skills, familiarity with Novell networks and Microsoft desktops, Excel and Access skills are preferred.
- Assist in electronic records archives lab support (2 positions)
These positions will expose the interns to the challenges to be overcome in establishing NARA's virtual electronic records archives. Assist in establishing the virtual electronic records archives on the Internet and provide technical support for operations of the virtual electronic records archives.
Special Requirements –
- The first position requires
- familiarity with enterprise architectural models (such as the Zachman framework)
- strong research and analytical abilities
- strong written and oral communication skills
- The second position requires
- in-depth experience with web techniques and tools
- excellent oral and written communication skills
- Assist in capital planning and investment control support
This position familiarizes the intern with capital planning and investment control for NARA's IT investments. Assist in monitoring information technology project cost, schedule, technical, and risk performance, including compiling monthly performance statistics and trend analysis, assisting with the development of capital planning and investment control policies.
Special Requirements – The intern must be familiar with techniques of cost-benefit analysis, learned-value analysis, and project scheduling (such as critical path, PERT, etc.), possess strong analytical abilities including statistical analysis, possess strong oral and written communication skills.
- Office of the Inspector General – Physical site is College Park, MD
- Provide support to the Audit and Investigations staffs
Assist members of the Audit staff in conducting analyses and examinations of agency programs
and operations including, but not limited to information resources management, contracting
operations, and management controls. Assist in examination of records, documents, and
interviews, primarily within the agency. Assist in performing administrative duties necessary in
completing audit assignments. May support the Investigations staff in conducting investigations
and investigative surveys. This position will familiarize the intern with federal government
audit and investigations standards and practices.
Special Requirements – The intern must have excellent oral and written communication skills. A
basic knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet computer programs is preferred.
Eligibility | What to Send Us | Where to Send Applications
* Definition of LICON
LICON means a Lifecycle Control unit with intellectual and physical custodianship of records in a cluster, based on subject or medium. Custodianship consists of participating in all phases of the lifecycle of the records in the cluster and serving as the authorized point of contact for the records.
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