Internship Program

Archival Collections Management Intern

Department: Gilder Lehrman Collection 
Internship Term: September 2, 2025–May 29, 2026
Hours per Week: 10
Student Type: Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Work Location: Hybrid (in person and remote)

Internship Description

The Gilder Lehrman Collection is an archive of more than 87,000 items that cover 500 years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to the modern era. Students, teachers, and other members of the public can license the use of images of items in the Collection.

In support of the Gilder Lehrman Collection, the Archival Collections Management Intern will perform the following:

• Support the Assistant Curator with tracking incoming and outgoing museum loans
• Update loan requests, file loan paperwork, rehouse materials, and check in new acquisitions
• Maintain lesson plan catalog
• Assist with archival inventory
• Create reports on loan activities

Desired Skills

• Required: In-person work on Wednesdays at the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s NYC midtown office (Manhattan) and art storage facilities (located near public transit in Brooklyn and Queens)
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Strong communication skills
• Experience with database systems preferred
• Interest in American history and a career in archives/museums preferred

Skills to Be Developed

• Collections care, exhibition transport, and digital asset management
• Argus collection management system, Asana project management software

Apply

Cataloging Intern

Department: Gilder Lehrman Collection
Internship Term: September 2, 2025–May 29, 2026
Hours per Week: 20
Student Type: Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Work Location: Hybrid (in-person and remote)

Internship Description

The Gilder Lehrman Collection is an archive of more than 87,000 items that cover 500 years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to the modern era. Students, teachers, and other members of the public can license the use of images of items in the Collection.

In support of the Gilder Lehrman Collection, the Cataloging Intern will perform the following:

• Review images of archival materials
• Create records in the Argus collection management system
• Manage database records
• Track item locations
• Review and update metadata on cataloged items

Desired Skills

• Required: In-person work on Wednesdays at the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s NYC midtown office
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Attention to detail
• Experience with a cataloging database is a plus

Skills to Be Developed

• Archival database management
• Metadata usage and tracking
• Argus collection management system

Apply

Curatorial Intern

Department: Gilder Lehrman Collection
Internship Term: September 2, 2025–May 29, 2026 
Hours per Week: 20
Student Type: Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Work Location: Remote

Internship Description

The Gilder Lehrman Collection is an archive of more than 87,000 items that cover 500 years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to the modern era. Students, teachers, and other members of the public can license the use of images of items in the Collection.

In support of the Gilder Lehrman Collection, the Curatorial Intern will perform the following:

• Assist with the creation of traveling and digital exhibitions
• Transcribe handwritten documents
• Conduct background research on historical documents to create a contextual introduction for the general public
• Add resources to the website
• Manage and record information in the Argus collection management system

Desired Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience with digital exhibition platforms is a plus (ex., StoryMap)
• Familiarity with copyright permission processes is a plus (fair use, public domain, Creative Commons, etc.)
• Interest in American history is a plus

Skills to Be Developed

• Primary resource research
• Writing for public consumption
• Digital and traveling exhibition creation
• Record management for archives and museums
• Argus collection management system

Apply

Curatorial Outreach Intern

Department: Gilder Lehrman Collection
Internship Term: September 2, 2025–May 29, 2026 
Hours per Week: 20
Student Type: Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Work Location: Hybrid (in-person and remote)

Internship Description

The Gilder Lehrman Collection is an archive of more than 87,000 items that cover 500 years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to the modern era. Students, teachers, and other members of the public can license the use of images of items in the Collection. 

In support of the Gilder Lehrman Collection, the Curatorial Outreach Intern will perform the following:

• Assist researchers who request copies of Collection items
• Use the Argus collection management system to review the availability of images for patrons
• Review and process incoming requests for traveling exhibitions
• Coordinate with venues regarding supplemental materials, condition reports, and post-exhibition surveys
• Assist with shipments of the exhibitions
• Inspect exhibitions and create condition reports
• Review and organize the archive of traveling exhibitions files, including creating detailed reports of all exhibitions (images, copyright permissions, labels, checklists, and funding)
• Update the exhibition venue rental and sales map monthly using ArcGis, an online mapping program.
• Review exhibition rental surveys and prepare a monthly summary report 

Desired Skills

• Required: In-person work on Wednesdays at the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s NYC midtown office
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Attention to detail
• Strong time management

Skills to Be Developed

• Image rights and traveling exhibition management
• Customer service skills
• Salesforce database, website management, and Argus collection management system

Apply

Curatorial Programs Intern

Department: Gilder Lehrman Collection
Internship Term: September 2, 2025–May 29, 2026 
Hours per Week: 10
Student Type: Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Work Location: Remote

Internship Description

The Gilder Lehrman Collection is an archive of more than 87,000 items that cover 500 years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to the modern era. Students, teachers, and other members of the public can license the use of images of items in the Collection. 

In support of the Gilder Lehrman Collection, the Curatorial Programs Intern will perform the following:

• Assist with managing Inside the Vault, a monthly online public program that highlights unique archival materials from the Gilder Lehrman Collection
• Collaborate with curators and the guest historian to create slide decks for each program
• Research archival images and create formatted citations using the GLI style guide
• Moderate Zoom chats and assist with technical troubleshooting as needed during live programs
• Update and review the GLI website with program information and video recordings
• Update the Argus collection management system with program information
• Gather attendance statistics and prepare program reports
• Create professional development certificates for attendees
• Monitor the program email inbox and respond to inquiries in a timely manner

Desired Skills

• Required: Availability on the first Thursday of each month, 6:45 p.m.–8:00 p.m. ET, and availability for a minimum of two hours on the first Friday of each month. 
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Attention to detail
• Strong time management
• Basic knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style
• Experience with Canva and database systems is a plus
• Degree or pursuing degree in history, public history, museum studies, or related field preferred

Skills to Be Developed

• Managing public programs from conception to post-production
• Writing for public consumption
• Customer service with guest speakers and attendees
• Argus collection management system, Salesforce database, Asana project management software, and other website management software

Apply

Digital Imaging Intern

Department: Gilder Lehrman Collection
Internship Term: September 2, 2025–May 29, 2026
Hours per Week: 20
Student Type: Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Work Location: Hybrid (in person and remote)

Internship Description

The Gilder Lehrman Collection is an archive of more than 87,000 items that cover 500 years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to the modern era. Students, teachers, and other members of the public can license the use of images of items in the Collection.

In support of the Gilder Lehrman Collection, the Digital Imaging Intern will perform the following:

• Scan and process images of archival materials in Adobe Photoshop
• Manage archival database records using Argus collection management software
• Catalog archival items and track item locations       
• Attach images to catalog records in collection management software, and save high-resolution copies of the scanned images on the shared computer server

Desired Skills

• Required: In-person work on Wednesdays at the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s NYC midtown office
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Attention to detail
• Strong time management

Skills to Be Developed

• Digitization of archival materials, archival database record management, basic cataloging, and item location tracking
• Adobe Photoshop, Argus collection management system

Apply

Graphic Design Intern

Department: Marketing
Internship Term: September 2, 2025–May 29, 2026
Hours per Week: 10
Student Type: Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Work Location: Remote

Internship Description

The Marketing Department ensures that teachers, students, and the general public learn about the Gilder Lehrman Institute’s wide variety of programs and events.

In support of the Marketing Department, the Graphic Design Intern will perform the following:

• Create original, compelling, and eye-catching designs for social media, email campaign templates, and products for the Gilder Lehrman History Shop
• Bring a fresh look to the Institute’s branding and an understanding of how to use design to make an organization’s resources and programs stand out in a crowded and competitive marketplace (in this case, the K–12 education sphere)

Desired Skills

• Graphic design experience
• Canva and Adobe Creative Cloud

Skills to Be Developed

• The use of creative graphic design and messaging to build market share and brand awareness

Apply

Lesson Plan Intern

Department: Educational Programs
Internship Term: September 2, 2025–May 29, 2026
Hours per Week: 10
Student Type: Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Work Location: Remote

Internship Description

The Educational Programs Department creates lesson plans for elementary and secondary school students that cover a wide range of topics and time periods. An example would be a lesson plan from the Veterans Legacy Program, which uses letters from four American wars to help students reflect on the shared experiences of American Veterans.

In support of the Educational Programs Department, the Lesson Plan Intern will perform the following:

• Work with GLI Program Managers to contact historians, writers, and graphic designers
• Manage deadlines and deliverables for lessons
• Join meetings concerning both pedagogical review and program management
• Obtain and record rights and permissions information for all materials used
• Additional research or graphic design work based on the intern’s interest

Desired Skills

• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Working knowledge of Google Suite
• Basic knowledge of the Chicago Manual of Style, APA style, and MLA format
• Interest in American history education
• Familiarity with copyright permissions processes (fair use, public domain, Creative Commons, etc.) is a plus
• Familiarity with Adobe InDesign is a plus

Skills to Be Developed

• How to develop pedagogical materials for elementary and secondary students
• Project management and how to use copyrighted materials
• Experience working with historians and educators
• Adobe InDesign

Apply

MA Program and Self-Paced Courses Intern

Department: MA Program
Internship Term: September 2, 2025–May 29, 2026
Hours per Week: 15
Student Type: Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Work Location: Remote

Internship Description

The Gilder Lehrman Institute partners with Gettysburg College to offer a master’s degree in American history. It is an online, fully accredited, 30-credit degree program.

GLI also offers more than fifty Self-Paced Courses that are graduate-level seminars led by the nation’s top historians.

In support of these programs, the MA Program and Self-Paced Courses Intern will perform the following:

• Facilitate Q&A sessions with MA students held over Zoom
• Format syllabi, slides, and other materials for use in MA courses
• Answer inquiries from current and prospective students
• Adapt lectures from MA program courses into Self-Paced Courses in GLI’s learning management system
• Collect feedback from users to improve courses

Desired Skills

• Familiarity with learning management systems
• Attention to detail
• Excellent customer service skills
• Interest in teaching or pursuing an education-based career

Skills to Be Developed

• Facilitating Q&A sessions
• TalentLMS learning management system, Salesforce database

Apply

Nonprofit Accounting and Human Resources Intern

Department: Finance and Human Resources
Internship Term: September 2, 2025–May 29, 2026
Hours per Week: 15
Student Type: Undergraduate or Graduate Student
Work Location: Remote

Internship Description:

The Finance Department manages the accounting and human resources of a dynamic nonprofit organization. 

In support of the Finance Department, the intern will perform the following duties:

• Assist with accounts payable and receivable, investment reporting, and file maintenance
• Assist with human resources administration and reporting
• Take part in special projects as needed

Desired Skills

• Attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Microsoft Excel
• Major in accounting is a plus but not required
• QuickBooks experience is a plus but not required

Skills to Be Developed

• Nonprofit financial and human resources management
• Project collaboration and professional-level communication                                                                
• QuickBooks accounting software, Salesforce database, ClickTime timesheet management system

Apply