Museum Education Internship: Community and Culture

Description

Organizational Department: Education

Project Season: Summer 2025

Program Duration: June 6 – July 31, 2025

Application Posting: May 19, 2025

Application Deadline: Thursday, May 29, 2025 @ 5pm

About the Historic New Orleans Collection

Established in 1966, the Historic New Orleans Collection builds on the collection and vision of our founders, Kemper and Leila Williams. We produce award-winning exhibitions, public programs, books, and multimedia. In keeping with our founders’ wish to make New Orleans and Gulf South history accessible to the public, admission is free. Researchers and history lovers can explore our million-plus holdings onsite, for free, at the Williams Research Center. 

Internship Program Mission Statement 

The Historic New Orleans Collection’s Internship Program offers students and emerging public history professionals a unique opportunity to engage with collections that represent the creative heritage and rich history of Louisiana. HNOC internships foster experiential learning through exploration, inquiry, and practice. We aim to create an environment that enables interns to identify, actualize, and confidently pursue their academic and professional goals.

Project Description:

The Museum Education Internship: Community and Culture Project offers an immersive and hands-on experience for students interested in community engagement, cultural heritage, and museum education. This internship is uniquely designed to support the Central City community by focusing on the historical significance of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, a pivotal commercial corridor known for its rich cultural legacy and vibrant local life. Throughout this internship, participants will collaborate closely with the Oretha Castle Haley Merchants & Business Association (OCHMBA) to create a dynamic virtual map using Google My Maps. This interactive resource will not only highlight key landmarks along the boulevard but will also serve as a platform for storytelling, showcasing both well-known and overlooked narratives that contribute to the identity of Central City.

Project Format:

This is an 8-week hybrid placement. The intern will be expected to report physically to the Historic New Orleans Collection French Quarter campus a minimum of 10 hours/week and will also be expected to complete assigned tasks remotely.

Requirements

The intern will: 

• engage in archival research at the Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC), examining historic newspapers and documents to gather relevant data about the history of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard
• identify significant landmarks and collect firsthand accounts that enrich the historical narrative
• demonstrate proficiency in conducting archival research and utilizing primary sources,
• effectively collaborate with community members to gather and interpret historical narratives
• articulate the historical significance of Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard within the broader context of New Orleans’ cultural landscape
• reflect critically on their experiences in community engagement and museum education practices

Candidacy Requirements: 

• Qualified candidates are students academically classified as rising undergraduate juniors or seniors or graduate students enrolled in a Louisiana-based college/university. Recent Spring 2025 graduates may also apply.
• Students majoring in History, Anthropology, Urban Studies, Communication Studies, or other related Social Science and Humanities disciplines are encouraged to apply
• Candidates should possess basic computer skills. 
• Experience in scholarly research and writing is mandatory.
• An interest in collections/registration work is preferable.