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Internship Opportunities

The Western Reserve Historical Society welcomes undergraduate and graduate students to work and learn with our staff.  Internships at WRHS are not just for the History Major, but are also available in all levels of non-profit management. This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience with one of the finest regional historical societies in the country. At this time, all internships available are unpaid. Students may receive college credit for their internships (depending on their individual college programs).

Possible Internship Areas of Focus: Development/Fundraising, Marketing, Sales, Finance, Education, Archival Processing, Facilities and Grounds, Museum Protections Services, Collections Processing/Maintenance, Library Reference, Digital Networking, Website Development and more!  
 

 

High School Senior Service Learning Projects:

Senior Service Projects are available for high school students in spring 2012. Contact volunteer@wrhs.org or call 216-721-5722 x1402 for details. Projects are available at Hale Farm & Village and WRHS in University Circle. Please allow at least 1 month notice prior to your intended start date for Senior Service Learning Project proposals. Plan ahead...there is limited capacity for Senior Service projects. 
 

Public History Experience - Summer 2013

The Summer Internship in Public History offered throughout the Western Reserve Historical Society is ideal for those thinking of entering into or working with: Museum Management, History Majors, Fundraising, Education, Interpretation, Non-profit management, Curatorial, Registrar, Exhibit design/production, Research and other jobs related to Historical Society functions.  All interns participating in this particular internship program attend a two-hour class once a week for 9 weeks learning about the practice of Historical Society operations. The rest of the week is spent working in your chosen environment learning best practices. 
Summer Public History Internships are available at the History Center in University Circle and at Hale Farm & Village in the Cuyahoga Valley.  Please submit a cover letter, resume and the internship application to bcarlino@wrhs.org.  Interviews for the Summer 2013 internship in public history take place in April and May.  The deadline for applications is May 15, 2013. 


          History Center in University Circle: Library/archives, research, registrar, curatorial and museum education
          Hale Farm & Village: Operations and interpretation


Course Topics in the Summer Internship Program:
  • Costumed Interpretation
  • Special Event Planning and Operation
  • Museum Education Programs
  • Site Specific Historic Interpretation
  • Public Programs in Museums
  • Museum Management
  • Grant Writing
  • Historic Preservation of Buildings & Grounds
  • Special Event Planning
  • Outdoor Museum Operations
  • Budgeting
  • Personal Experiences
Please fill out the Internship Applications, attach a resume and cover letter and return to: volunteer@wrhs.org or mail at the following address:
 
Becky Carlino, Associate Director of Development
Western Reserve Historical Society
10825 East Boulevard
Cleveland, Ohio 44106


Crawford's Pit Crew
The staff and volunteers of Crawford Auto Aviation Collection have found a great deal of merit in the old saying “experience is the best teacher”. With this in mind, we have developed a three part program of education, mentorship, and service that will prepare participants to adapt scientific, technological, and engineering advances to meet today’s exciting challenges in antique and classic autos and airplane restoration and preservation.
Job Requirements: Experience with or interest in the Automotive industry, willingness to take direction, willingness to handle automotive parts, a minimum of a one year commitment, a team player is a must. Nights and weekends are a part of this internship.

Other Types of Internships:
Past Interns Have: Written press releases and created ads for WHRS exhibits, Processed archival and photographic collections in the WRHS Library, assisted in the development of new collections policies at the Historical Society, helped build new exhibits and take down old exhibits, assisted in preservation work on WRHS collections, Researched new exhibits, and selected artifacts for those exhibits, assisted in the reorganization of storage areas, helped maintain and update WRHS records , catalogued a decorative-arts collection, assisted in the inventorying of the Chisholm Halle Costume collection, Researched for a new education program, researched for a WRHS publication, and helped write new interpretive labels for WRHS exhibits and artifacts.

 
Particulars:
  • Interns may focus on one particular area of museum work, or they may work in a variety of areas to gain more experience.
  • Internship hours are flexible, from 10-40 hours per week.
  • Museum interns can work from 9-5 Monday through Friday, while Library interns can work Thursday through Saturday. We can work around a your class schedule.
  • Internships are open to students of all academic backgrounds; while a history background is helpful, it is not entirely necessary. What is necessary is a willingness to work, and the ability to shift gears when needed.
  • Prospective interns should note that the Western Reserve Historical Society's ability to host an intern at any one time is dependent on availability of supervisory staff and the student's academic background and record.
  • For students who live in the Akron area, internships are also available at our Hale Farm and Village facility, located in the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. Duties at Hale Farm would entail research for the interpretation program, and assisting in the preservation of the historical structures at the site.

For further information or to request an application, interested students should contact Becky Carlino, Associate Director of Development at volunteer@wrhs.org or by phone (216)721-5722 x1402.