Education and Social History Internship (The
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PROJECT SUMMARY
The Education & Social History Intern will support the Interpretation & Education Department at The Glass House, a National Trust Historic Site by conducting original research into the social histories of the property and assisting with in-person interpretive programs. This internship is designed for undergraduate or graduate students in Public History, Museum Studies, American Studies, Architectural / Art History, or related fields who are interested in historic interpretation, informal learning environments, and research-driven storytelling.
The Intern will conduct research using primary and secondary sources (visiting archives both at The Glass House and in other locations) to produce a report on the uses of the site as both the home of Philip Johnson and his life partner David Whitney, and as a gathering space for creatives. The Intern will also assist in the delivery of educational and interpretive programs onsite, learning how practical research informs public presentations.
National Trust internships are temporary experiential learning opportunities with no expectation of employment at the conclusion of the internship.
For this internship, the National Trust is offering a stipend of $4,000 to help offset expenses. The period of the internship would be from approximately June 1 – July 24, for approximately 28 hours per week (some flexibility of schedule available).
DUTIES
- Conduct primary and secondary source research into the social history of The Glass House, with a particular focus on the domestic lives of Philip Johnson and David Whitney as well as the network of creatives who they hosted.
- Work with archival materials, oral histories, institutional records, and published scholarship to support interpretation.
- Translate research findings into an interpretive summary, comprising key findings, tentative themes, and directions for future research.
- Assist with the delivery of education programs for K–12, undergraduate, and adult learners.
- Co-lead interpretive tours or informal learning activities after appropriate training.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE TO THE INTERN
The intern will gain experience under the mentorship of respected preservation and museum professionals, in an educational setting at one of the nation’s leading arts & cultural and non-profit advocacy organizations. The intern will also have the opportunity to participate in educational programming offered via the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s organization-wide internship program. Students may also be eligible for college or graduate school academic credit at the discretion of their institution.
Specifically, the intern will gain knowledge in the following areas:
- Public history and museum interpretation
- Research methodologies for historic sites
- Educational program design and facilitation
- Translating scholarly research into public-facing narratives
- The principles and techniques of dialogic interpretation
By the end of the internship, the intern will have contributed to live education programs and produced original research outputs suitable for inclusion in a professional portfolio.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s level studies (or equivalent years of experience) required; current or rising juniors, seniors or graduate students preferred. Studies or demonstrated interest in Public History, Museum Studies, Art History, or American Studies preferred.
- Experience with public speaking or in program facilitation preferred.
- Experience with or coursework in archival research preferred.
- Basic analytical and problem-solving skills, including issue identification and prioritization. Basic project-organization skills.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to collaborate and achieve results with supervision, including ability to interact professionally with key internal and external stakeholders as needed. Public contact and ability to work successfully in close proximity to others required.
- Strong organizational skills required, with ability to prioritize, multi-task efficiently, and meet deadlines in a timely fashion
- Ability to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic work environment. Ability to work effectively with frequent interruptions required. Able to handle frequently changing and/or unscheduled tasks with accuracy.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills. Friendly and professional demeanor on the phone and in writing, with ability to speak and write clearly in English. Bi-lingual language skills are a plus.
- Ability to work effectively with culturally diverse colleagues; connections to or experience helping to engage culturally diverse audiences and partners a plus. Bi-lingual language skills (especially English/Spanish) a plus.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office products required, including Outlook, Word and Excel.
- Ability to work effectively in a remote environment, maintaining productivity and communications to meet deadlines and goals is required.
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