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Museum Archivist Intern Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

The intern will gain a better understanding of professional archival work, through hands-on ... Demonstrated interest in archives, public history, or museum studies. * Experience using Microsoft ...

Museum Archivist Intern information

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a museum archivist intern?

To thrive as a Museum Archivist Intern, you need a background in history, library science, or archival studies, often supported by coursework or relevant internships. Familiarity with archival management systems, digitization tools, and cataloging software is typically required. Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and effective communication distinguish top candidates in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for accurately preserving, organizing, and providing access to valuable museum collections.

What is a museum archivist intern?

Museum Archivist Interns are individuals, often students or recent graduates, who assist professional archivists in organizing, preserving, and cataloging historical documents, artifacts, and records within a museum setting. Their responsibilities may include digitizing materials, maintaining databases, conducting research, and helping with exhibitions. This internship provides hands-on experience in archival practices and museum operations, making it an excellent opportunity for those interested in museum studies or archival science. Interns gain valuable skills in handling delicate materials and understanding the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

What is the difference between Museum Archivist Intern vs Museum Curator?

AspectMuseum Archivist InternMuseum Curator
Required CredentialsEnrolled in or recent graduate of library science, history, or related fieldsBachelor's or master's degree in history, museum studies, or related fields
Work EnvironmentInternship setting within museums or archives, often part-timeFull-time professional role managing collections and exhibitions
Employer & Industry UsageMuseums, archives, cultural institutionsMuseums, galleries, cultural institutions
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level roles in museum archivesLearning about professional roles in museum management

The Museum Archivist Intern typically is an entry-level position focused on assisting with archival tasks, requiring relevant coursework or recent graduation. In contrast, a Museum Curator is a professional role responsible for managing collections, exhibitions, and research. The intern role offers hands-on experience, while the curator role involves more responsibility and expertise in museum operations.

What projects or tasks can a museum archivist intern expect to work on during their internship?

As a Museum Archivist Intern, you can expect to be involved in a variety of tasks such as cataloging and organizing archival materials, digitizing documents and photographs, and assisting with the preservation of fragile items. Interns often help create finding aids or inventories that improve accessibility for researchers and staff. You may also support exhibitions or educational programs by locating relevant archival materials, and will likely collaborate closely with archivists, curators, and other museum professionals. This hands-on experience provides valuable insight into archival best practices and museum operations.
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Infographic showing various Museum Archivist Intern job openings in Rochester, NY as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 52% Part Time, and 48% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Archives Intern

Strong National Museum

Rochester, NY • On-site

$20/hr

Part-time

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

The Strong seeks a current graduate or undergraduate student intern to process, arrange, and describe the Michael Shorrock papers and digitize VHS cassettes from the 1UP collection. The intern will gain a better understanding of professional archival work, through hands-on experience in archival processing, preservation techniques, and familiarization with archival management software. There is a paid stipend associated with this internship, made possible through a grant from the Rochester Regional Library Council.

The archival processing intern will process 3.0 linear feet of audiovisual materials, game design documentation, and artwork of Michael Shorrock, a video game producer and executive who has worked at Broderbund Software, Sega of America, Leap Frog, Sony Computer Entertainment America. Shorrock also ran Interactive Game Studios for IGT and currently consults on game development and educational technology. The intern will also digitize 15 VHS cassettes of video game event coverage such as the Gaming Summit, E3 conference, Computer Gaming World Awards, and more. The intern will perform an initial inventory of the Michael Shorrock papers; create a processing plan; physically arrange and re-house materials; perform preservation tasks; and describe the collection using ArchivesSpace. The intern will digitize, create metadata, and upload the 15 cassettes to Preservica.

Requirements:

  • Candidate must be enrolled in an accredited university graduate or undergraduate program and in an associated internship/practicum. This intern must fully adhere to all requirements for credit-bearing internships, including specific procedures which may be required by the intern’s college/university.
  • Candidate must work well in a team setting, be reliable, flexible, organized, and self-motivated.
  • Candidate must have strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Candidate must consent to a criminal background check and a drug screen.

Recommended skills:

  • Familiarity with basic archival theory.
  • Demonstrated interest in archives, public history, or museum studies.
  • Experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.
  • Prior experience with archival processing.

Pre-Internship Requirements:

Must consent to and pass a drug screen and criminal background check as conditions of the internship.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

The Strong is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of The Strong to provide equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to gender, sexual preference, age, race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, disability, military, or marital status. This policy of nondiscrimination applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including but not limited to recruitment, selection, advancement, compensation, benefits, layoff, recall, transfer, and termination.