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Public History Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Strong National Museum

Archives Intern

Rochester, NY · On-site

$20/hr

Demonstrated interest in archives, public history, or museum studies. * Experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, etc. * Prior experience with archival processing. Pre-Internship Requirements: Must ...

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$27.6K

$106.1K

$182K

How much do public history jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for public history in Rochester, NY is $106,100.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,500.00 and $132,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a public history?

A Public History job involves applying historical research and interpretation outside of traditional academic settings. Public historians work in museums, archives, historic sites, government agencies, and nonprofits, helping to preserve and communicate history to the public. Their tasks may include curating exhibits, managing collections, conducting oral histories, or developing educational programs. Public historians also contribute to historic preservation, policy advising, and digital history projects. The field bridges scholarly research with public engagement, making history accessible and relevant to diverse audiences.

What are typical daily responsibilities for someone working in public history?

Professionals in public history often engage in researching and interpreting historical topics, developing exhibits or educational programs, and curating collections for museums or historic sites. You may work on gathering oral histories, digitizing archival materials, or leading public tours and community events. Collaboration is common with curators, educators, researchers, and volunteers to ensure accurate and engaging public presentations. The role is both intellectually stimulating and highly interactive, often involving outreach to engage diverse community groups. As a result, public historians play a vital role in making history accessible and relevant beyond academic settings.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in public history, and why are they important?

To thrive in Public History, you need a solid understanding of historical research methods, public engagement strategies, and often a relevant degree such as public history, museum studies, or archival science. Familiarity with digital archives, collections management software, and interpretive exhibit tools is frequently required. Outstanding communication, collaboration, and project management abilities help professionals share history effectively with diverse audiences. These skills ensure accurate historical interpretation, engaging educational experiences, and successful outreach in museum, archival, or cultural heritage settings.

How to get a job in public history?

To get a job in public history, candidates typically need a relevant degree such as a master's in history, public history, or a related field. Gaining experience through internships, volunteering, or working at museums, archives, or historic sites is important, along with developing skills in research, communication, and public engagement. Familiarity with digital tools and strong writing abilities can also enhance job prospects in this field.

Is a public history degree worth it?

A public history degree prepares individuals for careers in museums, archives, and cultural organizations by developing skills in research, interpretation, and public engagement. While job prospects can vary, the degree can enhance employability in these fields, especially when combined with internships or practical experience.

What can you do with a public history degree?

A public history degree prepares individuals for careers in museums, archives, historic preservation, and cultural resource management. Graduates often work as museum curators, historic site managers, archivists, or public educators, utilizing research, communication, and preservation skills in various settings.

What does a public history do?

A public historian applies historical knowledge to engage the public through museums, archives, historic sites, and community programs. They research, interpret, and communicate history to diverse audiences, often using storytelling, exhibits, and educational activities to make history accessible and relevant.

What are the most commonly searched types of Public History jobs in Rochester, NY?

The most popular types of Public History jobs in Rochester, NY are:

What are popular job titles related to Public History jobs in Rochester, NY?

For Public History jobs in Rochester, NY, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Public History jobs in Rochester, NY look for?

The top searched job categories for Public History jobs in Rochester, NY are:

What cities near Rochester, NY are hiring for Public History jobs?

Cities near Rochester, NY with the most Public History job openings:

Public History jobs near you
Infographic showing various Public History job openings in Rochester, NY as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 52% Full Time, and 48% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $106,100 per year, or $51 per hour.

Archives Intern

Strong National Museum

Rochester, NY • On-site

$20/hr

Part-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

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 and must receive college credit for this internship. 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.