Work Study History Internships Jobs in California

Description
The California Department of Parks and Recreation's is seeking to hire one Student Assistant. The purpose of this internship is to provide the intern with hands-on experience in museum registration, archival collections, and museum exhibition development at Sonoma State Historic Park. The intern will gain practical skills through training, mentorship, and direct experience working with archival and museum collections under the guidance of State Park curators and interpreters.
Requirements
Conditions of
Employment
This is a part-time, temporary, non-benefited, student position. Employment in all positions with University Enterprises, Inc. is dependent upon the mutual consent of University Enterprises, Inc. and the employee. This means that either University Enterprises, Inc. or the employee can, at any time, terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause.
Depending on the type of position you are applying for, a pre-employment background check consisting of one or more of the following may be conducted: employment history, professional references, criminal check: educational verification (degree, license, or official transcript) or DMV clearance. Applicants will be required to pass required pre-employment checks to the satisfaction of University Enterprises, Inc. (UEI) and the hiring Agency or Department.
UEI does not allow students to hold more than one UEI Job at a time or work in more than one account per pay period. UEI employees who are considering leaving their current UEI student assistant position for a different UEI student assistant position should inform their supervisor in writing and provide at least a week's notice.
UEI is not a multi-state employer. UEI only employs candidates who live and work in the state of California. If selected for the position you must reside in California and all work must be performed in the state of California throughout the course of employment.
Prerequisites
Must be a college student attending classes during the regular term (Fall, Spring and Winter, if applicable), at one of the accredited colleges or universities on our affiliation list. To view our current affiliation list please paste the following URL into your browser: http://www.calinterns.org/wp-content/uploads/Affiliation_List.pdf
Students must be enrolled in at least: six-semester units or nine quarter units for undergraduate students; four-semester units or six quarter units for graduate students.
Students declared major must match the major(s) listed in the job posting.
Majors/Fields of Study
Library and Information Science, Archival Studies, Curatorial Studies, Digital Archives Specialist, Digital Humanities, Information Technology, Information Science and Data Analytics, Records Management, Communications, History, Public/Applied History, Anthropology, American History, American Government and Politics, American Studies, History Education, Ethnic Studies, Museum Studies, Digital Humanities and Textual Studies, or a closely related field.
Work Schedule
Flexible workdays and work hours, Monday - Friday, between 8 AM - 5 PM. The final work schedule will be determined by the supervisor. The internship is based on-site at the Sonoma State Historic Park, Sonoma Barracks. Hours and duration can be adjusted to align with academic schedules or credit requirements.
Additional Work Schedule
Student Assistant and Graduate Assistant employees generally work up to 24 hours per workweek (Sunday - Saturday) during the academic year and up to 40 hours per workweek during breaks; (winter, spring, and summer).
Compensation
$17.00 per hour.
Minimum Qualifications

• Basic computer proficiency, including familiarity with Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and Access.
• Basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop.
• Willingness to learn proper scanning, digitization, and file management techniques.
• Willingness to learn and use The Museum System (TMS), the collections management system used by California State Parks.
• Ability to follow instructions, learn new procedures, and work independently.
• Willingness and ability to successfully complete all required training.
• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain positive working relationships with park staff.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to communicate and provide accurate information in a friendly, professional, and positive manner.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in California history, museum collections, and/or archival materials.
• Desire to develop practical experience working with historical collections.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Accession historical documents, photographs, and other collection materials.
• Scan and digitize historical documents and images according to established protocols.
• Assign catalog numbers and enter collection data into The Museum System (TMS).
• Conduct historical research related to photographs, documents, and other collection materials.
• Identify and research "hidden histories" within the collection for potential public interpretation.
• Develop social media content highlighting selected "hidden histories."
• Write brief biographical sketches and collection introductions as needed.
• Assist with collections management, including proper storage, labeling, identification, and handling of collection materials.
• Monitor and record environmental conditions, including temperature and humidity.
• Identify collection materials that may require conservation and bring them to the attention of appropriate staff.
• Research, plan, and develop museum exhibits.
• Assist researchers and respond to research inquiries by phone, email, or in person.
• Complete a 10-15-minute capstone video presentation highlighting the internship experience and work completed.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission of California State Parks.

Physical Requirements
Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment including computer workstations, telephones, calculators, copiers, printers, and scanners with or without reasonable accommodation. May require occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, or lifting as part of duties.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in a office and museum environment.
Comfortable working indoors in a historic building and archival environment. Able to work carefully and safely with historical documents, photographs, and other archival materials. Able to maintain a clean, organized workspace and follow established collections care and handling procedures.
Application Instructions
Please complete all fields of the employment application. Include your educational history in the "Educational Experience" section and any employment history in the "Employment Experience" section of our application.
In addition to your application, please upload the following documents:

• Cover letter
• Three (3) examples of your work related to the duties and responsibilities listed above.

Apply by: August 31, 2026