As we approach the spring semester, I wanted to distribute some information regarding internship opportunities. For anyone who may not have been aware, you can earn up to 3 hours of course credit toward your degree by interning with a history organization during any school term (including during the summer). You can earn 3 credits by securing an internship, enrolling in the internship course, working 135 total hours (or 9 hours a week over a 15-week semester) during the enrollment term, and completing a set of public-history readings and an essay outlining your work experience. Below you will find internship opportunities that are either ongoing or are new this year, but it’s by no means an exhaustive list. If you want to discuss the possibilities of working with the organizations listed below or someplace else entirely (including remotely), please reach out.
National Park Service, Historic Architecture and Landscape Intern (paid, full-time):
This is an opportunity to work with the National Park Service here in Omaha, and it includes working alongside the state historic preservation office and other local and regional public history organizations. This internship pays $24 an hour. This is as good of a public-history internship opportunity as you'll find in and around Omaha. Applications are due October 29.
UNO Criss Library Archives and Special Collections (paid and unpaid):
The archives and special collections department on campus is offering one paid internship for the spring semester as well as additional unpaid internships. If you secure the paid internship, the library will pay you as though you are an hourly student
employee but structure the experience as an internship (completing multiple archival projects, giving a presentation, interviewing department employees, learning how our department runs, and having a clear start and end date). Interviews for this paid position begin soon, so if you're interested, submit an application ASAP. Unpaid internships are also available with an application deadline for the spring semester of December 1. You can submit an application for either at the following link:
McGoogan Library of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center (paid):
The McGoogan Library at UNMC is offering two paid internships for this upcoming summer. Students interested in applying for an internship should submit a cover letter, resume, and at least 2 references to Carrie Meyer, Associate Professor, Robert S. Wigton Department of Special Collections and Archives. This internship pays $14 an hour.
Beyond these opportunities, the Sarpy County Museum, the Elkhorn Historical Society, and the Durham Museum have all recently hosted UNO interns. I can help put you in contact with these organizations if you are interested in working with any of them. The department has a number of graduates who work for these organizations and other similar public history entities. Most of those students got their careers started through internships, so I'd encourage you to explore these options now as a student if you're interested in a career at a museum or historical society!
