HISTORIC PRESERVATION
INTERNSHIPS
Sponsored by the National Park Service
and the National Council for Preservation Education
Academic Year 2013-2014 Positions Available
January – May 2014
The National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE), in partnership with the
National Park Service (NPS), offers paid internships in Federal cultural resource
program offices and in National Parks, to graduate and undergraduate senior
students and recent graduates in academic programs in historic preservation and
allied fields such as history, archeology, architecture, and museum studies.
Positions will be available this academic year at the National Park Service and the
Department of the Interior, in Washington, DC and across the country.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Due to the Federal government
shutdown, the deadline is now November 1, 2013
Applications and instructions for applying will be available
at the following Web sites:
NPS: www.nps.gov/tps/education/internships.htm
NCPE: www.preservenet.cornell.edu/employ/ncpe.html
See the following pages for a listing of positions,
and check the Web sites for updates on New positions.
National Council for Preservation Education
Academic Year 2013-2014 Internships
with the
National Park Service,
& Department of the Interior
The National Park Service and partnering agencies will offer internships during the academic year of 2013-2014. This
notice covers the period January – May 2014. A separate notice will be distributed in January 2014 for summer 2014
positions. Internships are for 400 hours (usually ten weeks at forty hours per week) and in Washington, DC except
where noted. Stipends are issued based on a rate of twelve dollars per hour. The exact starting dates will be determined
on a case-by-case basis. For all internships, computer and word processing skills are desirable.
To be eligible, you must be currently enrolled in an academic program in historic preservation or an allied field, or very
recently graduated (degree received December 2012 or later). Interns are not eligible to work more than 1200 hours in
this program; previous interns in the program must stay within this overall limit.
To submit your application, please scan your materials electronically and email them as a single Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file
containing both signed application and transcripts to Cari Goetcheus at the University of Georgia (email:
cgoetch@uga.edu). Please adhere to the single .pdf format requirement; processing of your application will be
delayed if materials are not received in this form. Due to the large number of applications received, files should be kept
under 3 MB in size if possible, and any files over 3 MB should be submitted in a compressed file format to make
transmittal easier.
Submitting hard copies is discouraged as it will also delay application processing, but if electronic submission is not
possible, all application materials should be mailed to the National Council for Preservation Education, Attention: Cari
Goetcheus, Associate Professor, University of Georgia, College of Environment and Design, 108 Denmark Hall, Athens,
GA 30602. Applications must be received no later than November 1, 2013. Please indicate by number the internship(s)
in which you are interested, no more than six total (multiple numbers heading a single description count as one choice).
Please be aware that, unless otherwise noted, interns are responsible for travel to and housing at the internship
location. This should be kept in mind particularly for those internships in the West. In some cases the supervising office
may be able to assist in locating housing but it is ultimately up to the individual accepting the internship to find
accommodations.
Also be aware that, due to Government-wide security requirements, a background check will be required for any position
which involves access to Government computers, if you are chosen for that position. This will include providing
information about recent housing and employment history. The position supervisor will have more information on
requirements and procedures at the time of hiring.
National Park Service Internships
2374. National NAGPRA Program: Working with NAGPRA staff, assists with the organization and cataloging of
permanent records maintained by the National NAGPRA office. Duties include review and disposition of permanent
NAGPRA records files including but not limited to inventories and summaries, review committee, grants, online
databases, civil penalties, tribal training reports, and common records. Other duties may include providing assistance with
digitizing records. Background in history, historic preservation, anthropology, archives or collection management
preferred but attention to detail and a willingness to learn is also important. Intern should be prepared to work in an office
environment (720 hours).
2375. National Capital Region, Cultural Landscapes Program: Works with and assists historians, historical
landscape architects and other preservation professionals to complete various Cultural Landscape Inventories associated
with a variety of National Park sites in the Washington, DC metropolitan area (DC, MD, VA, WV). Duties include
researching the landscape history of a historic property; site visits and field work to document existing conditions with
photographs and maps; analyzing landscape features; and entering the information into a database. Knowledge of cultural
landscapes, landscape architecture, and the National Register criteria preferred. Strong computer, research, and writing
skills essential; working knowledge of graphics programs (Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator and/or CAD) beneficial (400
hours).
2376. National Capital Region, Museum Resource Center: As a museum technician, assists MRCE staff with
museum outreach, research, accessioning, processing, cataloging and preparing museum collections for long-term
curatorial storage. Position offers exposure to all aspects of professional museum work and the opportunity to be part of a
team of museum professionals at a large Federal repository, working with a wide variety of museum collections at the
Center, including historic furnishings, natural history collections, archival documents, and historic photographs.
Collections come from NPS-administered historic homes and sites throughout the region, including Ford's Theater
National Historic Site; Frederick Douglass National Historic Site; Arlington House, the Robert E. Lee Memorial; and the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Collection. Located in Landover, MD a close-in suburb of Washington, DC with easy Metro
subway access (400 hours).
2377. National Capital Region, Ethnography Program: Assists the Regional cultural anthropologist with the
preparation of materials related to ongoing and planned ethnographic (applied anthropology) research projects in the
National Capital Region. Primary research duties will focus on collection of pre-existing data of all types that document
traditional uses and contemporary associations of groups of people to Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland. Work
must be coordinated with park and regional staff, as well as academic research teams. Other duties may include reviewing
and indexing existing oral histories; matching existing consent forms with individual oral histories; seeking consent for
public use from interviewees/families where possible; and working with park and regional staff to develop public
interpretation using ethnographic information as appropriate. Organizational and documentary research skills necessary;
background in cultural anthropology or archives management desired. Work will occur primarily in library or office
settings, however some outdoor fieldwork may be required (400 hours).
2378. National Capital Region, Ethnography Program: Assists the Regional cultural anthropologist with the
preparation of materials related to ongoing and planned ethnographic (applied anthropology) research projects in the
National Capital Region. Primary research duties will focus on the collection of pre-existing data of all types that
document traditional uses and contemporary associations of groups of people to several park sites, including former
contraband camps associated with forts of the Civil War Defenses of Washington. Other duties may include compiling
information related to planning ethnographic work on subsistence fishing along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers.
Organizational and documentary research skills necessary; background in cultural anthropology desired. Work will occur
primarily in library or office settings, however some outdoor fieldwork may be required (400 hours).
2379. Midwest Regional Office, Museum Collections and Records Management Program: Works with the staff
Curator to meet National Park Service (NPS) curation standards for managing archival collections. Duties include a
variety of curatorial responsibilities including processing and cataloging archival materials as reported on the fiscal year
2012 Collections Management Report (CMR) using the Department of the Interior’s official software, ICMS; regular
housekeeping and environmental monitoring tasks; packaging and handling archival materials; and maintaining an access
and use log. Museum studies or archives management background required, but attention to detail also important.
Housing and transportation are the intern’s responsibility. Located in Omaha, NE (400 hours).
2380. Midwest Regional Office, Museum Collections and Records Management Program: Works remotely with the
staff Curator to meet National Park Service (NPS) curation standards for managing the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
archival collections. Duties include re-housing and re-packaging an already processed and cataloged archival collection
of historic corporate ranch records. Duties may also include a variety of curatorial responsibilities including working with
the Department of the Interior’s official software, ICMS, and other responsibilities as assigned. Museum studies or
archives management background required, but attention to detail also important. Housing and transportation are the
intern’s responsibility. Located in Independence, MO (400 hours).
2381. Midwest Archeological Center, Archeological Information Management Team: Duties include working with
archeologists to create Geographic Information System (GIS) maps for archeological sites monitoring and condition
assessment program; creating queries in database systems to determine sites for monitoring and working with Center staff
to update site information and inspection schedules; researching history of archeological work and archeological resources
in Midwest Region parks and using the information to update GIS data such as site and project locations; and entering
attribute data for new sites and revising data for existing records. Housing and transportation are the intern’s
responsibility. Located at the Midwest Archeological Center, Lincoln, NE (800 hours).
2382. Midwest Archeological Center, Archeological Collection Documentation for Ozark National Scenic
Riverways: Duties include completing a thorough inventory of a large archeological collection containing materials from
archeological sites in Southeast Missouri, and associated with Ozark National Scenic Riverways, donated recently to NPS.
Research will be conducted to identify potential owners of the material. Other duties with the collection may include
rehousing artifacts; identifying archival project documents; and photographing and describing diagnostic artifacts.
Attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing
required. Housing and transportation are the intern’s responsibility. Located at the Midwest Archeological Center,
Lincoln, NE (800 hours).
2383. Midwest Archeological Center, Archeological Collections Management Program: Works with Center staff to
meet National Park Service (NPS) curation standards for managing archeological collections. Duties include a variety of
curatorial activities such as cataloging archeological collections using official NPS cataloging software (ICMS);
packaging and preparing artifacts and archives for storage; and tracking environmental conditions for the storage
repository. The collections reflect a wide range of past human occupation from the earliest Native Americans through the
fur trade and frontier eras, the Civil War, and presidential homes. Housing and transportation are the intern’s
responsibility. Located at the Midwest Archeological Center, Lincoln, NE (400 hours).
2384. Midwest Archeological Center, Great Plains Archeological Research: Assists Center staff with a variety of
tasks associated with research conducted on the Great Plains. Assignments may include synthesizing past research in
parks such as Badlands National Park, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Scottsbluff National Monument, and others;
preparing geomorphological analyses from archeological sites in the region; and processing and curation of artifacts and
archives. Other tasks may be assigned as needed. Housing and transportation are the intern’s responsibility. Located at
the Midwest Archeological Center, Lincoln, NE (400 hours).
2385. Midwest Archeological Center, Archeological Outreach and Education Program: Works with Center staff to
maintain and grow the Center’s online presence via Web site and social media content development. This will involve
coordination with archeologists, collections specialists, Library staff, the GIS team, and the Publications team to write
short articles and updates related to all aspects of Center activities. Housing and transportation are the intern’s
responsibility. Located at the Midwest Archeological Center, Lincoln, NE (400 hours).
2386. Midwest Archeological Center Park Program, Archeological Research: Assists Center Park Program
archeologists in compiling information for archeological research in Midwest Region Parks. Research topics include the
geoarcheology of landforms and the historic archeology of logging activities. Other park-specific topics may be added at
the discretion of the supervising archeologist. Work will focus on past archeological work in parks that border the Great
Lakes including Voyageurs National Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, Apostle Islands
National Lakeshore, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Duties include
compiling information such as site records, historic photographs, historic records, aerial photography, and archeological
reports; development of information databases; and digitizing maps into a project GIS. This information will be used as a
basis for archeological fieldwork and compliance activities. Housing and transportation are the intern’s responsibility.
Located at the Midwest Archeological Center, Lincoln, NE (400 hours).
2387. Homestead National Monument of America: Works with park staff to meet National Park Service (NPS)
curation standards for managing archival collections. Duties include assisting in developing a records management and
museum archives plan for the park, and beginning an archives survey and the development of a finding aid for the
monument’s oral history tapes. Additional duties include a variety of curatorial responsibilities: surveying, processing,
and cataloging archival materials using the Department of the Interior’s official software, the Interior Collections
Management System (ICMS); packaging and handling archival materials; regular housekeeping and environmental
monitoring tasks; and maintaining an access and use log. Museum studies or archives management background preferred,
but attention to detail also important. Housing and transportation are the intern’s responsibility but the monument may
have housing available. Located in Beatrice, NE (400 hours).
2388. Intermountain Region, Historic Structures Inventory Program: Works with and assists architectural historian
and other preservation professionals to identify, inventory and evaluate National Park Service owned historic and
prehistoric structures in National Park sites in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma,
and Texas. Duties include researching the history of historic properties; site visits to document the existing condition of
listed structures with photographs; and entering the information into the national inventory database. Knowledge of
historic architecture, architecture, and the National Register program preferred. Computer skills essential; working
knowledge of graphics programs (Adobe Photoshop) and Excel important. Position may be located in an Intermountain
Region park or in Santa Fe, NM (566 hours).
2389. Yosemite National Park, Branch of Anthropology: Provides essential assistance to Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) projects at Yosemite National Park (YOSE). Duties include working directly
with the YOSE cultural anthropologist and American Indian liaison as well as anthropology, museum, and research
library staff to review and revise existing inventory of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects,
and objects of cultural patrimony housed in YOSE Museum collections; conducting library and archival research and
literature reviews; providing support for consultation with American Indian tribes and groups; performing database
management contributing to cultural affiliation determinations; and assisting with the development and publication of
relevant Notices that are required in advance of repatriation and reburials. Archival and library research skills essential.
Knowledge of and interest in Native American issues highly desirable. Cultural anthropology, archeology, and/or
NAGPRA background highly desirable. Must be professional, well-organized, and attentive to detail. The intern must
have a valid driver’s license. Low to moderately priced park housing is available. Located in El Portal, CA (960 hours).
2390. Yosemite National Park, Cultural Resources Branch: Works directly with the Yosemite and Pacific West
Region cultural resources programs to compile, synthesize, and report existing information on the park cultural resources
programs in the Region. Other duties include conducting research and staff interviews; discussing cultural resource
program review goals with project leads; performing database management contributing to State of the Parks reports for
Pacific West Region; and assisting with the development and publication of State of the Parks reports. Oral interview and
library research skills essential. Knowledge of and interest in National Park Service cultural resource programs highly
desirable. Cultural resources, historic preservation, and protected area policies background highly desirable. Must be
professional, well-organized, and attentive to detail. The intern must have a valid driver’s license. Low to moderately
priced park housing is available. Located in El Portal, CA (960 hours).
2391/2392. Yosemite National Park, Museum Program: Assists in reducing the Yosemite Museum catalog backlog
as reported on the 2012 Collection Management Report. Duties involve work with a variety of collections including
ethnographic objects, archeological artifacts, natural history specimens, historic photographs, and a variety of other
historic collections, and include background research of the collections; descriptive cataloging; inputting records into the
National Park Service catalog database Interior Collection Management System (ICMS); and preparing collections for
long-term curatorial storage. Established in 1924, the Yosemite Museum served as a prototype museum program in the
National Park Service, and today consists of over 4 million items. Strong computer skills and attention to detail essential.
Moderately priced park housing available. Located in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park (680 hours).
2393/2394/2395. Olympic National Park: Assists Park historical architect and preservation carpenter on a variety of
tasks including condition assessments on backcountry structures. Work will include both office and field work.
Knowledge of basic architectural terminology and historic preservation principles and practices is required. Skills in
hiking and backpacking are necessary for this position. Knowledge of log construction is helpful. There will likely be
opportunities for hands on preservation work. Office skills required include computer use (Microsoft Office), graphic
programs (Adobe Creative Suite and/or AutoCAD), and good research and writing abilities. Located in Port Angeles,
WA (480 hours).
General Services Administration Internships
2396. General Services Administration (Historic Preservation Specialist): Assists the Historic Buildings Program
Manager and staff in coordinating activities and initiatives to maintain the functionality, integrity, and economic viability
of 480 public buildings controlled by GSA and to increase GSA leasing of historic buildings and reuse of historic
buildings on sites the Government acquires for new construction. Conducts research, prepares educational material on
GSA’s historic buildings, and provides guidance and support to GSA headquarters and regional staff. Also coordinates
with preservation specialists in educational, non-profit, and public institutions outside GSA to respond to requests for
assistance. Advanced professional-level research and writing skills required, to prepare historic building brochure copy
with minimal supervision. Knowledge of architectural terminology and historic preservation theory and practice essential;
experience with software programs for digital image manipulation helpful. Writing sample(s) required; please submit
with application (400 hours).
Department of the Interior Internships
2397. Interior Museum Program, Office of the Secretary: Assists with Department-wide projects of the DOI Interior
Museum Program. Activities include compiling data on DOI bureau museum collections; researching and drafting policy
and procedure documents; preparing material for training courses; researching issues on various topics dealing with
federal museum collections; and updating the Interior Museum Program Web site (1200 hours).
2398. Interior Museum Program, Fish and Wildlife Service, DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge: Assists in the
organizing, cataloging and re-housing of a large number of 150-year-old artifacts such as buttons, suspender clips and
associated textiles. Duties include fully describing and measuring the textiles and placing them on mounting boards to
facilitate future handling and conservation, and possibly some work involving 19th-century hand tools and assorted other
objects. Other duties may include entering older object treatment information on individual objects in the catalog records
and attaching digital photographs to the records. The ability to accurately describe and measure objects, and a willingness
to learn how to cut acid-free cardboard for textile mounts and to learn the use of digital photography as part of the
documentation process, will be essential. Familiarity with Interior Collection Management System (ICMS) helpful but
not vital (training will be provided). Housing on the refuge will be provided. Located near Missouri Valley, IA (600
hours).
2399. Interior Museum Program, Bureau of Land Management: Assists the California BLM's State Office work on
the curation of archeological collections retrieved from BLM lands and now located at the Fowler Museum at the
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Duties will focus on collections from Central and Southern California
and include basic curation and conservation of specimens, and inventory and digitization of collections. Background in
archeology and California Native prehistory preferred; applicants should be familiar with Microsoft Office and Paradox.
A background check is not required as the individual will not have access to a government computer. Located in Los
Angeles, CA (480 hours).
2400. Interior Museum Program, Bureau of Land Management: Assists the California BLM's State Office work on
the curation of prehistoric archeological collections retrieved from BLM lands in Modoc and Lassen counties and now
located at California State University (CSU), Chico Department of Anthropology. Duties will focus on collections
management in the performance of condition assessments and the organizing of archeological collections within Chico
State’s newly completed Archaeological Curation Facility. Position may involve moderate physical activity. Background
in prehistoric archeology preferred; applicants should be familiar with Microsoft Office. A background check is not
required as the individual will not have access to a government computer. Located in Chico, CA (800 hours).
2401. Interior Museum Program, Department of the Interior Museum: Works with the Interior Museum collections
staff as a museum technician assisting with museum collections care issues including database management, registration,
photography, object handling, research, and related projects. Work environment: sedentary office space and collections
storage areas. Requires the ability to lift 50 lbs., opening boxes or packages, and may require standing for extended
periods (800 hours).