Diversity Internship Projects 2013
Applicants should address application to meet the needs of one or more of the following internships available for
Summer 2013.
Division: Archeology
Project Contact: Marie Archambeault, Archeologist
Internship Project title: GIS (Archeological application) or customized project
Location: Austin, TX
Basic Skills required: Familiarity and experience with word processing and database software (Microsoft
preferred). GIS—Training will be provided if necessary in the use of ARC-GIS software.
Project Description: GIS intern will assist Archeology staff in the creation and submission of GIS data to the
archeological Atlas database for Texas. Customized project—specific project to be determined in consultation with
the successful candidate.
Division: Community Heritage Development
Project Contact: April Garner, Heritage Tourism State Coordinator
Internship Project title: Travel writing for Heritage Tourism
Basic Skills required: Strong writing skills, knowledge of Texas history, interest in cultural and heritage tourism
Project Description: The intern will identify, research, write, and edit thematic travel content for the agency’s suite
of heritage travel sites accessed from the www.TexasTimeTravel.com portal. Some of the writing may include
conversion of information in existing publications or sites such as African American’s in Texas: A Lasting Legacy; A
Shared Experience: The History, Architecture, and Historic Designations of the Lower Rio Grande Heritage
Corridor; Red River War of 1874-1875: Clash of Cultures in the Texas Panhandle or the agency’s quarterly
Medallion into brief and compelling heritage travel writing for the website suite. The intern will also have the
opportunity to participate in the development of a companion to the African Americans in Texas travel guide
related to the state’s Hispanic and Tejano heritage in print, online, and mobile platforms.
Division: Historic Sites Division
Project Contact: Hal Simon, Interpretive Planner
Internship Project title: Columbus Patton probate research
Location: West Columbia, TX
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Basic Skills required: Familiarity with academic research in archival setting, document transcription, and creation
of content reports.
Project Description: This project would take place in Angleton/West Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas and
would include in-depth research in and transcription of probate records relating to the Columbus Patton estate.
Records are housed at the Brazoria County Courthouse and are part of country clerks files.
Division: Historic Sites Division
Project Contact: Kerri Wilhelm, Curator of Archeology
Internship Project title: Levi Jordan Plantation Archeological Collections Processing
Location: Austin, TX
Basic Skills required: Some academic experience in anthropology and historic material culture, archeology
preferred. Proficiency in Excel. Must have your own means of transportation.
Project Description: This project will take place at the Texas Historical Commission’s curatorial repository in
Austin, TX. The focus of this collections processing project will be the Levi-Jordan archeological collection. The
intern will be required to perform research for purposes of artifact identification, materials composition and artifact
provenience data. The intern will be taught basic laboratory ferrous metals conservation utilizing electrolytic
reduction. The intern will learn museum field best practice standards for UV/light tolerances of metal, glass and
composite artifacts curated at the HSD repository. Processing existing and incoming archeological collections; most
specifically those transferred from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Other possible projects include
photo-documenting artifacts and historic objects for catalog files, condition reports, conservation assessments,
acquisition & deaccession requests, etc.
Division: Historic Sites Division
Site: Casa Navarro State Historic Site
Project Contact: Ellen Busch & Site Staff
Internship Project title: Development of bilingual education materials for 4th & 7th grade
Location: Casa Navarro (San Antonio, TX)
Basic Skills required: Prefer fluency in Spanish (reading and writing knowledge), basic knowledge of Texas
Essential Skills (TEKS).
Project Description: The intern will work at the Casa Navarro State Historic Site and have the opportunity to
shadow the site staff in day-to-day operations, interpretation of the new exhibits, assisting with education outreach
programs and events, and assisting with guiding tours to get a holistic view of what it takes to manage and operate a
diverse historic site in downtown San Antonio. The main project consists of assisting site staff in creating new
bilingual (Spanish/English) 4th and 7th grade level educational materials based on the history of José Antonio
Navarro, Casa Navarro, and the old Tejano neighborhood of “laredito”. Ideally one or more products will be
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created for use with student tours and/or as lesson plans or activity guides that will also be available on the website
for educators to use in their classrooms.
Division: Historic Sites
Site: Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic Site
Project Contact: Dixie Hoover, Site Manager
Internship Project title: Oral History and Digitization
Location: Confederate Reunion Grounds (Mexia, TX)
Basic Skills required: Research and writing skills, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills to conduct oral
history interviews, database management; and data entry. Knowledge of flatbed scanners and scanning equipment
and software is helpful.
Project Description: Document the intangible heritage of the cultural history and social customs of individuals
who lived at the Confederate Reunion Grounds and Limestone County in the early 20th century. These individuals
were employees of oil companies managing the pump house, other oil company employees, owners and their
families, and individuals related to Confederate Veterans who attended gatherings at the Joseph E. Johnston Camp
94 UCV (now the Confederate Reunion Grounds). This project will also digitize family archival materials and oil
company materials directly related to the history of the Confederate Reunion Grounds. To Date, this cultural and
social history has not been well preserved, nor is it available for public access, The intangible heritage preserved
through this oral history project will allow for future generations within the community of Limestone County to see
their place in the context of history and better understand local social customs and cultural heritage.
Division: Historic Sites
Site: Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site
Project Contact: Ellen Bush & Site Staff
Internship Project title: Neighborhood Homes near the Eisenhowers, ca. 1890
Location: Eisenhower Birthplace (Denison, TX)
Basic Skills required: Research/analysis of findings, map reading, standard computer use.
Project Description: We are looking for information that will help humanize the demographic data on the
Eisenhower family's neighborhood. Who rented, and who owned the houses? Where did residents work, what was
their income, and how many lived alone, boarded or had families with them? Maps, city directories, photographs,
period newspapers and genealogical data will be useful in building a better picture of who lived in this particular part
of Denison when Dwight Eisenhower was born.
Division: Historic Sites
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Site: Fort McKavett State Historic Site
Project Contact: Cody Mobley, Curator/Interpreter/Educator
Internship Project title: Curatorial Assistant
Location: Fort McKavett (Fort McKavett, TX)
Basic Skills required: Word processing, data dentry, prior knowledge of current curatorial methods.
Project Description: This internship will expose the applicant to hands-on curatorial practices involving mid-19th
century buildings and artifacts, understanding site preservation issues, and implementation of new interpretive plans
within the buildings and museum.
Division: Historic Sites
Site: Levi Jordan Plantation State Historic Site
Project Contact: Amanda McVay, Educator
Internship Project title: Research Database and Cataloging Project
Location: Varner-Hogg Plantation (West Columbia, TX)
Basic Skills required: Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and standard classification systems. Some
knowledge of or interest in American history, history of the south, plantation history, and/or the African American
experience in Texas and the United States.
Project Description: The intern will catalog the various reports, documents, photographs, images and other
resources compiled in support of the developing Levi Jordan Plantation over the past two decades of research and
planning. The intern will create a concise finding aid for photographs, images, and documentary research to aid in
developing pubic programs for the site and as resources for future researchers.
Division: Historic Sites
Site: Levi Jordan Plantation State Historic Site
Project Contact: Amanda McVay, Educator
Internship Project title: Digital Archeology Classroom Exhibit Project
Location: Varner-Hogg Plantation (West Columbia, TX)
Basic Skills required: Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Some graphic design skills
helpful. Working knowledge of American history, history of the south, plantation history, and/or African American
experience in Texas and the United States.
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Project Description: Using archeological reports, photographs, artifact images, and field documentation, the intern
will develop a digital archeology exhibit to be used as part of outreach programs for area public schools. Content
could be made available via web for digital classroom experiences. Some outside research will likely be required to
complete this project.
Division: Historic Sites
Site: Levi Jordan Plantation State Historic Site
Project Contact: Amanda McVay, Educator
Internship Project title: Traveling Exhibit Resource Guide
Location: Varner-Hogg Plantation (West Columbia, TX)
Basic Skills required: Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Some graphic design skills
helpful. Working knowledge of American history, history of the south, plantation history, and/or African American
experience in Texas and the United States.
Project Description: The intern will develop an educational resource guide to accompany Levi Jordan Plantations
traveling exhibit. The guide is to include, but not limited to: exhibit overview, exhibit installation and care
guidelines, and educational components. Educational components included, but not limited to: interpretive
outlines, educational activities for upper elementary and middle school students, and evaluation forms. The project
is to use visuals such as historic maps, photographs, and images; primary resources such as diaries, correspondence,
court records, archeological reports and current scholarship such as student theses. Outside research may be
required to complete the project.
Division: Historic Sites
Site: Magoffin Home State Historic Site
Project Contact: Leslie Bergloff, Site Manager
Internship Project Title: Research in Spanish Records
Location: Magoffin Home (El Paso, TX)
Basic Skills Required: Must be able to read, comprehend and translate a variety of historical documents written in
Spanish. Must have excellent communication skills. Should have some research experience.
Description of Project: For the last thirty years the connections between the Magoffin Family and their relatives in
Mexico have largely been ignored. Recently, staff and other historians have engaged in studying this side of the
family. Though significant work has been completed, many records available in Spanish still need to be collected
and translated. Some of these sources include the microfilm of the Cuidad Juarez Municipal Archives, 1726-1970;
early Spanish newspapers from the borderland; additional archival collections in West Texas, New Mexico and
Northern Mexico. In addition, the information that is gathered needs to be compiled or integrated into existing
interpretive materials that allow visitors to have a broader understanding of the history of multicultural family life
along the U.S. Mexico border.
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(Please note: Travel to Mexico is not required)
Division: Historic Sites Division
Site: Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site
Project Contact: Kaitlin Ammon, Site Manager
Internship Project title: Letter Transcription Project Intern
Location: Sam Bell Maxey House (Paris, TX)
Basic Skills required: Strong writing, research, and communication skills. Strong organizational, multitasking, and
people skills. Knowledge of standard office computer skills, including database software and word processing.
Ability to work independently and on detailed tasks.
Project Description: The Sam Bell Maxey House has a collection of transcribed letters. The intern will assist staff
in determining if there is a digital copy of every transcription the site already has. If not, the intern will create one.
As time allows, the intern will also assist in the beginning stages of coding the transcriptions to increase the usability
of the transcriptions for research purposes.
Division: Historic Sites Division
Department: Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site
Project Contact: Kaitlin Ammon, Site Manager
Internship Project title: Special Event Coordinator
Location: Sam Bell Maxey House (Paris, TX)
Basic Skills required: Strong writing, research, and communication skills. Strong organizational, multitasking, and
people skills. Knowledge of standard office computer skills, including database software and word processing.
Ability to work independently and on detailed tasks.
Project Description: The intern will develop, organize, and run an educational special event to be held at the site.
The development of the event will include picking a theme/topic, researching it, and creating activities site visitors
can participate in that correspond to the theme/topic. The organization of the event includes determining the
supplies and volunteers needed, publicizing the event, and preparing the site for the event.
Division: Historic Sites
Site: Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site
Project Contact: Amanda McVay, Educator
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Internship Project title: Digital Collection
Location: Varner-Hogg Plantation (West Columbia, TX)
Basic Skills required: Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Some graphic design skills
helpful. Working knowledge of American history, history of the south, plantation history, and/or African American
experience in Texas and the United States. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Some graphic
design skills helpful. Working knowledge of American history, history of the south, plantation history, and/or
African American experience in Texas and the United States.
Project Description: The intern will participate in a project-based internship focused on digitizing images of
Warner Hogg Plantation’s collections. Project is to include, but not limited to: Photographing artifacts, transferring
various media to digital versions, and developing a reference guide for media digitally transferred and digital media
currently available to Varner Hogg Plantation staff and researchers. Presentation of finding aid (or area of interest
brought about by research) to staff or public is available.
Division: Historic Sites
Site: Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site
Project Contact: Amanda McVay, Educator
Internship Project title: Educational Workshop
Location: Varner-Hogg Plantation (West Columbia, TX)
Basic Skills required: Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Some graphic design skills
helpful. Working knowledge of American history, history of the south, plantation history, and/or African American
experience in Texas and the United States. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Some graphic
design skills helpful. Working knowledge of American history, history of the south, plantation history, and/or
African American experience in Texas and the United States.
Project Description: The intern will develop thematic workshop(s) to accompany implementation of public
programming as outlined in the Interpretive Master Plan at Varner-Hogg Plantation. Workshop is to include, but
not limited to: development of interpretive Materials, hands-on activities, and delivery of one workshop activity.
Project is to use visuals such as historic maps, photographs, and images; primary sources such as diaries,
correspondence, court records, archeological reports and current scholarship such as student theses. Outside
research may be required to complete the project.
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