Navigating National Archives Internships: A Comprehensive Guide to Requirements and Opportunities

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), established in 1934, serves as the nation's record keeper, preserving and making accessible documents that chronicle American history. NARA offers a variety of internship opportunities for students and recent graduates seeking to gain experience in fields such as archival processing, museum exhibits, information technology, and more. These internships provide invaluable hands-on experience, skill-building, and career exploration within the realm of archives and records management.

Understanding NARA and Its Mission

NARA is a federal government agency dedicated to aiding the government in cataloging and storing documents. Whether you are exploring your family's history, verifying a veteran's military service, or conducting research on a historical topic, NARA provides valuable resources and information for diverse interests. NARA is responsible for preserving and maintaining these materials, making them accessible to the public.

The NARA Voluntary Internship Program

The NARA Voluntary Internship Program is an occupational experience designed to complement formal academic training. NARA seeks students and recent graduates to complete internships at various facilities across the country. Internships are scheduled for a duration of 10-12 weeks. Interns are expected to work between 10 and 40 hours per week, accumulating a minimum of 100 hours. Interns are required to be on-site for at least 50 percent of the time.

Internship Schedule

Summer internships start in late May or early June and end in August.
Fall internships last from September through late November or early December.
Spring internships start in late January or early February and end in April.

Eligibility and Requirements

To be eligible for a NARA internship, candidates must meet certain requirements:

Citizenship
Completion of a background check
Must be at least 16 years old

Application Materials

All voluntary internships require the completion of an application form, a cover letter, resume (no more than two pages), and an unofficial transcript with your GPA. Some opportunities may require a letter of recommendation, a writing sample, or references.

Internship Opportunities

NARA offers internships in various departments and areas, providing a wide range of experiences. Some of the areas include:

Archival Processing
Business
Communications & Marketing
Digitizing Archival Materials
Editorial
Education & Exhibits
Emergency Management
Equal Employment Opportunity
External Affairs & Public Relations
Facility Operations & Logistics
History
Human Resources
Information Technology
Legal
Legislative
Metadata
Museums & Public Programs (including at Presidential Libraries)
Photo Services
Physical Security
Project Management
Records Management
Reference Services
Special Events

Specific Internship Examples

George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum: Interns' primary task is to prepare documents for digitization. There are multiple internships available.
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Archives: Interns will work in the reference room, processing space, and archival stack areas. There are multiple internships available.
Office of Inspector General (OIG): Intern will assist in the preparation of internally-produced reports for the OIG including the Semiannual Report to Congress and Annual OIG Audit Plan.
Digital Engagement Division: The intern will gain hands-on metadata standards experience to make access happen via the National Archives Catalog.
General Counsel's Office: Interns have the opportunity to become directly involved in the broad range of legal and policy matters that come into the office.
Seattle, Washington, U. S.: Interns can gain experience in areas, including archival processing, digitization and metadata creation.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Interns' primary task is to prepare documents for digitization. Working closely with professional staff at the National Archives and Records Administration, volunteers will have an opportunity to work with original historical documents and develop their research skills. Interns will arrange and describe records, digitize records, and perform basic preservation tasks on records. Interns will learn about archival preservation practices, describing complex records for discoverability and digitization utilizing several different imaging solutions, including a high-speed scanner and a camera set-up.

Interns may also be involved in:

Developing finding aids for the catalog
Assisting in Closeout Procedures
Contract Lifecycle Monitoring and Destruction
Close-Out Audit Assistance

Skills Development

This internship is a paraprofessional hands-on experience that expose the candidate to a variety of skills:

Building custom enclosures such as boxes, sink mats, and phase boxes
Digitizing photographs and other documents and managing digital assets
Assisting researchers
Creating EAD finding aids using ArchivesSpace
Researching, designing, and preparing small exhibits
Assisting with tours of the Archives Center and other public programs
Providing administrative and organizational support

Work Environment

The work is normally performed in an office setting and primarily sedentary, but some work may be conducted in archival storage areas, and could require extended periods of walking. The work setting for this position is split between the office, the museum, and the learning center classroom at the National Archives in Washington, DC. Participants' work setting will include work in both an office setting and archival stacks. Interns will be issued a NARA laptop for completing their work.

Read also: Eligibility for National Awards

Physical Demands

The work is mostly sedentary, yet interns must be physically able to perform the duties of this position. Physical demands may include climbing ladders, moving heavy carts of records, and handling boxes of records typically weighing up to 50 pounds. Some duties will entail lifting boxes of up to 25 lbs.

Compensation and Benefits

Internships are unpaid, yet can be done for academic credit or volunteer hours. Being in this historical research internship also exposes you to work with presidential letters, military files, and historic photographs. As an intern, you will also get networking opportunities across government and historical institutions.

Application Process

NARA invites interested candidates to submit their applications for the voluntary internship program. Individual offices will review applications and contact eligible candidates for interviews and references.

Deadlines

The application deadline for the Spring Voluntary Internship Program is November 15.

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