Collections Intern - Photography

Description

The National Building Museum inspires curiosity about the world we design and build.

We are a private non-profit institution that transforms understanding of the history and impact of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, and design. The National Building Museum educates, entertains, and engages people about the built environment and challenges them to advocate for a sustainable and equitable future.

Position Description

The National Building Museum is currently seeking one graduate-level intern to continue an inventory of the Museum’s Robert C. Lautman Collection of photography, with materials dating approximately 1948-2009. The Lautman Collection consists of approximately 80,000 items, including prints, negatives, transparencies, and slides, as well as printed materials such as magazines, books, brochures, and more that feature Mr. Lautman’s work. The first half of this Collection has already been processed and cataloged by the Museum by alphabetized client name, while the second half requires a basic inventory and integration into the existing systems. This inventory project is the first step to fully processing the remainder of the collection, preparing the way for digitization, cataloging, and conservation.

Interns are required to work 200 hours over the course of three months, usually averaging 15-20 hours a week. Hours of position are flexible, but must occur on Monday – Thursday; between 9:00am and 4:00pm. Interns will be provided with a $3,500 stipend for their work on this project.  We will also work with your graduate program to ensure you receive academic credit for your work, if necessary.

Orientation for Summer Interns will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025 and the internship will start the week of June 2, 2025 and will conclude in August.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Collections Specialist to organize and document Lautman Collection materials, including fragile polyester-supported negatives, prints, and slides
  • Undergo object handling training
  • Undergo cataloging training
• Enter data into excel spreadsheets for bulk upload into the Museum’s collections management database and collections website
• Research on Lautman’s history with specific clients and sites, as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Quailfications and Requirements

• Candidates must be enrolled in or a recent graduate of a graduate program
• Previous experience with museum collections preferred
• Knowledge of collections management databases preferred
• Knowledge of proper collections management techniques
• Self-starter that can work independently
• Be creative and a problem solver
• Ability to work well in a team environment

Our Commitment

At the Museum, we pursue diversity and endeavor to create an inclusive and accessible environment for our staff, visitors, stakeholders, and Board members. We value diverse perspectives and believe the power of diversity enriches us all. Creating an inclusive environment is critical to every individual’s work. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply.