Archives Intern
Internship Overview
The primary task for this internship is expanding the digital archives for the North Adams Historical Society, as well as creating a more searchable, user-friendly research guide. This includes photographing physical artifacts and scanning photographs and documents that currently do not have images in the digital archives. Those images are properly documented in the organizations existing digital catalogue. Other tasks include creation of visual aides and other projects, assisting in packing/unpacking to support the move to the new location, and assisting in setting up new space and systems for the historical society.
Reflection:
My experience with the North Adams Historical Society (NAHS) has given me the opportunity to apply knowledge from courses I’ve taken towards my Public History minor in a real-life, meaningful way. Because NAHS is a small organization, I have enjoyed some autonomy in working off site on the expansion and development of the organizations digital records. I’ve particularly enjoyed working directly with the artifacts in their collections and learning about their historical context from the long-time leadership (and only full-time staff). My vision for the culmination of the internship is to leave them with a comprehensive digital record of their extensive collection of local history that will lend itself easily for use in online archives that would be easily shared with the public and enjoyed by local residents, students, historians, and anyone else interested in the rich stories from a small New England factory town.
My experience with the North Adams Historical Society (NAHS) has given me the opportunity to apply knowledge from courses I’ve taken towards my Public History minor in a real-life, meaningful way.
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