Intern Experiences
Rider Interns Share Their Stories....
.jpg)
"Interning was a valuable experience that allowed me to work with original documents and artifacts and dedicated people who share my interest in preserving history."~ Pam
Major: History / Elementary Education
Site: New Hope Historical Society
As an intern at the New Hope Historical Society (NHHS), I worked on The Parry Family Documents, a collection of materials relating to one of the founding families of the New Hope area covering seven generations from the colonial period to the 20th century. NHHS is located in a former Parry family home. My main task was to find out what the collection contained by creating an annotated inventory of each item in every box. Indexing the letters, receipts, newspaper clippings, photographs and other materials was a challenging and exciting activity that required deciphering difficult handwriting, making sense of unfamiliar terms or snippets of information, and identifying old photographs. I needed to conduct research in numerous archives to piece the information and the people together in order to write useful annotations. As I went through the boxes, I also preserved items when needed. I was able to complete an inventory list for each box, which will be used by NHHS to catalogue the collection. My research also uncovered new information about the Parry Family. This internship introduced me to the operations of a local historical society and gave me insight into the running of a small non-profit organization. Interning at a place like NHHS is worthwhile for the experience, knowledge and skills you take away, but even more rewarding for what you give back in return.
"Working in the heart of the state capital was exciting and gave me a greater understanding of the role of the government in preserving history."
~ Chris
Major: History / Secondary Education
Site: New Jersey State Archives
My internship taught me the key skills of the archival profession: how to process and catalogue historical records. First, I catalogued the Works Progress Administration (WPA) inventory of state archival holdings conducted during the mid-1930s to improve accessibility for both archivists and the public. The catalogue will also be used by the archival staff to identify lost or stolen items and facilitate their recovery. I discovered one document listed in the WPA inventory but missing at the State Archives - Lord Carteret's declaration of war against the Dutch in the 17th century. I also began processing a newly acquired collection of East Jersey Proprietary records, which gave me the chance to handle materials few people have seen including letters written by colonial leaders Lord Stirling, Robert Morris and Richard Stockton. The staff was supportive and encouraging. Interning at the State Archives gave me the opportunity to meet New Jersey Secretary of State, Nina Mitchell Wells. She provided me with additional experiences including special tours of the State House and the New Jersey State Museum and admission to the Amistad Commission's Conference on Teaching African American History in New Jersey Schools. I definitely recommend interning at the New Jersey State Archives for the professional experience and the excitement of working with historical documents.
"My internship gave me a sense of what it is really like to be professional historian."
~ Jessica
Major: History
Site: Boston African American National Historic Site
I wanted to intern in Boston because of my interest in early American history. I found a position at the African American National Historic Site, part of Boston National Historic Park operated by the National Park Service (NPS). Located on Beacon Hill, the site contains roughly two dozen historic buildings including homes, businesses, schools, and churches, making it the largest area of pre-Civil War black owned structures in the U.S. As an intern, I conducted research on women involved in Abolition and the Underground Railroad who lived in Boston and specifically on Beacon Hill. I visited a number of different libraries and archives including some of the nation’s most prestigious and exclusive research institutions like the Massachusetts Historical Society and the Boston Athenaeum. I also participated in the Boston Historic National Park Service training day held at Charlestown Navy Yards. The experience has significantly improved my research and writing skills and strengthened my desire to pursue a graduate degree and career in history.
"For someone who plans on continuing their studies after Rider and focusing on the American Revolution, this internship has been ideal." ~ Omar
Major: History
Site: David Library of the American Revolution
My internship had me carrying out several types of duties, from assisting historians on their research, to answering the inquiries of the general public on subjects pertaining to the Revolution. It has allowed me to meet some of the experts in the field and given me the opportunity to browse one of the largest collections of primary resources on the subject. One of the highlights of this internship thus far has been a trip to Sotheby's in New York City, where I was given the privilege of attending a lecture on General Thomas Gage, the Colonial governor of New York and Massachusetts. This trip was especially insightful for I was also given the honor of dining with a direct descendent of General Gage and the chance to discuss various topics on the Revolution with her.
*An article in the Newsletter of the David Library of the American Revolution (Summer 2007) praised Omar for reviving their “dormant” internship program. According to the staff, “Omar promptly became an asset to the Library. He was quickly trained in basic librarianship to assist in the smooth running of reading room operations, but it was not long before his research skills and familiarity with our collections were strong enough for him to assist clientele, including Fellows, with research, and to create innovative reading room displays to showcase certain holdings.” Omar’s experience at the David Library not only “fanned the flames of [his] passion for history,” but also helped him achieve his goal of attending graduate school. Omar entered the MA program in History at Rutgers University-Camden in Fall 2007.
