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Job Description
Job Id:
382
# of Openings:
1
To Apply: Please upload a resume and brief personal statement, in the form of a cover letter, of no more than 250 words that communicates why you are interested in the internship, and what unique skills and/or experience you will bring to the role.
INTERNSHIP
Archive Intern
Illinois Humanities
Status: Internship (Part Time)
Reports to: Consulting Archivist
Location: Chicago Office
Illinois Humanities, the Illinois partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that foster reflection, spark conversation, build community, and strengthen civic engagement. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration.
For more information, visit www.ILhumanities.org
INTERNSHIP SUMMARY:
Illinois Humanities is seeking an Archive Intern to support the organization’s archival processing and digital asset management work during Summer 2026. The intern will work directly with Illinois Humanities’ Consulting Archivist on projects related to the organization’s physical and digital collections.
This internship offers hands-on experience for students interested in archives, library science, cataloging, metadata, and digital asset management. Interns will gain practical experience with archival standards, metadata creation, workflow tracking, and digital asset management systems while contributing to the preservation and accessibility of Illinois Humanities’ organizational history.
The internship, which will run approximately 10–12 weeks beginning in early June 2026 and ending in August 2026, requires a maximum of 8–10 hours per week. Hours will be flexible based on the intern’s availability. This position will be hybrid with one to two days per week in person at the Illinois Humanities archive in Chicago.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assist with the physical processing of archival materials using DACS standards prior to digitization
- Support the creation and scoping of controlled vocabularies, including subject terms and XML metadata structures
- Track workflow and asset mapping for Illinois Humanities’ digital asset management (DAM) system
- Assist with cataloging, metadata entry, and organizational projects related to archival collections
- Provide additional project and administrative support related to archival and digital asset management work
- Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Current undergraduate or graduate student in Library and Information Science, Archives, Museum Studies, Public History, or a related field preferred
- Interest in archives, metadata, cataloging, digital preservation, and/or digital asset management
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Research and analytical skills
- Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with metadata standards, XML, or archival databases is a plus but not required
- Experience with cataloging, archives, or digital collections coursework a plus, but not required
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
The skills and experience needed to be successful in this internship exist on a spectrum. Highly qualified and desirable internship candidates may not meet 100% of the skills and experience included in this description. We encourage all who are interested in this position to apply.
WHAT WE ARE OFFERING:
- This internship is unpaid; however, Illinois Humanities will work with students and their academic institutions to support eligibility for course or practicum credit where available.
- The position requires 8-10 hours per week
- The position will run through August 2026
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Step one: All submissions will be reviewed, and the initial candidate pool will be formed after phone screenings. Not all submissions will make it into the candidate pool.
Step two: Candidates in the pool will take part in an interview with members of the Illinois Humanities Team via Zoom or in-person.
Step three: There may be additional rounds of interviews with the final candidates. Final candidates may be asked to provide additional information. Selection and placement of the final candidate will occur after these final rounds of interviews. Placement for this internship is anticipated to occur in June 2026. Once the final candidate has accepted their offer of employment, all other applicants will be notified of their status.
Step one: All submissions will be reviewed, and the initial candidate pool will be formed after phone screenings. Not all submissions will make it into the candidate pool.
Step two: Candidates in the pool will take part in an interview with members of the Illinois Humanities Team via Zoom or in-person.
Step three: There may be additional rounds of interviews with the final candidates. Final candidates may be asked to provide additional information. Selection and placement of the final candidate will occur after these final rounds of interviews. Placement for this internship is anticipated to occur in June 2026. Once the final candidate has accepted their offer of employment, all other applicants will be notified of their status.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Our Chicago Loop office is accessible. Work in our on-site storage location is required and may not be fully accessible. Evening and weekend work is sometimes required. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and scanners. Employees are regularly required to talk, hear, see, and communicate effectively via computer. The intern may occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 30 pounds.
COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY:
To support public health efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19, Illinois Humanities has adopted a policy that requires all staff and interns receive a complete COVID-19 vaccine based on the CDC’s current definition, which is subject to change. Employees must submit a full Record of COVID-19 Vaccination or have a fully signed Reasonable Exception approval by date of hire.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Illinois Humanities is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ qualified individuals based on individual merit. It does not discriminate against any individual with respect to the terms and conditions of employment based on that individual’s race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, housing status, or any other non-merit factor protected under state, local or federal laws. Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all personnel actions such as recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotions, training, transfer, termination, and opportunities for training. Illinois Humanities is committed to a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is a respected and valued member of the team.
To Apply: Please upload a resume and brief personal statement, in the form of a cover letter, of no more than 250 words that communicates why you are interested in the internship, and what unique skills and/or experience you will bring to the role.
Please submit this internship application to the "Work With Us" page. Application review will begin in June 2026, and applications will be accepted until the internship is filled.
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