Internship announcement! Non-paid Internship Vacancy Number: 2024-01 | Fort Tuthill Military Museum
Position Overview
The Fort Tuthill Military Museum (FTMM) invites applications for two Spring/Summer 2024 Internships. The interns will work closely with the General Manager and FTMM staff to develop exhibits related to Arizona’s military history from 1865-present. This internship is an opportunity for the intern to research, design, and create/complete two physical exhibits for the 2024 season which runs from May through October.
The museum is located in two original buildings of the historic Fort Tuthill quad within the Fort Tuthill County Park, and the former training ground of the 158th Infantry Regiment from 1930-1939. The Board of Directors envisions completing two exhibits for this season, the Vietnam War and Women in Combat. These exhibits will examine the war in Vietnam with timeline of events and an overview of how women have served and fought in the Global War on Terror since 2001.
The Fort Tuthill Military Museum is considered one of the best small museums in America according to Trip Advisor and ranked #1 in Flagstaff by its visitors. The museum has a comprehensive repository of artifacts, photographs, correspondence, journals, maps, and documents pertaining to the history of Fort Tuthill and the Arizona National Guard from 1865 – present.
Learning Objectives
- Research and synthesis using primary and published sources.
- Exhibit storyline development, content selection, interpretive writing, and/or graphic design layout.
- Collaborative, team-based curation, and exhibit planning.
- Public speaking experience, namely a presentation to the Board of Directors and visitors upon completion.
Duties and Responsibilities
- The interns, with the support of the General Manager and FTMM staff, will conduct research utilizing primary and secondary sources to identify the exhibit themes and topics and to focus on the exhibit narrative.
- The intern will then select images and artifacts from the museum and create accompanying interpretive text narratives. Image selections will primarily be made from collections of material readily available within the museum and online through other digital collections.
- The FTMM intern will assume primary responsibility for the exhibit, which will be developed using all tools necessary.
- The intern will also provide significant support for the development of the physical exhibit, from its interpretive panels and labels to its layout, design, and fabrication.
- They will be expected to prepare a short work plan for how the physical exhibit will be completed. A more comprehensive workplan detailing physical exhibit layout will be created collaboratively with staff in preparation for exhibit installation.
- The intern will gain skills in clear, organized, written and verbal communication to report findings to FTMM staff and successfully manage the development of the exhibit. In conducting research for the exhibit, the intern will employ critical thinking strategies to gather and analyze information from diverse sources, including archival collections, published materials, and other resources
- The intern will be expected to demonstrate dependability, prioritize, and complete assigned work tasks, and show attention to detail in all work products.
Minimum Qualifications
Current undergraduate or graduate student with a program completion date of August 2024 or later.
Minimum GPA of 2.0
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience with Adobe web or print design tools.
- Knowledge of or coursework in history, museum studies, graphic design, or related fields.
- Knowledge of or interest in Arizona and military history.
- Experience with or interest in conducting research using primary source materials and archival collections, curatorial work, and/or exhibit development.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and active listening skills.
Internship Length
The internships will run from May through August 2024 and depend on the successful candidate’s availability and completion of the exhibit. The successful candidate will work with the General Manager to establish a start and end date for the internship upon acceptance of the position. The workweek schedule offers some flexibility, but in general and based on the intern’s availability they will be expected to work a minimum of 6 hours per week, either onsite and/or remote. Each phase of the exhibit’s development process will require both remote and/or on-site work with the General Manager.
Education Requirements
The preferred candidate will be a highly motivated and organized undergraduate or graduate student in history, graphic design, or a related field working toward a career in a museum, or archives setting. Graduate students need to be currently enrolled in an accredited program with an anticipated completion date of August 2024 or later.
Compensation and Housing
There is an unpaid internship but can be classified as course work for those duties/responsibilities that fall in line with their undergraduate or graduate degree program, and with approval from Northern Arizona University. The museum will provide local transportation to/from the museum as required or needed by the intern.
Application Instructions
Application deadline: March 29, 2024.
To apply, please submit the following documents:
Letter of application addressing your qualifications for and interest in the position, including links to any previous relevant projects you have created/designed, with an emphasis on how the position will support or advance your studies and/or career path.
A writing sample of approximately 100-200 words, providing an example of a text label/panel for an image related to either the Vietnam War or Women in Combat as outlined above, identified, and selected from any accredited digital collection. Include your writing sample in the same document as your letter of application.
Resume or vita which details relevant coursework, work experience, and includes the name and contact information for one professional reference.
Copy of current transcript (can be unofficial).
For more information, contact James Denton with any questions regarding the position or requirements for application materials at 158Bushmaster@gmail.com or (480) 907-9973.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The Fort Tuthill Military Museum is a committed Equal Opportunity Museum and encourages anyone interested to apply.