Internships at OHC
Summer 2025 Digital Collections Assistant
Application Deadline: April 1, 2025
Position Summary
The Oberlin Heritage Center (OHC) is seeking a college or graduate-level intern to assist with a multi-year collections initiative. This position will support the migration of OHC’s collection database to an online, publicly accessible platform. The intern will work closely with OHC’s Collections Manager to scan historic photographs and postcards and review and edit catalog records for public viewing.
Position Responsibilities
- Scan historic photographs, postcards and other materials in accordance with OHC’s digital preservation guidelines
- Create access copies of scanned images
- Create metadata for scanned images
- Review and edit catalog descriptions for public viewing on a cloud-based collections database
Qualifications
- College level course work and/or hands-on experience in history, public history, museum collections, or archives
- Enthusiasm for digital preservation and community history
- Communicate effectively in writing and orally
- Work well independently and with other staff, interns, and volunteers
- Have a strong attention to detail and demonstrate organizational skills
- Able to climb stairs frequently due to the layout of our historic buildings
- Treat everyone with respect, courtesy, and attentiveness; commit to OHC’s Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion initiatives and values.
Hours:10 week Internship; 30 hours a week (flexibility on start and end dates)
Compensation: $13.50/hour
To apply by April 1st, send a cover letter, current resume, and contact information for two professional references to oberlinheritagecenter@gmail.com. Please use the subject line “2025 Digital Collections Assistant.” Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
This position was made possible by a gift from David and Eleanor Ignat in honor and memory of Evan Walter Nord.
Why Intern at OHC?
Gain professional and life-long skills, connect with passionate community members, and learn about this unique town. Student interns participate in a variety of tasks – giving tours, helping staff the office, assisting with research projects such as the Oberlin Historic Inventory and the Oberlin Oral History Project, cataloging and caring for collections, helping at special events, and maintaining our online resources.
College students have worked for us in a variety of capacities: Bonner Scholars, work-study students through the Community Based Work-Study Program of Oberlin College and other programs, and as summer interns. Students from all areas of study are encouraged to apply – you need not be a history major (although you certainly may be)!
Over the last few years, the Oberlin Heritage Center has made it a priority to hire an Oberlin High School or a college student employee each summer! If you want to learn more about the community, meet new people, learn professional skills, and earn money, then this might be the job for you! Applicants should be team players who take pride in the quality of their work.
We train new interns or volunteers at the beginning of a semester, winter term, or summer term, so please plan your schedule accordingly and call ahead about internship availability. The Oberlin Heritage Center attempts to provide internship opportunities or special projects for Oberlin students during Winter Term.
Questions about the Oberlin Heritage Center internship program should be directed to the Museum Education and Tour Manager.
If you are interested in becoming an unpaid volunteer with the Oberlin Heritage Center, please see our volunteer page and talk to us about tailoring your experience to fit your interests.