Collections Management Intern

Peabody Essex Museum; Rowley (MA); On-site; USD 7,400 - 7,800; Part time

Job summary

The Peabody Essex Museum's Collection Management internship offers hands-on experience in cataloguing, image capture, and rehousing of objects as part of PEM's relocation and documentation efforts. Interns will work with collection managers to populate new storage areas, maintain accurate locations, and help finalize shelving for the database.

Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree and may be graduate students or recent graduates in Museum Studies, Library Science, Art, Photography,

Qualifications

• Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree.
• Current graduate students and recent graduates pursuing or holding degrees in Museum Studies, Library Science, Art, Photography, History, or a related field are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Catalog objects and capture images.
• Rehouse objects and update storage locations.
• Assist in populating new storage areas and maintain location accuracy.
• Support grant and research projects and educational programming.
• Assist with photographing museum objects.
• Learn care and conservation basics for handling objects.

Skills

Attention detail

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

MS Office

Google Suite

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Acrobat

Relational Database

Education

Undergraduate degree

Tools

Relational Databases

Job description

At the Peabody Essex Museum, Collection Management handles all aspects of collection care. This internship affords the applicant the unique opportunity to gain experience in many back of house disciplines. This term will focus on cataloguing, image capture, and rehousing objects in support of PEM's ongoing Relocation and Documentation. The intern will work with Collection Management in populating new storage areas, maintaining location accuracy, and helping to finalize shelving configuration for use in the database.

Working with the Collection Managers you will learn about the logistics and preparation required to facilitate grant projects, collection research projects, and educational programming at a large and diverse museum. Responsibilities will also include assisting in photographing museum objects. You will also be given an introduction to the care, planning, and the conservation needed in handling and preserving museum objects.

Internship Qualifications: Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree. Current graduate students and recent graduates pursuing or holding degrees in Museum Studies, Library Science, Art, Photography, History, or a related field are encouraged to apply. Applicants must possess excellent attention to detail and a measured approach, as well as strong organizational and interpersonal skills. Successful candidates must be adept at Microsoft Office, Google G Suite, and the Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Lightroom, Acrobat). Additional experience with, or knowledge of, Relational Databases a plus.

Please note that this position is based primarily at the James B. and Mary Lou Hawkes Collection Center in Rowley, Massachusetts, with occasional work at the Museum in Salem. Reliable transportation is required.

The 2027 Spring Internship Program will run from January 21 through April 26, 2027, or through an alternative end date mutually agreed upon by the intern and hiring manager. A mandatory, in-person orientation will be held at the museum on Thursday, January 21, 2027, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In addition, interns are required to participate in professional development sessions held on Thursdays throughout the internship. These sessions are typically scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and will continue through April 15, 2027. Please note that session times are subject to change, and some sessions may be offered in a hybrid format. Regardless of format or scheduling adjustments, all professional development sessions will take place on Thursdays and are required for all interns.

This internship provides a $2,000 stipend and requires the completion of 180 hours, which includes participation in professional development programming. This equates to approximately 15 onsite hours per week over the course of twelve weeks. All internships are fully in person and take place on site. Please note the location where each internship will take place.