Collections Management Intern – Lautman Photography Collection

Collections That Care; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

The National Building Museum invites graduate-level interns to organize, catalog, scan, and rehouse photographs from the Robert C. Lautman Photography Collection. You will gain training in cataloging, data standards, and archival practices while contributing to the collections database and website.

Interns will catalog, digitize, and enter data for bulk uploads, using a flatbed scanner and camera. Independence and teamwork are essential as you support a multi-year grant project to bring the

Qualifications

• Candidates must be enrolled in or recently graduated from a graduate program.
• Previous experience with museum collections preferred.
• Knowledge of proper archival and collections management techniques.
• Self-starter that can work independently.
• Be creative and a problem solver.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Undergo training in cataloging and data standards, object handling, digitization, and box-making and rehousing.
• Catalog, scan, and rehouse photographs from the Robert C. Lautman Photography Collection.
• Enter data into excel spreadsheets for bulk upload into the Museum’s collections management database and collections website.
• Digitize collections using flatbed scanner, lightboard, and digital camera.
• Research the content and location of photographs, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Graduate program

Museum experience

Archives knowledge

Independent work

Team collaboration

Creative problem solving

Education

Graduate program enrolled or recently graduated

Tools

Excel

Job description

Summary

The National Building Museum is currently seeking two graduate-level interns to help organize, catalog, scan, and rehouse photographs from the Robert C. Lautman Photography Collection. The Lautman Collection consists of 77,000 prints, negatives, transparencies, and slides as well as books, magazines, cameras, and other ephemera related to Lautman’s practice as an architectural photographer. The Museum received the collection in 2006 and promptly organized, inventoried, and rehoused half of the photographic materials. The second half of the collection was recently inventoried and is now being brought up to standard as part of a multi-year, grant-funded project. Alongside the Assistant Registrar & Collections Specialist, Photographs interns will continue cataloging and scanning this collection in preparation for uploading the records to the Museum’s collections management database.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Undergo training in cataloging and data standards, object handling, digitization, and box-making and rehousing.
• Catalog, scan, and rehouse photographs from the Robert C. Lautman Photography Collection.
• Enter data into excel spreadsheets for bulk upload into the Museum’s collections management database and collections website.
• Digitize collections using flatbed scanner, lightboard, and digital camera.
• Research the content and location of photographs, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Details

Compensation: $20/hour

Duration: 400 hours (starts January 18, 2027)

Schedule:PT (2-3 days/week)

Deadline: October 18, 2026

Eligibility

Qualifications

• Candidates must be enrolled in or recently graduated from a graduate program.
• Previous experience with museum collections preferred.
• Knowledge of proper archival and collections management techniques.
• Self-starter that can work independently.
• Be creative and a problem solver
• Ability to work well in a team environment

About

The National Building Museum inspires curiosity about the world we design and build.

We are a private non-profit institution that transforms understanding of the history and impact of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, and design. The National Building Museum educates, entertains, and engages people about the built environment and challenges them to advocate for a sustainable and equitable future.