Museum Collections Management Intern The Henry Ford

Collections That Care; Dearborn (MI); Híbrido; USD 23.000 - 28.000; A tiempo parcial

Descripción de la vacante

The Henry Ford is offering a Museum Collections Management intern position on its Dearborn campus. The intern will document, care for, and store artifacts, focusing on the ceramics collection, and will update catalog records and practice safe handling under supervision.

Responsibilities include data standardization, location updates, tagging, and cross‑team coordination with Collections Management, Registration, and Historical Resources to ensure timely task completion.

Formación

• Enrolled in or recently graduated from history/museum studies.
• Experience with data entry and record-keeping.
• Willingness to learn artifact handling procedures.

Responsabilidades

• Document, care for, and store artifacts focusing on ceramics collection.
• Update collection records and standardize data in the collections database.
• Assist with location updates, tagging, and problem solving across teams.

Conocimientos

Attention to detail

Data entry accuracy

Oral and written communication

Team collaboration

Educación

College or university program in history or museum studies

Herramientas

Microsoft Office

Descripción del empleo

Summary

The Museum Collections Management intern will help document, care for, and store artifacts, with a focus on The Henry Ford’s ceramics collection. Working under the guidance of the Collections Management staff, the intern will help move selected objects into a specially designed storage space, update collection records, and learn safe artifact handling practices. The intern will also assist with data standardization, location updates, tagging, and collections problem solving within the collections database. Throughout the project, the intern will coordinate with members of the Collections Management, Registration, and Historical Resources teams to ensure tasks are completed on schedule. This internship offers hands‑on experience with museum collections, storage methods, and documentation standards.

Under the direction of the supervisor, the intern will conduct research, update catalog records, photographs, clean, and rehouse artifacts. Through inventory work, the intern will learn how to safely handle and track collections across campus. The intern will also support data standardization in the collections database, location updates, tagging, and problem solving.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to build practical experience in museum data entry standards, storage techniques, artifact cleaning, and the care of museum collections. There is the potential for this project to be extended into future cohorts.

Key Details

Compensation: $17–$20/hour

Duration:15 weeks (January 25–May 7, 2027)

Schedule:PT

Deadline:November 20, 2026 (11:59PM)

Eligibility

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a college or university program in history, museum studies, library and information science, preservation, or a related field
• Working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite
• Wednesday availability for required internship programming
• Experience handling materials such as ceramics, metals, paper, or textiles

Special Skills

• Strong attention to detail when handling objects and entering collections information
• Ability to organize work, follow procedures, and maintain accurate records
• Clear verbal and written communication and the ability to work with staff across teams
• Curiosity about historical objects and how museums care for them
• Care and sound judgment when handling historical and valuable objects
• Ability to learn and navigate any collections management database

Physical/Mental/Environmental

• Physical: The role involves standing, walking, and carefully handling and moving artifacts. Some tasks may involve lifting objects weighing up to 30 pounds and using a ladder under six feet, following staff direction and established handling procedures; dexterity
• Mental: Requires concentration, attention to detail, careful record keeping, and sound judgment when working with collections
• Environment: Work is performed onsite in collections processing and storage areas on The Henry Ford’s Dearborn campus

About

The Henry Ford is a globally recognized cultural institution that provides unique educational experiences based on authentic objects, stories and lives from America’s traditions of ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation.

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