As Patricia Reynolds' reply points out UK museums are quite used to
having student placements of various kinds and durations, but as many
directors are almostr over-run with such offers you imporve your chances
greatly if you do your "homework" about the museum approached beforehand
and send an initial written approach that is both brief and to the point:
two or three paragraphs selling yourself - realistically but with due
modestly!! - and showing that you have found out something in advance
about the place you are approaching wherever possible, and indicating
what you might be able to contribute in return for the experience you are
seeking.


Specifically in relation to your interest in European emigration to N.
America is concerned, for example, a good prospect might be the Ulster-
American Folk Park (Mellon Road, Castletown, Omagh, Northern Ireland
fax +44-1662-242241)which researches and exhibits the Irish diaspora
to the Americas, and has developed an AAM partnership and staff exchange
programme with the Shenandoah Valley.

Another possibility might be the Merseyside Maritime Museum  (Albert
Dock, Liverpool L3 4AQ fax +44-151-478.4590) which has a wider focus on
emigration from the British Isles to the rest of the world, and especially
through Liverpool - the largest emigration port after London through
the 19th century and which overtook London in this respect in the early
20th C.


Patrick Boylan