Hello All,
As the original poster for this topic, my intent was to get a feel for  
what other places are looking for in an intern. When it comes to a  
potential intern I want someone who has computer skills, it doesn't  
necessarily need to be in database programs but to be able to use Word  
or Excel.  I do expect a little more computer program knowledge from  
our exhibits and marketing interns.  Majority of the potential interns  
applying just loved history, they had an appreciation for museums but  
it didn't matter to them that museums would be their future.
I love to be the first museum that aspiring museum professionals  
intern with.  Since my museum is smaller, I think we provide a great  
starting place for those who want to get their feet wet. The interns I  
have hired for this summer do have background skills relating to the  
projects will be working on and this will be there first jobs in the  
Museum world.  I have made lasting friendships with our interns and I  
am always willing to help them with references and finding jobs.

Sincerely,


Christa McCay, M.H.P.
Registrar
Marietta Museum of History
1 Depot Street, Ste. 200
Marietta, GA 30060
770-794-5726





Quoting "Elizabeth M. Bradley" <[log in to unmask]>:

> I also appreciate Victor's comments. If we truly care about diversifying
> the field, then it is important to recognize that only a very small and
> privileged subset of the population can afford to work  for free after
> having completed an expensive education.
>
> Elizabeth Bradley
> Aspiring Museum Professional
> Public History Masters Degree Candidate
> University of Masschusetts Amherst
> Expected May 2012
>
> On Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 1:03 PM, Rosie Walsh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> I have been monitoring this topic since it started and appreciate your
>> comments, Victor, as a hopeful museum intern and one day, museum
>> professional. As you all know, the museum field is very difficult to get
>> into, and the best avenue for getting a foot in the door is to start with
>> internships. Being that internships are becoming increasingly competitive,
>> it is very discouraging to individuals like myself, with professional,
>> non-museum experience, Masters degrees in Museum Studies, and undergraduate
>> degrees in the area we wish to work (in my case, dual degrees in Studio Art
>> and Art History), when it is just as hard to get an internship as it is a
>> paying job. Where are we to start?
>> If no one gives us a chance, and recognizes that our love of the field +
>> competence will translate into a dedicated worker, then how will the shoes
>> of retiring baby boomers be filled?
>> More important that finding future donors, is finding the right
>> individuals to carry the museum into the next generation of excellence.
>> Thanks for reading.
>>
>> On , Victor Mobley <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> > Love of history is not enough, but it's unrealistic to expect an intern
>> to be fully educated and have a degree and be willing to work for free
>> (most of the time), especially when one of the people on this list
>> suggested they don't care what happens to the intern.  If they can't use
>> their experience to find employment, how are they ever going to become a
>> donor to your museum?  The attitude I've seen regarding recent grads and
>> interns has been an eye opener the past few months.  It's as if those who
>> do the hiring don't realize that interns can't simply work for free with no
>> promise of future employment. In my field (history) museums would be far
>> better served by cultivating future public historians and helping them find
>> work, instead of just using them as cheap, disposable help.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > -Victor Mobley
>> >
>> > On Sun, Apr 29, 2012 at 10:25 PM, Dave [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Just reviewing old e-mail... I find it difficult to call someone who
>> doesn't know how to write a proper letter "well educated."  If it isn't
>> being taught in schools, that's a shame.  But as you say, you could Google
>> it.
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>> > David Haberstich
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>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> >
>> >
>> > From: Callie Stewart [log in to unmask]>
>> >
>> >
>> > To: MUSEUM-L [log in to unmask]>
>> >
>> >
>> > Sent: Tue, Apr 17, 2012 1:08 pm
>> >
>> >
>> > Subject: Re: Is a love of history enough for interns?
>> >
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>> > Absolutely not!!!  I am currently in the process of hiring a summer
>> intern and I expect them to already have relevant experience and a degree.
>>  I am more lenient with volunteer interns, but I still expect them to earn
>> their keep and "loving history" is not part of the job description.  I
>> learned the hard way that accepting anyone who walks through the door with
>> a "love of art" can end up being a disaster and a waste of everyone's time.
>>  That being said, I think that basic intelligence and common sense can be a
>> lot more valuable then specific skills.  If you have an intern who can
>> learn to do A,B and C quickly and has good research skills, they can be a
>> lot more useful then one who already knows X,Y and Z, but can't problem
>> solve or think on their feet.
>> >
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>> > Honestly, I don't care if they stay in the profession or not.  Who knows
>> where they're going to end up in life.  I wish them all the best, but their
>> life is not my business or my concern.  Perhaps your experience will
>> inspire them to become your future big donor.  As long as they are
>> satisfied with the experience and the museum gets something useful out of
>> their time, then everybody wins!
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>> > What has shocked me is how few applicants (some of them very good and
>> well educated) know how to format a cover letter.  It's not hard to Google
>> these things.  Why does no one know where to put the date? Or that you are
>> supposed to actually *sign* your name???
>> >
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>> > On Tue, Apr 17, 2012 at 12:38 PM, Fox, Amy [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Frustrating as it is to devote scarce time and energy to supervising
>> interns who love history but don't plan to stay in the museum field, you
>> might think of it as an investment in future audiences, museum members,
>> board members, and supporters. Easy for me to say, since it's not my
>> investment of time, but I've known some interns through the years who
>> didn't become museum professionals but are fine citizens, nevertheless, and
>> have a good understanding of our field. Ultimately you're weighing the
>> short-term benefit of an intern with the long-term benefits, which you may
>> not reap. But that's true if they go into the museum profession, too.
>> >
>> >
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>> > [log in to unmask]
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>> >
>> > Amy Killpatrick Fox
>> >
>> >
>> > Museum Educator
>> >
>> >
>> > Bureau of Historic Sites & Museums, PHMC
>> >
>> >
>> > Commonwealth Keystone Building
>> >
>> >
>> > 400 North St.
>> >
>> >
>> > Harrisburg, PA  17120
>> >
>> >
>> > 717/772-1967
>> >
>> >
>> > Website:  www.patrailsofhistory.com
>> >
>> >
>> > Blog: Trailheads--http://patrailheads.blogspot.com
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Notice: On **Friday, July 29th**, the commonwealth will be adding @
>> pa.gov as the primary email domain for all state employees. For example:
>> [log in to unmask] will now be [log in to unmask] The email addresses ending in
>> @state.pa.us will continue to function so that emails will never be
>> interrupted. We appreciate your cooperation as we take a small step to
>> increase the usability and consistency of the commonwealth's online
>> communications.
>> >
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>> > -----Original Message-----
>> >
>> >
>> > From: Museum discussion list [mailto:
>> >
>> >
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>> >
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