Hanford Mills Museum is looking for a student intern who will become a contributing member of the professional team which guides the interpretation and preservation of a unique 70 acre, 16 building rural industrial site. The Museum has an operational water- and steam-powered sawmill, gristmill, and woodworking shop. It is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, from mid-May to mid-October, offers a year-round calendar of public programs, and serves school groups throughout the region. Hanford Mills Museum is located in East Meredith, NY, less than 30 miles south of Cooperstown. Visit www.hanfordmills.org for information about the Museum. 
 
The Museum is seeking a summer intern to fill a temporarily vacant professional staff position. Besides helping with daily Museum operations (support for special events, tour groups, day camp, etc.), the intern will complete a project in their field of interest (see below). We will work with the student to tailor an internship that meets both our needs, complements the student's talents, and fulfills internship requirements. Below is a brief description of possible internship projects. 

If you are interested in an internship, please contact Caroline de Marrais, Assistant Director at [log in to unmask] or mail a resume and cover letter to Hanford Mills Museum, P.O. Box 99, East Meredith, NY 13757. The Museum offers competitive compensation (commensurate with experience), and optional on-site housing. 
 
Project Options: 
Education: Pre- and Post-Visit Activities - Hanford Mills Museum has been using educational materials that were mostly designed in the 1980s. The Museum needs to update its materials to better reflect recent changes in the state's education requirements. The intern would review existing Museum education materials; then evaluate, update, and design new materials. Knowledge of website technology would also be helpful as materials produced in this project will provide the basis for future interactive website upgrades. 
 
Collections: Artifact Storage Study - A recent buildings preservation plan has highlighted the Museum's need for better collections storage. A first step in designing this new storage facility is to produce a study of present and perceived future storage needs. The intern would review existing collections storage facilities and collections, consider future collections needs, then generate an assessment and realistic plan of what the Museum will need to house its existing artifacts, and what it needs for future growth and management of its collections. 

 
Archives: Records Documentation Project - While the archives collections have been inventoried and there are some incomplete finding aids, the Museum needs a plan for documenting the archive collections using the Museum's computer program PastPerfect. The intern would review the Museum's archive collections, formulate a plan for entering the archives into PastPerfect (maximizing on the program's search capabilities), and then begin implementation of the plan. Students interested in this project should have some experience with archives collections, cataloging techniques, and computer skills (experience using PastPerfect is a plus, but not necessary). 
 
Interpretation: Interpreter's Manual - Hanford Mills Museum has had several different types of manuals and/or information packets available for interpreter training, but none have been satisfactory. The intern would survey existing Museum interpreter training materials, existing verbal training, and what other museums provide their interpreters. The intern would then design new interpreter training materials for Hanford Mills Museum. Students interested in this project should have some knowledge of interpreter training, excellent organizational skills, and computer skills. An interest in rural industries is a plus.