Vesterheim Museum Internship for Inventory Project, Summer 2024

Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum & Folk Art School, in Decorah, Iowa, is seeking a detail-oriented current undergraduate student or current graduate student for an 8-week paid internship during the summer of 2024. This internship is geared toward students interested in learning more about and experiencing collections management through an inventory project. This inventory project will include assisting with locating objects, assessing the condition of objects, surface cleaning objects, moving objects, photographing objects, and updating collection records in the museum’s online catalog PastPerfect. The inventory project is part of Vesterheim’s long-term plans to improve stewardship and access to objects related to local agricultural and Norwegian immigrant stories. The intern will be assisted and supervised by Vesterheim’s Collection Assistant.

This internship will primarily be onsite at Vesterheim’s Jacobson Farm, an historic farmstead preserved to the early 1900s period and located about 4 miles outside of Decorah. Over 400 collection objects are located in various buildings at the farm. The farm has uneven ground, and the buildings have different levels that are only accessible by steps. The buildings are unconditioned and not secured from pests. Personal protective equipment, such as gloves and masks, will be provided. The internship will require climbing stairs, climbing ladders, lifting 50 pounds with assistance, and standing for longer periods of time. Transportation to and from the farm will be provided and there is a modern restroom, running water, and electricity onsite.

The internship pays $12 per hour for 30 hours per week over 8 weeks. The internship hours must be worked Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., but exact days and hours during that timeframe can be negotiated. Start and end dates are flexible depending upon the intern’s schedule, but the internship must be completed between May 1 and August 9, 2024. Vesterheim can share information about options for inexpensive summer housing.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume or CV to Laurann Gilbertson, Chief Curator, [email protected] or Vesterheim, PO Box 379, Decorah, IA 52101. The deadline for applications is March 10 with applicants notified by March 22.