ORGANIZATION
Today, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation remains committed to a twofold mission: preservation—to conserve, protect, and maintain Monticello in a manner which leaves it enhanced and unimpaired for future generations -- and education -- to interpret and present Thomas Jefferson to the widest possible audiences, including scholars and the general public. Monticello is a National Historic Landmark, an international Site of Conscience, and the only presidential house in the United States designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
MENTOR
Lynn Midelfort, Conservator and Curator of Historic Architecture
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
This internship will prepare interns for careers in any of the following:
- Academic Research and Administration
- Data Science
- Faculty
- Non-profit
- Public History
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
This internship will provide experiences to develop and polish the following skills:
- Communication (Written and/or verbal)
- Data Literacy and Fluency
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Knowledge of Sector and Networking
- Problem-solving and Analytical Thinking
- Project Management
- Self and Career Management
- Thought Leadership and Innovation
MENTORING PLAN
The PhD Plus Intern will be introduced to their duties over the course of the internship. Mentorship will also include weekly check-ins during which progress will be reported and feedback (constructive and positive) can be delivered. Mentorship will also include making space, where possible, for some time to be dedicated to specific tasks/projects of interest to a specific intern. The intern will also be invited to internal meetings within the Restoration department and between our department and other departments, to help paint a picture of how Monticello works as a site. The intern will also have the opportunity to participate in behind the scenes care for the historic and reconstructed buildings on Monticello's mountaintop.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
We have a wide variety of projects to work on, all of which focus on the care for and history of architecture at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. An intern will learn about 18th-18th century construction techniques, architectural elements, deterioration and treatments over time, and the evolution of preservation philosophies over time.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The intern will work on a variety of projects, likely including architectural artifact collections care, inventories, conditions reports, database management, documentation, and metadata management. Depending on the intern's interest, they may participate in behind-the-scenes preservation work alongside our Restoration Specialists.
DESIRED QUALITIES
Attention to detail, interest in historic buildings and their materials required. Prior experience with collections databases and/or metadata application (such as through Adobe Bridge) a plus but not required.
MODE OF INTERNSHIP
In-person.
DURATION
Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025