Ready to take your interest in museums to the next level?
Thanks to the vision and generosity of alum Dr. Carol Woody '71 and Robert Woody, interns receive $4,000 to complete ten full-time weeks of intern and research activities during the summer. Successful applicants are matched, according to their interests and previous experience, with museum partners, who will then have the opportunity to vet final candidates through interviews. This opportunity is open to all W&M undergraduates.
Applications for Summer 2024 are now closed.
The Charles Center is excited to offer the following opportunities for Summer 2024.
Internship information
Chrysler Museum of Art (Norfolk, Virginia)
The Chrysler Museum exists to enrich and transform lives. Its mission is to bring art and people together through experiences that delight, inform, and inspire. The museum has fifty galleries, a growing collection of more than 30,000 objects, an interactive space for families, and the only glass studio of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Internship description
The Woody Intern would conduct research related to an exciting new exhibition being planned at the Chrysler Museum Art on the life and legacy of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. This show seeks to look beyond the masterpieces he acquired to understand his life-long engagement with art and his vision for the future of the museum that bears his name. The Woody Intern’s duties would include conducting research in the museum’s archives, developing a framework for a potential oral history project that engages local community members, creating a chronology of Chrysler’s life, and assisting in the assembly of an initial checklist of works.
Although the Woody Intern's primary focus would be research related to this upcoming exhibition, they will also have the opportunity to participate in other project meetings with the Director of Curatorial Affairs, offering them a firsthand experience of the work of the Museum’s Collections & Exhibitions, Conservation, and Curatorial divisions.
Preferred skills, experience, and interests
Background in history, art history, or related field in the humanities
Able to conduct research independently
Able to participate in wider team discussions and activities
Interest in or familiarity with LGBTQ studies (optional)
Colonial National Historical Park (Yorktown, Virginia)
Colonial National Historical Park (NHP) administers two of the most historically significant sites in English North America. Historic Jamestowne, the first permanent English settlement in North America in 1607, jointly administered with Preservation Virginia, and Yorktown Battlefield, the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1781.
Internship description
Colonial National Historical Park is currently expanding the stories we tell to be more inclusive and representative of our nation's history. This work includes the stories of the African American men that participated in the Civilian Conservation Corps that conducted archeology and helped build the Colonial Parkway. The park is planning outreach and engagement activities related to CCC staff that helped develop the Park. The park is looking to identify and recognize families of the CCC workers. This intern position will help the park identify family members by using a variety of outreach and engagement methods. They will help develop press releases and content to bring attention to our campaign. They will also work to develop interpretive exhibits related to Civilian Conservation Corps activities at Colonial NHP. They will also participate in archeological research at a site previously excavated by CCC staff on Jamestown Island.
Preferred skills, experience, and interests
Interest in African-American history
Strong writing skills
Experience or interest in genealogical research preferred
Experience or interest in public speaking and exhibit design preferred
Learn more about Colonial National Historical Park here.
Internship information
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, Virginia)
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation operates the world’s largest living history museum in Williamsburg, Virginia—the restored 18th-century capital of Britain’s largest, wealthiest, and most populous outpost of empire in the New World. The mission of Colonial Williamsburg is to be a center for history and citizenship, encouraging national and international audiences to learn from the past through the preservation, restoration, and presentation of 18th-century Williamsburg and the study, interpretation, and teaching of America's founding democratic principles.
The Colonial Williamsburg story of a revolutionary city tells how diverse peoples, having different and sometimes conflicting ambitions, evolved into a society that valued liberty and equality. Americans cherish these values as a birthright, even when their promise remains unfulfilled.
For Summer 2024, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is offering two internship opportunities: the Centennial Exhibition and the Digital Furniture Initiative.
Centennial Exhibition Internship Description
In 2026, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation will commemorate its 100th anniversary since its founding. To mark this occasion, a large chronological exhibition is being developed to open in the fall of 2025. It will remain on view for at least 5-7 years. The intern, with guidance of three staff members, will work on specific sections of this exhibition to include: developing chronological timelines, conducting archival research, helping to track, document, and locate objects, working collaboratively with conservation colleagues, and writing object descriptive information and object labels.
Centennial Exhibition preferred skills, experiences, and interests
Organization and communication skills
General knowledge of US history
Willingness to work with a broad scope of material objects
Willingness to work collaboratively across the Foundation
Digital Furniture Initiative Internship Description
For this digital initiative, the intern would assist the Curator of Furniture in making the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's important British and American furniture collection more accessible online to a global public. This digital initiative is an institutional educational priority to expand the sharing of our collections objects and information about them with the public. In assisting with cataloguing, the intern would also undertake general research on furniture. The intern will assist the Curator of Furniture with updating digitized catalogue records with the goal of publishing entries on Colonial Williamsburg electronic database, eMuseum, that contain full catalogue information including labels (to be written) and photographs. The intern will also work with the Collections Photographer and Art Handler on scheduling movement and photography of objects.
Digital Furniture Initiative preferred skills, experiences, and interests
Ability to conduct research independently
Student of American history, art history, and/or museum studies
Knowledge of TMS (The Museum System) collections database is preferred
Knowledge or interest in American furniture is preferred
Learn more about the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation here.
Internship information
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
The mission of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation is to foster through its living-history museums – Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown – an awareness and understanding of the early history, settlement, and development of the United States through the convergence of American Indian, European, and African cultures and the enduring legacies bequeathed to the nation.
Internship description
Within Museum Operations and Education, we have several departments serving staff and the public through the creation of diverse educational experiences to include program development and support, engaging experiences in our gallery and online spaces, and community outreach. We are committed to giving a more equitable voice to our museums and programs through the evaluation of our current content, exhibits, and language choices. As we increase content knowledge and close informational gaps, we hope to increase awareness and understanding of the three individual cultures that converged here and how they interacted with one another.
With our focus on updating African and Indigenous content and language, this internship has the potential to work in a few different areas based on the student's interest. We will be working on updating language, creating content related training material for staff, public programs, community outreach and digital media content production.
As we continue to evaluate and update our language, content and training, this internship will have the opportunity to work with multiple departments on creating and supporting a narrative that best includes the perspectives of all three cultures equitably. Project options can include content research, digital media creation, creating an assessment process for language and content, public programming or staff training.
Preferred skills, experiences, and interests
Interest in Museum Studies
Interest or knowledge in Indigenous, African, 17th and/or 18th century early American history and culture
Learn more about the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation here.
Internship information
Preservation Virginia (Richmond, Virginia & multiple locations)
Preservation Virginia owns and operates six historic locations open to the public. It’s roughly 100 miles from Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown in Hanover County to Cape Henry Lighthouse in Virginia Beach- 100 Miles of History! Along the way, visit the John Marshall House, Historic Jamestowne, Smith’s Fort and Bacon’s Castle.
Internship description
Preservation Virginia, a privately-funded, statewide historic preservation organization founded in 1889, works to ensure the relevancy of the Commonwealth’s historic places. The multifaceted and impactful nature of our advocacy programs, six historic sites and partnerships with other organizations has allowed us to create a holistic approach to saving the places that connect us to our diverse, complex history. The Summer Internship is an opportunity to work directly with the curatorial and interpretation team to help build and expand the history we share at Smith's Fort in Surry, Virginia. This internship will cover a multidisciplinary range of possible responsibilities and activities, from archival research to descendant outreach and curatorial interpretation.
Preferred skills, experiences, and interests
Experience or interest in archival research, oral history, American history, curatorial work, and/or museum interpretation
Interest in Black history and descendant outreach
General knowledge of Virginia history post-Civil War
Interest in promoting diverse and inclusive narratives and experiences
Built around 1820 as a private home for several of Cincinnati’s most prominent citizens, the Taft Museum of Art is now one of the finest small art museums in America and holds National Historic Landmark status for its historic house and Duncanson murals.
Here, you’ll find gems of history nestled into every nook and cranny in our period-inspired rooms—each their own canvas of creativity—that surround you in stories that have endured for generations. Our 200-year-old house holds a remarkable collection that spans the Middle Ages through the 19th century with European and American paintings, and 18th-century watches, Chinese porcelains, and French Renaissance enamels. The collection features iconic artists including Rembrandt, Goya, Gainsborough, Turner, Ingres, Whistler, and Sargent, as well as Federal-period American furniture and the most significant pre-Civil War domestic murals in the United States.
Internship description
The internship research project will focus on developing an in-person gallery experience for visitors. The intern will work with a variety of departments to accomplish the project, which will provide a great opportunity to develop real-life relationships and learn from veteran professionals across disciplines.
Preferred skills, experience, and interests
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Passion for interdisciplinary work
Desire to work in a team setting
Experience working with children or adults in an informal education setting
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) is a state-supported, privately endowed educational institution created for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art, to encourage the study of the arts, and thus to enrich the lives of all.
Internship description
The VMFA Intern will learn the complexities of conceiving, planning, and bringing to life a special exhibition, which benefits from exposure to multiple roles and departments in a major museum setting. The student will split their time between the development of this project, attending planning meetings with Exhibitions staff for projects currently on the VMFA portfolio, and aiding the exhibition and publications staff with various assignments in support of projects and their scholarly catalogues.
Preferred skills, experiences, and interests
Interest in museum roles inside and outside of curatorial work
Positive, solution-focused mindset
Learn more about the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts here.
Internship information
Virginia Museum of History & Culture (Richmond, Virginia)
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) connects people to America's past through the unparalleled story of Virginia. By collecting, preserving, and interpreting the Commonwealth's history, the museum links past with present and inspires future generations.
Internship description
The internship will primarily involve the intern researching in the archives for publications, programs, and reference. This will involve conducting historical research with primary sources held by the VMHC and creating spreadsheets, reports, and content for use by VMHC staff and library patrons. In addition, the intern will gain experience and familiarity with some of the day-to-day operations involved in the running of a research library.
Preferred skills, experiences, & interests
Student of Arts or Humanities discipline
Previous experience with historical research
Interest in underrepresented histories (such as Civil Rights history, LGBTQ+ history, and disability history)
Interest in pursuing an advanced degree in history and/or humanities more broadly
Some experience interpreting 18th/19th century cursive (optional)
Learn more about the Virginia Museum of History & Culture here.
Winterthur is the premier museum of American decorative arts, with an unparalleled collection of nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America since 1640. The collection is displayed in the magnificent 175-room house, much as it was when the family of founder Henry Francis du Pont called it home.
Winterthur is also 1,000 acres of protected meadows, woodlands, ponds, and waterways. The 60-acre garden, designed by du Pont, is among America’s best, with magnificent plantings and massive displays of color throughout the year. The graduate degree programs and extensive research library make Winterthur an important center for the study of American art and culture.
Internship description
Winterthur offers a unique opportunity for the Woody Intern to work across the Collections and Interpretation Division which spans the following departments: curatorial, exhibitions, public programming, and registration. The focus of the internship includes content development for upcoming exhibitions as well as work to support ongoing collection assessment efforts. During the 10 weeks, the Woody Intern will have an opportunity to conduct primary material culture research, mentored by the museum's curatorial and exhibition staff, while also having myriad opportunities to engage with the division's interpretation and engagement team.
Preferred skills, experiences, and interests
Student of Art History, History, Cultural Studies, Anthropology, or a related field
Willingness to undertake a multidisciplinary set of tasks
Familiarity with archival research
Interest in working with numerous museum departments and partners
Learn more about the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library here.
Host institutions provide interns with mentored research experiences that align with their needs and strategic objectives. Students are expected to apply and practice what they learn by contributing to the creation of an original project (e.g., exhibit, publication, or digital initiative) that reflects the latest methods, best practices, and innovative technologies in the field.
Below are the general application requirements. You can find more information in the links provided above, including expected duties and qualifications for each internship.
Eligibility
Applicant must be:
a student in good academic standing.
a continuing undergraduate student (i.e., not a graduating senior).
eligible to work in the United States on or before May 1 of the internship year.
available to complete ten full weeks of intern and research activities in the summer.
Requirements
Internships will have a research component with specifics to be arranged with the internship supervisor. Students receiving internship funding are required to blog about their research experience during the summer on the Charles Center Summer Research Blog.
The application for the Woody Internship in Museum Studies includes:
Woody Museum Studies Internship Application form (online)
You will be asked to enter the names of two references :
One reference must be a faculty member who has taught you in class.
A second reference may be a former supervisor, acquaintance, etc. who can speak to your ability to be successful in the internship.
Cover Letter, addressed to the Charles Center, explaining the following:
why you are interested in the museum studies internship
the skill sets, academic preparation, and special interests or experiences you possess that qualify you for the internships you selected
why you consider yourself a good fit for your chosen internships
your personal qualities that make you suitable for this opportunity
how this internship relates to your career and academic goals
what you hope to gain from this experience
Writing sample, ranging from 3 to 5 double-spaced pages (not including bibliography, footnotes, or appendix), demonstrating:
A capacity to craft a coherent and compelling argument using primary and/or secondary sources
An engagement with history, culture, museums, arts, archaeology, or similar topics
Attention to language, grammar, syntax, and overall construction
Resume
Banner (unofficial) transcript
To access your unofficialtranscript, log in to Banner atbanweb.wm.edu, navigate to the “Student” tab, select "Student Records" and then “Student Profile.” On the left-hand menu of your student profile, click “Unofficial William & Mary Academic Transcript.” Select “Undergraduate” and “Web Self-Service” on the drop-down boxes. This will take you to your unofficialtranscript; right click anywhere, select “Print,” and select the destination as “Save as PDF.”
Supplemental work (optional)
Demonstrates research ability not displayed in the writing sample
Examples include: art portfolio, digital project, museum exhibit, community project
For more information or questions about the internship program, please contact Maxwell Cloe at mmcloe@wm.edu.
Previous Interns:
Internship information
2023
Sterling Hodge - Preservation Virginia in Richmond, Virginia Junior | History, GSWS
Emma Jackson - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior | Anthropology, Art History
Kathryn Keiserman - Jamestown Rediscovery and Historic Jamestown in Jamestown, Virginia Junior | Anthropology, Classical Studies
Sophia Kim - Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia Junior | Art History
Hannah Kuhns - Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virginia Junior | Art History
Annabelle Midden - Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond, Virginia Junior | History, Religious Studies
Isabel Periera-Lopez - Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Winterthur, Delaware Junior | History
Pelumi Sholagbade - Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia Junior | English
Natalie Simpson - Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation in Jamestown, Virginia Junior | American Studies, Hispanic Studies
Cecilia Weaver - Colonial National Historical Park in Yorktown, Virginia Junior | History, Government
Anna Wershbale - Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnatti, Ohio Junior | Art History
2022
Noah Broude - Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Winterthur, Delaware Junior | History and Linguistics
Caroline Donovan - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior | Anthropology
2021
Emma Eubank - Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, Ohio Junior | Anthropology and Medieval & Renaissance Studies Morgan Sanders - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior | History and Geology Hannah Sanner - Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Winterthur, Delaware Senior | Chinese Language & Culture
2020
Jamie Carkenord - The Phillips Collection in Washington DC Sophomore| American Studies
Julia Gibson- J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California Sophomore | History
Grant Wong- Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior | History
2019
Clara Poteet - J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California Junior| Art History Katie Gibson - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Sophomore| History Grace Ford-Dirks- Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Winterthur, Delaware Sophomore| History Hannah Lowe - Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, Ohio Sophomore| History
2018
Charles Parsons - The Phillips Collection in Washington DC Sophomore| Art & Art History major, Art History concentration
Hannah London - J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California Sophomore| Undeclared
Caitlin Wagner - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Junior | Anthropology major, Art History minor
Lydia Heaton- Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library Junior | History major, French & Francophone Studies minor
2017
Helen Cameron - J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California Junior | Art History & Classical Studies major, University of St. Andrews Joint Degree Program
Sarah Farver - The Phillips Collection in Washington DC Junior | History major, Art History minor
Emily Knoche - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Sophomore | Global Studies major, French & Francophone Studies minor
Anna South - Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library Sophomore | English major, University of St. Andrews Joint Degree Program
2016
Kelsey Frenkiel - The Phillips Collection in Washington DC Senior | Anthropology major, History minor
Emma Merrill - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Sophomore | History major, Public Policy minor
Isabel Stevens - J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California
Junior | History and Classics major
2015
Carter Lyon - The Phillips Collection in Washington DC Junior | History major, University of St. Andrews Joint Degree Program
Rachel Rosenfeld - Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia Sophomore | History and Film and Media Studies majors
Claire Tinsley - J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California
Chrysler Museum of Art (Norfolk, Virginia)
Colonial National Historical Park (Yorktown, Virginia)
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Preservation Virginia (Richmond, Virginia & multiple locations)
Preservation Virginia owns and operates six historic locations open to the public. It’s roughly 100 miles from Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown in Hanover County to Cape Henry Lighthouse in Virginia Beach- 100 Miles of History! Along the way, visit the John Marshall House, Historic Jamestowne, Smith’s Fort and Bacon’s Castle.
Taft Museum of Art (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Built around 1820 as a private home for several of Cincinnati’s most prominent citizens, the Taft Museum of Art is now one of the finest small art museums in America and holds National Historic Landmark status for its historic house and Duncanson murals.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond, Virginia)
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) is a state-supported, privately endowed educational institution created for the benefit of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret art, to encourage the study of the arts, and thus to enrich the lives of all.
Virginia Museum of History & Culture (Richmond, Virginia)
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) connects people to America's past through the unparalleled story of Virginia. By collecting, preserving, and interpreting the Commonwealth's history, the museum links past with present and inspires future generations.
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Winterthur, Delaware)
Winterthur is the premier museum of American decorative arts, with an unparalleled collection of nearly 90,000 objects made or used in America since 1640. The collection is displayed in the magnificent 175-room house, much as it was when the family of founder Henry Francis du Pont called it home.
