Fall 2026 Internships

Historic Boulder’s “Meet the Spirits” – Research Assistants

Historic Boulder, Inc. (“HBI”) has hosted a history reenactment event in Boulder’s Columbia Cemetery (9^th & College) for over three decades: “Meet the Spirits” invites people of all ages into the cemetery to hear costumed volunteer actors portray and tell the stories of the early residents of Boulder who are buried there. Of the over 6,500 people interred at Columbia, we have gathered stories for less than 100 and seek to diversify our historical records by adding stories of Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian-descent people who were part of Boulder’s community. We recognize that these histories have been marginalized and finding their rich detail requires time, effort and creativity in seeking them out. In an effort to support the documentation of Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian stories in the historical record, our goal is to add several Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian people to our “Spirit” cast to share these stories with the public in an engaging way.

The cemetery has an index of people buried in the cemetery which is the starting point for the research project and we have a partial list of candidate “spirits” here: Latinx Hispanic Mexican Chicano - Burials in Columbia Cemetery (80% Complete) and Asian Americans buried in Cemetery (partial)

LEARN MORE & APPLY for the Historic Boulder's "Meet the Spirits" internship

Number of Positions: 2 unpaid positions.

Supervisor: Melanie Muckle and Tim Plass, Historic Boulder, Inc.

Schedule: 8-10 hours per week for a total of 120-150 hours over the semester. Interns choosing to enroll in HIST 4930 much complete 120-150 hours to receive 3 credit hours.

Format: Weekly meetings (to review findings, challenges and progress in research) with Historic Boulder staff will be in-person, including an initial meeting at the Columbia Cemetery and another at the Carnegie Library. Otherwise, interns can expect work to be completed independently via a combination of virtual and on-site research (i.e., online, local libraries, CU campus, interviewing family members), as needed for completing final project:

a historical sketch and story script for one or more people buried in Columbia Cemetery of Latinx, Indigenous, Asian heritage;
along with one or more of the following about the person: a) a poster story-board, b) a webpage, c) a short video, AND/OR d) a performance portraying the person telling the story at this year’s Meet the Spirits taking place on October 3 & 4, 2026;
an annotated bibliography of primary and secondary sources

Compensation/Course Credit: Unpaid. Students may earn 3 internship credits towards their HIST major or minor by completing several personal reflections/journal entries and submitting a final project/sample of work from their internship. To earn credit, students must enroll in HIST 4930.

Desired skills and/or traits:

Interest in public history, culture, and community history, including sharing history with the public in creative ways.
Interest in Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian American history. Relevant language proficiency is a plus.
Experience with research using various primary source materials.
Excellent research, documenting, and writing skills.
Detail-oriented, accurate, and organized.
Comfortable working independently and willing to ask questions when needed.
Flexibility, adaptability, and a sense of fun.

How to apply: Submit an internship application and a cover letter to the History Internships Coordinator, Dr. Natalie Mendoza (natalie.mendozagutierrez@colorado.edu) and cc ss-history@colorado.edu. Cover letter should be saved as a PDF and must answer the following questions:

What skills do you bring to this position? Where possible, be specific about courses or non-academic experiences from which you learned or developed any (or all) of the skills discussed in your cover letter.
How does this position support your current historical interests and future goals?
What do you hope to learn and get out of this position?

Applicants will be expected to interview with the supervisor.

Application deadline: Priority deadline is August 13, 2026, meaning applications submitted by this date will receive priority in the review process. The host site will select an intern in time to begin work in the first full week or so of the semester.

Louisville Historical Museum – Marshall Fire Story Project Oral History Program Intern

“Be a Part of the Story" at the Louisville Historical Museum! The Museum engages the community, preserves historic collections, and shares the history of Louisville.

This is a great opportunity to work with Museum staff assisting with the Marshall Fire Story Project and oral histories at the Louisville Historical Museum. Work scope will focus on preparing and processing oral history recordings and transcripts to be accessible to the public as well as planning for the five-year anniversary of the Marshall Fire.

The Marshall Fire occurred on December 30, 2021 and caused the destruction of over 1,000 houses in Louisville and Superior. December 2026 will mark the five-year anniversary of the fire, and the City of Louisville will be commemorating the event and the recent years of recovery and rebuilding. The Louisville Historical Museum has collected 48 oral histories plus additional written accounts, photographs, and artifacts related to the Marshall Fire. This internship will primarily assist with preparing oral history interviews of Marshall Fire survivors to be shared at a commemorative event in mid-December 2026.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY for the LHM Marshal Fire Story Project Oral History Program Internship

Essential duties:

Review existing oral history interviews, write short summaries of contents, and prepare oral histories for online use
Edit, format, and finalize interview transcripts according to documentation standards.
Conduct quality control checks on transcripts and audio recordings
Assist with planning a commemorative event, contacting and working with Marshall Fire families
Assist with planning and implementation of event exhibition of artifacts, sharing of oral histories, and other activities at the commemoration
May perform other duties as assigned

Please note: The Marshall Fire was an intense and destructive event where many people lost all of their belongings and/or their homes. This internship requires working with and hearing stories of trauma and loss, including loss of pets, homes, and general hardships during the fire, recovery, and rebuilding phases. Museum staff will work with you to balance workload and diversity in project work but will also expect you to communicate with us and be mindful of your own mental and emotional wellness and response to disasters and traumatic events.

Number of Positions: 1 unpaid position. PLEASE NOTE: This internship must be taken for course credit (to comply with the city of Louisville policy on government agencies hosting interns).

Supervisor: Gigi Yang, Museum Services Supervisor; Kira Boatright, Museum Associate – Collections Management

Schedule: 8-10 hours per week for a total of 120-150 hours over the semester. The intern can expect to attend an orientation early in the semester before beginning work.

Format: In person at the Louisville Historical Museum for training and event preparation work. Other hours may be worked remotely with in-person or on-line check in meetings with Museum staff.

The museum is located at 1001 Main St. Louisville, CO 80027. Visitor information and map.

Driving - Free parking is available in the lot behind the Museum on South St. as well as street parking in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Bus - The RTD Dash runs between Boulder and Lafayette and stops in Louisville. The closest bus stop to the Museum is at the corner of Short St. and Main St. at stop #17882. View map and schedule of the Dash Route.

Bike/ Walk - The Museum can be reached by numerous bike paths and trails across Boulder County. View the interactive Boulder County Trail Map.

Compensation/Course Credit: Unpaid position. PLEASE NOTE: This internship must be taken for course credit (to comply with the city of Louisville policy on government agencies hosting interns). This entails enrolling in HIST 4930 and completing modest course work: personal reflections/journal entries and submitting a final project/sample of work from the internship. HIST 4930 counts towards the HIST major or minor requirements.

Desired skills and/or traits:

Interest in public history, historic collections, and/or a career in museums or archives
Interest in or past experience working with oral history interviews and learning about and understanding individual life stories and experiences
Awareness of impacts of wildfires, natural disasters, community or individual trauma
Excellent empathetic, interpersonal, and listening skills
Excellent reading comprehension and summarizing skills
Skill or comfort with editing and formatting documents in Google docs or MS Word.
Detail-oriented, accurate, and organized; ability to follow detailed instructions
Experience with research using various primary source materials
Comfortable working independently and willing to ask questions when needed
Skill or comfort with graphic design (Canva or Adobe Creative Suite) preferred but not required
Flexibility, adaptability, and strong communication skills

What skills do you bring to this position? Where possible, be specific about courses or non-academic experiences from which you learned or developed any (or all) of the skills discussed in your cover letter.
How does this position support your current historical interests and future goals?
What do you hope to learn and get out of this position?

Applicants will be expected to interview with the supervisor.

Louisville Historical Museum – Oral History Program Intern

“Be a Part of the Story" at the Louisville Historical Museum! The Museum engages the community, preserves historic collections, and shares the history of Louisville.

This is a great opportunity to work with Museum staff assisting with the development of the Oral History Program at the Louisville Historical Museum. Work scope will focus on preparing and conducting oral history interviews and processing oral history recordings and transcripts to be accessible to the public. To date, the Louisville Historical Museum’s oral history collection consists of approximately 200 audio and video interviews from the 1970s to today.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY for the LHM Oral History Program Internship

Essential duties:

Help coordinate and facilitate in-person oral history interviews
Review existing oral history interviews, write short summaries of contents, and prepare oral histories for online use
Edit, format, and finalize interview transcripts according to documentation standards
Conduct quality control checks on transcripts and audio recordings
Ensure proper documentation and verification of interview consent forms
May perform other duties as assigned

Number of Positions: 1 unpaid position. PLEASE NOTE: This internship must be taken for course credit (to comply with the city of Louisville policy on government agencies hosting interns).

Supervisor: Gigi Yang, Museum Services Supervisor; Eilish Brennan, Museum Associate – Public History and Oral History

Schedule: 8-10 hours per week for a total of 120-150 hours over the semester. The intern can expect to attend an orientation early in the semester before beginning work.

Format: In person at the Louisville Historical Museum for training and at the Louisville Public Library for oral history interviews. Other hours may be worked remotely with in-person or on-line check in meetings with Museum staff.

The museum is located at 1001 Main St. Louisville, CO 80027. Visitor information and map.

Driving - Free parking is available in the lot behind the Museum on South St. as well as street parking in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Bike/ Walk - The Museum can be reached by numerous bike paths and trails across Boulder County. View the interactive Boulder County Trail Map.

Compensation/Course Credit: Unpaid position.PLEASE NOTE: This internship must be taken for course credit (to comply with the city of Louisville policy on government agencies hosting interns). This entails enrolling in HIST 4930 and completing modest course work: personal reflections/journal entries and submitting a final project/sample of work from the internship. HIST 4930 counts towards the HIST major or minor requirements.

Desired skills and/or traits:

Interest in public history, historic collections, and/or a career in museums or archives
Interest in or past experience in conducting oral history interviews and learning about and understanding individual life stories and experiences
Excellent interpersonal and listening skills and ability to set people at ease in interview settings
Excellent reading comprehension and summarizing skills
Skill or comfort with editing and formatting documents in Google docs or MS Word.
Detail-oriented, accurate, and organized, ability to follow detailed instructions
Experience with research using various primary source materials
Comfortable working independently and willing to ask questions when needed
Flexibility, adaptability, and a sense of humor

What skills do you bring to this position? Where possible, be specific about courses or non-academic experiences from which you learned or developed any (or all) of the skills discussed in your cover letter.
How does this position support your current historical interests and future goals?
What do you hope to learn and get out of this position?

Applicants will be expected to interview with the supervisor.

Museum of Boulder (warehouse) – Collections Intern

The Museum of Boulder is currently accepting interns for Collections. Collection interns help us inventory, properly store, research and care for the Museum’s extensive collection of over 45,000 objects.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY to the Museum of Boulder

Responsibilities Could Include:

• Processing, inventorying, documenting and cataloging the Museum’s collections

• Getting hands-on experience with the Museum’s database: Past Perfect

• Preparing objects for exhibition: cleaning, mount-making, research, photography, etc.

• Carrying out regular environmental monitoring and IPM (integrated pest management)

• Carrying out a specific project that can be included in future resumes. Such as a blog post, an subject specific inventory, a small case exhibit

• Day to day care of objects being held in the Museum’s care.

Training will be embedded in the role, and you will work alongside the Curator and her team to ensure you feel confident in carrying out the tasks you are involved in. The ideal intern will bring an equal desire to take initiative while also learning in a hands-on environment from an expert curator.

Commitment:

As a Collections Intern you will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of different projects, each with their own timeline and recommended level of commitment. The Museum expects interns to attend collections training before beginning weekly work on Volunteer Workdays: Wednesdays & Thursdays for a period of 1 semester or 6 months.

Number of Positions: 1-2 unpaid positions

Supervisor: Elizabeth Nosek, Curator

Schedule: 8-10 hours per week (possibly 16 hours per week), for a total of 120-150 hours over the course of the semester. Interns choosing to enroll in HIST 4930 must complete 120-150 hours to receive 3 credit hours.

Format: In-person at the museum warehouse.

Compensation/Course Credit: Unpaid position. Students may earn 3 internship credits towards their HIST major or minor by completing several personal reflections/journal entries and submitting a final project/sample of work from their internship. To earn credit, students must enroll in HIST 4930.

Desired skills and/or traits:

Friendly, positive, flexible, and polite individuals over the age of 18 who show a willingness to work as a team and individually throughout their shift
An interest in museums, material culture, and research
Attention to detail and a willingness to learn about and use collections management systems
An enthusiasm to develop knowledge about museums, Boulder history, and the Museum of Boulder’s collections and share this in a positive and lively way
Individuals who enjoy working as part of a small, dedicated team
An interest in heritage, costume, art, memorial collections, archaeology, and/or local history

What skills do you bring to this position? Where possible, be specific about courses or non-academic experiences from which you learned or developed any (or all) of the skills discussed in your cover letter.
How does this position support your current historical interests and future goals?
What do you hope to learn and get out of this position?

Applicants will be expected to interview with the supervisor.

University Libraries History Research Internship

In celebration of the University of Colorado Boulder’s 150^th anniversary, the University Libraries is offering one internship focused on researching, documenting, and sharing the Libraries’ history. The intern will contribute to storytelling initiatives by conducting historical research using archival collections, photographs, publications, and other primary and secondary sources. Research may contribute to exhibits, essays, social media posts, biographical sketches, timelines, and presentations.

Number of Positions: 1 unpaid position

Supervisor: Arthur Aguilera, Head of Collection Development and Assessment

Schedule: 8-10 hours per week, for a total of 120-150 hours over the course of the semester. Interns choosing to enroll in HIST 4930 must complete 120-150 hours to receive 3 credit hours.

Format: Hybrid. Onsite research in Norlin Library is available Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Research using digital collections and secondary sources may be completed remotely.

Desired skills and/or traits:

Interest in archives or libraries
Research and writing skills
Detail-oriented and organized
Comfortable working independently and willing to ask questions when needed
Access to a computer with internet and video call capabilities
Familiarity with CU Boulder campus, Boulder, or Colorado history helpful
General knowledge of nineteenth-and twentieth-century history helpful

What skills do you bring to this position? Where possible, be specific about courses or non-academic experiences from which you learned or developed any (or all) of the skills discussed in your cover letter.
How does this position support your current historical interests and future goals?
What do you hope to learn and get out of this position?

Applicants will be expected to interview with the supervisor.

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Fall 2026 Internships

Historic Boulder’s “Meet the Spirits” – Research Assistants

Louisville Historical Museum – Marshall Fire Story Project Oral History Program Intern

Louisville Historical Museum – Oral History Program Intern

Museum of Boulder (warehouse) – Collections Intern

University Libraries History Research Internship