Henry Austin Clark, Jr., Graduate Internship

The application period for 2023 Henry Austin Clark, Jr. Internships has closed. Thank you to all our applicants! Please check back early next year for 2024 Henry Austin Clark, Jr. Internship opportunities. For more information about the Henry Austin Clark, Jr. Internship Program, contact HistoryInternship@TheHenryFord.org or Sophia Kloc, The Henry Ford 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI 48124-5029. 


In 1995, Henry Austin Clark Jr. donated his extensive automotive history collection to The Henry Ford, and since that time, the Archives and Library has strived to process and provide access to this important body of material. A significant portion of the collection has been processed, including:

However, a sizable amount of the original donation remains un- or partially processed. Included in this material is corporate literature; automotive product literature; photographs; ephemera, such as postcards, maps, and calendars; serial publications; and drawings, among others.

The Archives and Library seeks a Graduate Intern to assist in the effort to advance the processing of the remaining portion of the collection and improve its serviceability and findability for our researchers. For Summer 2023 the focus will be placed on the Photographs Addendum, spanning 31 cubic ft. (40 boxes).

Working with the Archives Technical Services Team, duties of the intern will include:

  • Rehousing and arrangement as needed of the unprocessed materials.
  • Addition and improvement of container labeling.
  • Updating and revision of existing collection description and creation of new description.

In addition, at the completion of the internship, with assistance and input from appropriate staff, the student will present a synopsis of the project to an audience of The Henry Ford staff.


Skills and abilities required:

  • Interest in gaining experience with description and access of archival collections.
  • Understanding of archival description standards and practices.
  • Strong writing and communication skills, and attention to detail.


Successful completion of the internship will give the student experience with:

  • Requirements for the description of, and provision of access to, archival collections
  • Experience with a non-archives focused collection management system
  • Adapting and applying best practices to a working archive
  • Working in the multi-disciplinary environment of a museum archive

Qualifications:

Current or recent graduate students enrolled in a master’s degree program in Library and Information Science with a concentration or strong focus on archives.