An up-to-date list of upcoming internships.
SUMMER 2026 INTERNSHIPS
Instructions for applying here.
Check out the summer interns' Instagram (@public_history_uva) to see how interns spend their summers.
Questions? Email IPH Director Andrew Kahrl at awk6n@virginia.edu.
Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society (ACHS)
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville Music Cultures & Communities
Historical Research
2 open positions (confirmed)
Terms: The Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society (ACHS) is seeking 2 advanced undergraduate or graduate student interns with strong research and writing skills; a background in American History, preferably with a focus on cultural history and music; and familiarity with using local resources and archives. This internship pays $15/hour for undergraduate students or $20/hour for graduate students, for a total of 300 hours each over the course of the summer.
Goals: “Charlottesville Music Cultures & Communities” is a collaborative research project between ACHS, WTJU, and the UVA History Department to understand the local music scene and history of local musical movements, venues, and performers. This internship will work on situating the history of Charlottesville’s music cultures and communities within the larger history of slavery, racial segregation, and movements for racial and gender equality, locally and nationally. Additionally, this project will examine how changes in the local economy and built environment, and the growth of UVA and growing diversity of its student body since the 1960s, impacted its music communities and how musi
Contours of Community: Digitally Mapping Brown’s Cove
Historical Research & Oral History
1 open position (confirmed)
1 open position (dependent on future funding)
Terms: The Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society (ACHS) is seeking 1 advanced undergraduate student intern with strong research and writing skills; a background in American History, preferably with a focus on African American history and the history of American slavery; and familiarity with both oral history practices and genealogical research. This internship pays $15/hour for undergraduate students, for a total of 300 hours over the course of the summer.
Goals: “Contours of Community: Digitally Mapping Brown’s Cove” is a research project started by ACHS in 2024 to use GIS mapping and historical research to tell the long history of the Brown’s Cove region of western Albemarle County. Phase I of the project was completed in July 2025, and ACHS is continuing the project by working with descendant communities to include the 20th century history of the region, conduct oral histories, help families track genealogical roots, and incorporate this research and more into the online accessible website. Student interns will work on Phase II of this project and assist with further research and development of the site, including but not limited to: expanding on and creating new StoryMaps collections; interviewing and working with descendants from Brown’s Cove; working with the Project Manager and community liaisons to build connections within the region.
ACHS internships will take place at the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society building, located at 200 Second Street NE, Charlottesville, VA 22902. ACHS is accessible via public transit or by driving and parking in the area.
About ACHS: The Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society has served the local community since its founding in 1940. The mission of ACHS is to collect, preserve, and share the history of Albemarle County and Charlottesville, inspiring people to learn from our past. We collect and preserve archives, artifacts, research, and stories. We share through educational programs, exhibits, digital resources, and publications.
St. Luke’s Historic Church & Museum
Smithfield, Virginia
Indigenous Initiative (Warraskoyack Focus)
Terms: St Luke’s Historic Church & Museum is seeking one upper-level undergraduate or graduate student in history, anthropology, museum studies, Native American studies, or related fields to intern on the museum's Indigenous Initiative.
Goals:
- Research: document the history, culture, and legacy of the Warraskoyack people in Isle of Wight County.
- Collaboration: build relationships with Virginia-recognized tribes and Native voices.
- Interpretation: develop accessible public history content (digital, onsite, educational).
- Foundation: lay groundwork for ongoing Indigenous-focused initiatives at St. Luke's.
Intern Responsibilities:
1. Historical & Archival Research
- Collect and organize primary/secondary sources on the Warraskoyack (land deeds, colonial records, ethnographies, oral histories).
- Compile references from the Library of Virginia, William & Mary’s Colonial Papers, Smithsonian, and local county records.
- Create a research database (annotated bibliography + summaries).
- Create a specialized tour for our guide on Bloomberg Connects related to indigenous history.
2. Tribal & Community Engagement
- Research current federally and state-recognized tribes in Virginia (e.g., Nansemond, Chickahominy, etc.) with possible ties to Warraskoyack history.
- Assist staff in reaching out to tribal cultural officers for advice and potential partnerships.
- Draft respectful correspondence and maintain a log of outreach.
3. Interpretive Support
- Develop a draft outline for an exhibit panel, walking tour stop, or digital exhibit on the Warraskoyack.
- Write short educational pieces (blog posts, social media stories, or museum handouts).
- Suggest ways to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into existing tours of St. Luke’s.
4. Public Engagement & Education
- Propose a plan for an annual Indigenous Peoples program (lecture, performance, or panel discussion).
- Assist in designing family/educational activities that highlight Indigenous history.
- Research grant opportunities for Indigenous interpretation projects.
5. Overall Museum Operations
- Intern will shadow staff members to gain an understanding of our overall operations in each department.
About: St. Luke’s Historic Church & Museum is a museum of Virginia's oldest church building with a completion date of circa 1685. The mission of the museum is to preserve, protect, and promote this historic church landmark and its collections, documents, history, graveyard, and surroundings. Our programming focuses on teaching diverse audiences about early 17th century American history and the enduring significance of our 1st Amendment Rights and the unique nature of the American Constitutional Republic.
Scottsville Museum
Scottsville, Virginia
Museum Collections Inventory Project
Terms: The Scottsville Museum is seeking an advanced undergraduate or graduate student with an interest in history and material culture, who has computer skills and a passion for details and organization. Personal transportation is required, as most of the project involves work at the Scottsville Museum and within the community. There will also be some research which may be done via home computer or at the University of Virginia library. The internship will begin the week of June 1 and continue through Sunday, August 9th, including a formal project presentation to the museum board on Saturday, August 8th at 9:30am. This internship pays $15/hour for an undergraduate or $20/hour for a graduate student, for 300 hours of work over the summer.
Goals: The Scottsville Museum is a small-town museum with a limited budget run by volunteers. The museum is seeking to improve the accessibility of our research materials. In an effort to do so, we are updating the inventory of our collections. This hands-on project will include instructions on how to document and archivally store objects. Our intern will deepen their historical research skills, gain hands-on experience working with a wide array of objects and archives, and play a significant role in telling our town or area’s stories.
Outcome: With the guidance of several members of the Museum Board, the intern will identify and tag objects within our collection, work with volunteers to log items into our collections database, and propose future research and exhibition themes for the museum board to consider. In addition, the intern(s) will write a four- to five-page newsletter article describing the summer’s work and give a brief report and proposal to the Scottsville Museum Board of Directors at the August board meeting.
About: The Scottsville Museum and Historic Landmarks Foundation is a nonprofit, incorporated organization which seeks to preserve for the public benefit the historical, natural, and artistic heritage of the Scottsville community and surrounding areas of southern Albemarle County. It is housed in a former Disciples of Christ Church, built in 1846, and its adjacent parsonage, the Barclay House. The latter building has been renovated to create research and meeting space, and to house technical systems, archives, library, and storage space. The Museum is on Main Street in downtown Scottsville. It displays permanent and rotating exhibits relating to the town and its history. It is open to the public on weekends from April to October, and by appointment at other times. Should a prospective intern be interested in visiting the Museum, a private tour can be arranged by contacting one of the board members at info@scottsvillemuseum.com.
Prince William County Historical Commission
Dumfries, Virginia
One undergraduate internship (tentative, pending funding)
Historical research
Terms: The Prince William County Historical Commission, in coordination with the Planning Office and the Office of Historic Preservation, is seeking an undergraduate intern to conduct a local historical research project. The intern needs to demonstrate the capability to work independently, and possess strong oral and written communications skills along with organizational skills. The selected student will work closely with County historians and experts to review primary and secondary source material available at county and online repositories. Previous experience with archival research and GIS mapping is helpful but not required. The intern’s workspace will be in the Prince William County Planning Office, located at 5 County Complex Court, Suite 210, Prince William Virginia 22192. This research project is not to exceed 300 hours and pays $15/hr.
Please note: The candidate must have access to housing and transportation to the Prince William County Planning Office and research repositories. Hybrid options may be available in consultation with the selected candidate, but in-person attendance at monthly Historical Commission meetings is required. Also, attendance at and reporting to the Prince William County Historical Commission during its regularly scheduled monthly meeting is required. These meetings take place on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm at 5 County Complex Court, Suite 210, Prince William, VA.
Goals: TBA
Outcomes: TBA
About: The Prince William County Historical Commission is composed of 16 citizens appointed by the Board of County Supervisors. The Historical Commission advises the Board in its efforts to identify, preserve, protect and promote Prince William County's historical sites, artifacts, buildings and events. Members review land development applications and make recommendations regarding their impact on cultural resources; produce publications related to local history; provide input on the installation of historical highway markers; propose properties to be classified as County Registered Historic Sites; conduct tours; and award community service certificates.
Virginia Museum of History and Culture
Richmond, Virginia
One undergraduate internship (tentative)
Terms: The Virginia Museum of History and Culture will host one enrolled undergraduate intern with experience in public history, history, or American Studies for the summer of 2026.
Goals: TBA
About: The Virginia Museum of History & Culture has a mission: Connecting people to America's past through the unparalleled story of Virginia. By collecting, preserving, and interpreting the Commonwealth's history, we link past with present and inspire future generations. The VMHC is the oldest cultural organization in Virginia and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the nation. For use in its state history museum and its renowned research library, the historical society cares for a collection of nearly nine million items representing the ever-evolving story of Virginia.