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Student Internship Opportunities at the
National Archives at Atlanta

Please note: These are single-semester unpaid positions.
If you are applying for a paid student job, these are administered through the Pathways program at https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads.

• About Us
• Overview of Intern Program
• Areas of Interest for Interns
• Qualifications
• How to Apply
• If Selected

About Us

The National Archives administers a nationwide network of facilities, serving both the public and federal agencies. The National Archives at Atlanta is:

• Part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Federal agency that, by law, preserves and provides access to permanently valuable, non-current Federal records with historical, legal, or fiscal value.
  
  
• One of 14 NARA facilities where the public has access to Federal archival records.
  
  
• A Depository and center for research in historical records from Federal agencies and courts in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
  
  
• A center for genealogical research and family history.
  
  
• A sponsor of programs that educate the public about archives, history, genealogy, and related subjects.
  
  
• A partner with colleges and universities, historical societies, genealogical groups, museums, and leading cultural and social institutions.
  
  
• A national resource in a local setting.

History comes alive through the expansive holdings of the National Archives at Atlanta. Our holdings document an unimaginable array of stories and events, providing compelling firsthand accounts of the famous, the infamous, and the common citizen in the Southeast. The holdings present pop culture icons, bottleggers and war heroes, the path to civil liberties, citizenship and family history, and milestones in medicine, technology, and science. All these stories and more are told through the records of the U.S. District Courts, the Selective Service System, the Bureau of the Census, the Bureau of Prisons, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . . . .

Overview of Intern Program

Our goal is to provide undergraduate and graduate students with a meaningful and realistic work experience that will be beneficial to both students and our organization. We have opportunities for students in a variety of disciplines including social sciences, library science, archival science, and education. Students are required to commit to a minimum of 135 hours during the term of their internship. Exact hours may vary depending on the requirements of their university. This equates to approximately 10 hours a week during a semester. Interns work during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Internships are available for Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters.

Areas of Interest for Interns

Archives - Assist with the intellectual control, indexing, and preservation of historic Federal government records. Assist with the arrangement and description of historic Federal government records. Review and analyze archival holdings to create finding aids and inventories. Conduct secondary and primary source research. Responsibilities may include verifying contents of collections, making necessary changes to descriptive materials, assisting in the creation of finding aids, and entering data into a computer database.

Education and Outreach - Assist with development of education tools based on primary sources located in the National Archives. Encourages continued use of programs and services by current constituents. Identifies potential new constituencies and strategies to best promote programs and services to them, including teachers (K-12), college and university professors, historians, authors, the media, etc. Responsibilities could include developing lesson plans; matching state and national curriculum standards to National Archives documents; assisting in the development of workshops and programs for teachers and/or students; and carrying out related administrative activities.

Qualifications

Overall qualifications for interns include:

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Current enrollment in a 2-year, 4-year, or graduate degree program
• Good organizational skills
• Detail oriented
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work independently and effectively given a limited time frame
• Ability to balance multiple tasks
• Dependable and punctual
• Basic computer skills

How to Apply

Please complete the Intern Application and return it to the following staff member

National Archives at Atlanta
5780 Jonesboro Road
Morrow, GA 30260
770-968-2540
Shane.Bell@nara.gov

For general questions about the intern program contact:

Shane Bell at 770-968-2540 / Shane.Bell@nara.gov

If Selected for the Intern Program

Once selected for an intern position, you must undergo a background investigation. Prior to starting your internship, you must complete a Student Intern Services Agreement that formalizes the working relationship between yourself, the National Archives at Atlanta, and your educational institution.