Undergraduate Internship at the Newark Historical Society

Nationwide historical societies are in dire need of the very basics required for caring for their collections. The Newark Historical Society is no exception, with its 30 year collecting history and 100% volunteer staff. This spring semester, thanks to a University of Delaware Collections Care Internship, the Society is getting a jump start on collections management. Working with William Mclain, Historical Society President and Barbara White, faithful volunteer, the Art Conservation Department has six undergraduate students bringing the collection into the 21st century. This includes adding artifact records into a professional collections database (PastPerfect software and computer donated by the team), a formal numbering (accessioning) and labeling system, upgraded storage, a collections policy, and a membership to the American Association of State and Local History.

According to Dr. Vicki Cassman, who supervises the internship, this is a win-win situation. The project provides needed resources and collections management systems to the Newark Historical Society and the students get to formally register and organize a collection for the first time in its history - a very meaningful community service project. Being able to manage collections professionally will allow the Society to fulfill its mission to preserve and use its collections for better public outreach, including exhibits.