Simmons Graduate Internship Program
The Henry Ford’s Simmons Internship Program is designed for graduate students pursuing careers in museums, historical agencies, conservation labs or related fields. This internship provides participants with a great opportunity to gain in-depth work experience in a major American history museum.
Each intern will work directly with a curator, registrar, educator, archivist, librarian or conservator who serves as a mentor. In addition to completing specific project assignments and giving a public presentation on the project results, Simmons interns are encouraged to participate in the larger life of the institution in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the varied aspects of museum work.
Stipend and Terms of Internship
Simmons interns are awarded stipends for the 12-week full time internship. Projects typically begin at the end of the spring term, but starting and ending dates for individual internships are negotiable. The Simmons Internship Program is funded by the Vera W. and Walter E. Simmons Endowment Fund.
During the summer of 2010, we are offering two paid graduate internships. Although three intern projects are listed below, only two internships will be awarded. The selected projects will be those two that have the strongest candidates. You must apply for a specific project. We will not accept applications that do not indicate which project you are selecting. If you are interested in applying for more than one project, you must submit a separate application for each project.
Your application should include the following: a letter of application which states how your graduate studies, work and/or volunteer experience and personal interests qualify you for the specific project, and a résumé. Two letters of recommendation regarding your qualifications for the internship must be submitted directly by the author of the recommendation.
As stated above, if you wish to apply for more than one project, please submit a letter of application for each project, stating how you are qualified for that particular project. You need not submit more than one résumé.
The deadline for application is Monday March 1 (postmarked or emailed by 11:59 PM EST).
Submit applications, résumé and letters of recommendation by mail or email to:
Simmons Internship Committee
Attention: Cynthia R. Miller, Chair
Via email:
HistoryInternship@TheHenryFord.org
Subject: Application
Via postal mail
Simmons Internship Committee
Attention: Cynthia R. Miller, Chair
The Henry Ford
20900 Oakwood Blvd.
Dearborn, MI 48124-5029
Internship Descriptions
Conservation Intern
Under the direction of a conservator at The Henry Ford, the Conservation Intern will research, examine and treat transportation collection artifacts. The Conservation Intern will join the initiative to work on some of our highest priority conservation challenges, including a circa 1890 horse-drawn streetcar, a 1937 LaSalle, a 1908 Stevens-Duryea Limousine, a 1913 unique “Cyclecar” and a 1907 White steam car. All are in substantially original condition and have interesting condition problems. Projects will range from issues related to pest eradication, treatment of original paint, wool and leather upholstery and metal care. Research to determine original components or older restorations will be required. The collections of The Henry Ford include significant automobile and horse drawn vehicle collections as well as related archival holdings.
Click here to view full Conservation Internship job description.
Education Product Development Intern
Under the direction of the Director of Education, the Education Product Development Intern will conceptualize, research and develop new product prototypes that utilize the resources of The Henry Ford’s OnInnovation educational initiative. The Henry Ford has been conducting and videotaping oral histories with dozens of leading contemporary innovators to document the process of innovation to understand how these innovators work, think and translate their ideas into tangible products. The intern will collaborate with internal and external partners to develop new business management resources and tools for corporate and higher education audiences.
Click here to view full Education Product Development Internship job description.
Processing Archivist Intern
Under the direction of a Benson Ford Research Center archivist, the Processing Archivist Intern will arrange and describe archival collections. The research center recently acquired several significant auto racing and industrial design collections. The intern will join an initiative to arrange and describe these newly acquired archival collections. The Benson Ford Research Center of The Henry Ford maintains the largest and most significant collections in the U.S. concerning the impact of the automobile, industrial manufacturing and design, and many other aspects of American culture and everyday life.
Click here to view full Processing Archivist Internship job description.
Clark Travel-to-Collections Research Grant Program
The Clark Travel-to-Collections program provides support for research using the automotive history collections of The Henry Ford. Donation of the Henry Austin Clark, Jr. Library in 1991 substantially increased these collections. Applications are welcomed from researchers who want to use the automotive history collections and plan to publish or publicly present the results of their research. Researchers may include automotive researchers, journalists, teachers, librarians, museum curators, archivists, and students. The grant covers a minimum two-week period up to a maximum of two months. The research may cover any area of automotive history, including design, manufacturing, marketing, corporate history, or labor relations. Research should be directed toward production of a specific product, such as an article, chapter of a book, lecture, film, etc. The program will award two travel grants annually.
Grant Amount and Terms of Grant
The Clark Travel-to-Collections Research Grant Program provides up to $1,200 to defray travel expenses for researchers coming to use the Henry Austin Clark, Jr. automotive history material. Recipients are to be in residence or at least travel to The Henry Ford on a regular and consistent basis. Recipients should be prepared to devote their full time to the research funded by the fellowship. Two fellowships will be awarded annually. View topics of past grant recipients.
Application Process
Applications require a statement describing the project, submission of a budget, a timeline for completion of the research, and two letters of support along with a curriculum vitae. Applications accepted annually by October 15 for research in the next calendar year.
Clark Travel-to-Collections Program
Judith E. Endelman
Director, Benson Ford Research Center
The Henry Ford
20900 Oakwood Blvd
Dearborn, MI 48124-5029
JudithE@thehenryford.org
The Clark Travel-to-Collections Grant Program is supported by the Henry Austin Clark, Jr. Endowment Fund.