American/Art History, Library Science, Historic Preservation, Education
Project Number: MTATM 500
Department: New York Transit Museum
Division: Archive
Work Location/Room Number: 130 Livingston Room C42
Title of Intern Position: Museum Archive Support Aide
Major(s) Preferred: Archives Management, Library and Information science, Digital Media, Museum Studies, Conservation/Preservation Administration, History, and Photography
Number of Positions: 2
Overview of Dept/Division:
The New York Transit Museum Archives is the official repository for administrative
records of enduring historical value of the MTA and its predecessor agencies;
historical documents are also acquired from outside sources. The New York
Transit Museum Archives collects historical documents and works of art on
paper relating to New York City mass transit from the mid-nineteenth century
to the present. These records and documents include photographs, moving image
materials, maps, posters, engineering drawings, books and serial publications,
reports, proposals, records of legal proceedings, correspondence, and other
materials. The Archives preserves and catalogs these materials and makes
them available to researchers. The Archives provide reference services by
telephone and mail, conducts research, supports all Museum staff functions
(exhibitions, programs, development, retail operations, outreach) and initiates
publications that provide historical information to the public.
Responsibilities:
- Document and Photograph Processing
- We have several new collections that require processing. Processing includes cleaning, arrangement, description/cataloging (in a PastPerfect database), foldering and boxing.
- Digital Media Management
- Photographic negatives and slides will be scanned, metadata created and images will be attached to our collection management database PastPerfect.
Special Qualifications or Background Needed:
Project Number: MTATM 502
Department: MTA/ Corporate Affairs/ Communications
Division: New York Transit Museum
Work Location/Room Number: New York Transit Museum, Corner of Boerum Place & Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn NY/ Curatorial Office
Title of Intern Position: Registrar’s Support Aide
Major(s) Preferred: Museum Studies, Library and Information Science, Conservation/ Preservation Administration, American History, Art History, and Historic Preservation
Number of Positions: 1
Overview of Dept/Division: The mission of the New York Transit Museum is to: “Collect, exhibit, interpret, and preserve the history, sociology, and technology of public transportation systems in the New York metropolitan region and conduct research and educational programs that make its extensive collection accessible and meaningful to the broadest possible audience.”
NYTM is one of only a few museums in the world dedicated to telling the story of urban public transportation—from the people who developed, operate, and ride it, to the city and region it has helped shape. NYTM focuses on this human experience and the impact of public transportation on the growth and development of the New York metropolitan region. The Museum collects, preserves, and presents materials relating to the region’s land-based public transportation, past and present, focusing on the agencies of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and their predecessor companies.
Responsibilities: Assists with multiple projects involving Transit Museum artifact collections. These projects include, but are not limited to, inventorying, cataloging, documenting, researching and appropriately housing museum artifacts; taking digital images and scans; preparing and entering catalog records into the PastPerfect database.
Special Qualifications or Background Needed: Students who have had coursework or experience in collections care and management, cataloging, records management and/or historical research methods are encouraged to apply. The candidate should have excellent PC skills with knowledge of Windows applications; be familiar with database systems and digital imaging; have excellent organizational skills; be detail-oriented, responsible and dependable; have working knowledge of office procedures and equipment.
