Collections Management Intern - Photographs

Organization Summary

The National Building Museum inspires curiosity about the world we design and build.

We are a private, nonprofit institution, created by Congress in 1980 to commemorate American achievements in architecture, design, and engineering and to encourage excellence in the building arts. Today, the National Building Museum transforms understanding of the history and impact of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, and design. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and special events, we welcome all ages to experience stories about the built world and its power to shape our lives, communities, and futures.

Our Commitment

At the Museum, we pursue diversity and endeavor to create an inclusive and accessible environment for our staff, visitors, stakeholders, and Board members. We value diverse perspectives and believe the power of diversity enriches us all. Creating an inclusive environment is critical to every individual’s work. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply.

Position Description

The National Building Museum is currently seeking two graduate-level interns to help organize, catalog, scan, and rehouse photographs from the Robert C. Lautman Photography Collection.  The Lautman Collection consists of 68,000 prints, negatives, transparencies, and slides as well as books, magazines, cameras, and other ephemera related to Lautman’s practice as an architectural photographer. The Museum received the collection in 2006 and promptly organized, inventoried, and rehoused half of the photographic materials. The second half of the collection was recently inventoried and is now being brought up to standard as part of a multi-year, grant-funded project. The Photographs interns will work with the Collections Specialist to continue cataloging and scanning the historical prints in the collection in preparation for uploading the records to the Museum’s collections management database.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Undergo training in cataloging and data standards, object handling, digitization, and box-making and rehousing
• Catalog, scan, and rehouse photographs from the Robert C. Lautman Photography Collection
  • Enter data into excel spreadsheets for bulk upload into the Museum’s collections management database and collections website
  • Digitize collections using flatbed scanner, lightboard, and digital camera
• Research the content and location of photographs, as needed
• Assist with exhibition installation and deinstallation, as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Requirements 

• Candidates must be enrolled in or recently graduated from a graduate program
• Previous experience with museum collections preferred
• Knowledge of proper archival and collections management techniques
• Self-starter that can work independently
• Be creative and a problem solver
• Ability to work well in a team environment

Interns must be available to work onsite 2-3 days each week totaling 400 hours over the internship term. Hours of position are very flexible, but must occur Monday – Thursday; between 9:00am and 4:00pm. The position wil start the week of January 12, 2026, with a mandatory orientation day the first week, based on intern cohort and staff availability.   

Interns will be paid $20 per hour for their work on this project including orientation and any required trainings. We will also work with your graduate program to ensure you receive academic credit for your work, if possible.