About the Office of the CuratorThe Curator’s Office was created by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger in 1973 to record and preserve the Court’s history. Our mission is to promote a greater public understanding and appreciation of the nation's highest court. To this end, we collect the institution’s rich history, share it with a diverse audience through a variety of programs, and preserve it for future generations. The collection includes furniture, decorative arts, prints and photographs, and artwork, including oil portraits of Supreme Court Justices. The collection also includes archival material, memorabilia, scrapbooks, correspondence, and attire such as judicial robes.
Internships in the Office of the CuratorInterns in the Curator’s Office develop a substantial working knowledge of the role and functions of the Supreme Court, its history, and the architecture of the building. Each intern is assigned to work with one or more staff members on curatorial projects for Collections Management, Digital Assets Management, and Visitor Programs. In addition, all interns gain valuable public speaking and interpersonal skills by conducting tours and Courtroom Lectures and staffing a visitor desk.
Curatorial Internship Positions & QualificationsPlease note: Not every position listed below will be sought each semester, and interns may be assigned to work in more than one area.
Collections Management Duties & Skills: Assist the Collections staff with cataloguing the Court’s collection related to the Justices and Court history. Assist with organizing and cataloging fine and decorative arts, graphic arts, archives, and memorabilia, rehousing collection objects, high-resolution scanning, and conducting historical research.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and computer proficiency are required. Previous experience with collections or archives, knowledge of collections management principles and practices, and experience with The Museum System (TMS) or similar software strongly preferred.
Digital Assets Management Duties & Skills: Assist the Court photography staff in an ongoing effort to make the Court’s collection of photographs accessible to staff and researchers by helping to build and maintain databases of digital images. Work includes cataloguing, adding metadata to create and enhance documentation of images, scanning, and distributing digital assets. Interns will develop a working knowledge of the collection in order to assist in responding to requests for use of images.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail in data management, and ability to communicate clearly in writing are required. Ability to learn internal software and procedures quickly. Familiarity with databases and photo imaging software, public speaking experience, and customer service experience are desired. Experience with TMS Media Studio preferred.
Visitor Programs Duties & Skills:
Assist the Visitor Services staff with daily management of visitor programs by responding
to visitor inquiries, scheduling tours, and conducting tours and Courtroom Lectures. Additional projects may include evaluating public programs,
and research and development of short presentations and materials on Court history, architecture, and collection objects.
Excellent research and writing skills, public speaking experience, and exceptional interpersonal skills are required. Teaching and/or museum education/interpretation experience preferred.
Examples of Past Intern Projects:
- Drafting a visitors’ self-guided map to highlight exhibits and architecture.
- Creating catalogue records, rehousing objects, and developing finding aids.
- Processing camera RAW files, digitizing films, and incorporating scans along with detailed metadata into various digital asset databases.
- Assisting with exhibitions.
For application instructions and requirements, please refer to the Supreme Court Internship Program page.