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.
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 a staff member on curatorial projects, such as Visitor Programs, Collections Management/Archives, and Digital Assets Management. In addition to their individual projects, all interns gain valuable public speaking and interpersonal skills by conducting tours and Courtroom Lectures and staffing a visitor desk.
Curatorial Internship Positions & QualificationsEach intern will spend a substantial amount of time working with a staff member on projects in one of the following three areas: Collections Management/Archives, Digital Assets Management, or Visitor Programs. Applicants are asked to specify one or more preferred project areas in the cover letter.
Collections Management/Archives Duties: Assist Collections Managers with cataloguing the Court’s collection of decorative arts and graphic art objects. Organize and catalogue collections of papers and ephemera related to the Justices. Produce high-quality digital copies of images and conduct research using resources at the Court and the Library of Congress.
Required skills: Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and computer proficiency are required. Previous experience with collections, knowledge of collections management principles and practices, and experience with The Museum System (TMS) software are favored credentials.
Digital Assets Management Duties: Assist the Court Photographer 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.
Required skills: 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 (TMS and Portfolio) and photo imaging software, public speaking experience, and customer service experience are desired.
Visitor Programs Duties: Assist 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.
Required skills: Excellent research and writing skills, public speaking experience, and exceptional interpersonal skills
are required. Teaching and/or museum education/interpretation experience desired.
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.