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Thank you for supporting our mission to preserve
and share Milwaukee County’s history.

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Donation Total: $25.00

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For questions or to learn about more ways to give, please contact
Samantha Michalski, smichalski@milwaukeehistory.net or 414-409-9565.

GET INVOLVED

 

Volunteering

The Milwaukee County Historical Society is accepting applications for a variety of volunteer positions.

Education Program Volunteer
Historic Sites Docent
Special Event & Museum Support Volunteer

How to Apply
Download and complete our MCHS Volunteer Position Application.

Please send completed applications to:

Milwaukee County Historical Society
Attn: Mary Jo Knapp
910 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53203

After your application has been received, you will be contact about the next steps in the process.

Questions?
If you would like more information or have an interest in volunteering, please contact Mary Jo Knapp at mjknapp@milwaukeehistory.net  or call 414-273-8288.

Internships

The Milwaukee County Historical Society accepts internship applications for the Spring, Summer and Fall academic semesters. MCHS provides several types of internships, based on the interest of the applicant. These positions are unpaid with the possibility of earning college credit.

Research Library Intern

The Research Library Intern will work directly with the Head Archivist and other staff handling the day-to-day operations of the Research Library. This role includes interaction with the general public and the management of archival materials. Interns will also play a role in crafting their own agenda, with a focus on topics and activities that may interest the individual.

In addition, this position will introduce students to the opportunities that exist for a career in library studies or public history through exposure to the daily processes of the museum and the research library and will provide interns with the basic skill-set for office employment.

Internship components include:

  • Patron services – responding to inquiries from the public about the contents of Library’s archives; assisting patrons with their research, genealogical or otherwise; working with our point of sales system.
  • Museum and event staffing – assisting with the development and set-up of exhibits; providing tours to inquiring patrons; staffing various events at one of the Historical Society’s four locations.
  • Administrative duties – providing administrative support to the department by filing, copying, retrieving archival material, staffing the reception area, and inputting information into databases.

Candidates will be considered if they (1) have excellent customer service skills; (2) are in good academic standing; (3) have an interest in working in library services or public history; (4) demonstrate a strong ability to follow direction and work independently; and (5) are available 10-15 hours per week, including Saturday, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to the attention of Steve Schaffer at sschaffer@milwaukeehistory.net.

Candidates should include the specific hours they are available during the spring between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in the final paragraph of their cover letter. Resumes will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Museum Intern

SPRING 2025 SEMESTER APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED

The Museum Intern will work under the direction of the Curator on a variety of projects designed to enhance the research and exhibit potential of the Milwaukee County Historical Society artifact collection. Interns may have input on projects based on the topics or museum practices they are most interested in. This position will allow interns to explore career options in public history and the museum field while also learning museum practices and gaining hands-on experience.

All current projects will focus on collections management. 

Museum experience is not required, but candidates should (1) be taking undergraduate, master or phd level courses (2) show a willingness to learn and conform to museum best practices; (2) be in good academic standing; (3) have an interest in working in a museum (4) demonstrate a strong ability to follow direction and work independently; and (5) have 8-16 hours of availability available between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday

Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to Janean Van Beckum at jvanbeckum@milwaukeehistory.net.

Candidates should include the specific hours they are available between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday in the final paragraph of their cover letter. Resumes will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Internship sessions are as follows:

Spring: January – May
Summer: June – August
Fall: September – December

Special Events Intern

Special Events Interns will work with museum staff on a variety of programs and events meant to engage the public. This position will allow interns to explore career options in event planning, communications, public history, and the museum field while also learning museum best practices and gaining hands-on experience. 

Preservation Education Experience Program (PEEP) Intern
Special Events (General) Intern

Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to Mary Jo Knapp at mjknapp@milwaukeehistory.net.

Employment Opportunities

For full-time employment opportunities please refer to MCHS’s Linked-In page.

MCHS
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