Introduction
Our ideal candidates are curious museum studies/cultural heritage/public history students who are organized and interested in gaining hands-on collections experience. They will bring a collaborative, thoughtful, and detail-oriented approach to preserving and describing collections with an eye to inclusive public access.
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
The Collection Inventory Project Internship is seeking two Project Interns for Summer Semester 2026, two Project Interns for Fall Semester 2026, and two Project Interns for Spring Semester 2027:
- Summer Semester 2026 dates will be on or around July 6 - August 28, 2026 (8 weeks), 24 hours per week.
- Fall Semester 2026 dates will be on or around September 21 - December 11, 2026 (12 weeks), 12 hours per week.
- Spring Semester 2027 dates will be on or around February 1 - April 13, 2027 (12 weeks), 12 hours per week.
- LOCATION: 231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
- Please note: This position is a six (6) month temporary position. Permanent status cannot be obtained while working in this classification. Fringe benefits are not included in this position.
IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL:
- Conduct item-level inventory of collection items, noting uncatalogued collections for processing.
- Provide collections documentation and care, including identification, handling, cleaning, labeling, condition and location reporting, and storing objects in the collections.
- Make recommendations for housing and conservation needs and rate using prepared criteria.
- Work with Museum staff, enter required data into Connecticut Collections (Collective Access) database, and other lists as instructed. Inventory collections methodically until all phase I materials are documented.
- Other duties as assigned.
MORE ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Project Interns will work under the direction of the Museum of CT History curators and will be supervised by the Museum Curator 2. They will support all aspects of collections inventory, including curatorial handling and care, description/documentation, and preservation. Museum collections include 44,000 material culture objects, comprised of decorative arts, artwork, furniture, personal and political memorabilia, military and activist uniforms and flags, coins and paper monies, print and image material, industrial machinery, household appliances and tools. The collection provides understanding of the economic, political, social and cultural history of Connecticut from 1662 to the present day.
ABOUT US:
The Museum of Connecticut History, a unit of the Connecticut State Library, chronicles the growth of the state and its role in the development of the nation from the colonial era to the present. The mission of the museum is to connect the experience of residents and museum visitors to the artifacts, images, and documents of the past, increasing awareness of and pride in the state’s political, military, and industrial history and building commitment to preserving and sharing its cultural heritage.
Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is always free! Learn more at Museum of Connecticut History | Facebook | Instagram
START WITH US. STAY WITH US. GROW WITH US.
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.
BEFORE YOU APPLY:
- Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
- Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
- Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
- Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
AFTER YOU APPLY:
- Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
- For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
- Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
- Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
- Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Nicole Frascatore via Nicole.Frascatore@ct.gov.
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In a state agency this class is established as a structured internship program designed to prepare undergraduate and graduate college students for professional careers in administration, managerial and technical occupations by alternating periods of academic study and practical work experience in their chosen discipline.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Receives practical training in application of theories and concepts relevant to work of employing agency;
- Assists professional staff in performance of their duties;
- Completes independent assignments as necessary;
- May prepare reports.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Knowledge of principles, theories and concepts of appropriate discipline and ability to apply them in practical situations.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Current matriculation in an accredited Associate's, Bachelor's or advanced degree program determined by the Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services or his/her designee to be appropriate preparation for employment in the designated agency and/or functional area.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Current undergraduate student, graduate student, or individual who has graduated within the past two years in history, art history, public history, museum studies, or archaeology.
- Experience handling historical artifacts.
- Experience using collections management software.
- Experience working in a team environment.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.