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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Dress up in period costumes, give tours on local history, delve into our archival collections, or learn how to geo-rectify maps from the 19th century!
Whether you're a student, historian, archivist, or just a local with a passion for history we have volunteer positions to fit every schedule and interest!
We offer both VIRTAL and IN-PERSON volunteer opportunities. Details on each position can be found below.
Stop by the museum during our open hours to learn more about these and other opportunities for engagement or contact community@thehistorycenter.net.
DOCENTS - EXHIBIT HALL We are always looking for volunteer docents to greet the public and share knowledge with visitors in the Exhibit Hall. No previous experience or familiarity with local history necessary. The opportunity is flexible; docents can specialize in one topic or a particular exhibit, give weekly tours, or volunteer only during the semester or summer if they live elsewhere for part of the year. Volunteer hours can range from 1-10 per week, and are organized in coordination with docents availability and personal needs. Contact community@thehistorycenter.net with interest or questions. Serving as a docent is eligible for community service/service-learning hours, Federal Work-Study employment, and college internship credits. We have had docents ages 15 to 70+, with all levels of education and sorts of interests. No prior experience in museums or history is needed! We offer ongoing, optional trainings on topics and skills of interest to docents. **Please use the application link below for the Assistant to The History Center internship position.** |
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| Visit the Volunteer with HistoryForge page to learn more about these opportunities, or contact the HistoryForge Project Coordinator at historyforge@thehistorycenter.net.
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INTERNSHIPS
All our volunteer opportunities can qualify as internship and/or course credits. Contact the staff member in charge of the volunteer program you're interested in to communicate about expectations and course requirements. If you're interested in volunteering in an area not listed here, please get in touch with community@thehistorycenter.net to share some of your interests and we can work with you to develop a project tailored to your skills and interests. There is no age or prior experience requirement for internships with The History Center in Tompkins County.
Winter/Spring 2021 Available Internships: Prioritizing Accessibility, Build our Oral History Collection on New York Heritage Digital Collections, Digitize the History Center's Newspaper Column Collection, On This Day in History - Social Media Intern, Books Books BOOKS, Assistant to the History Center.
TRANSCRIBE ORAL HISTORIES
| Do you love to listen to stories? Help us transcribe our recorded Oral History interviews to add to our archival audio collection. Once trained, volunteers can work remotely for transcription work. This opportunity can also become an internship or independent project. Learn more about our Oral History collections here. If you are interested in working with our Oral History collections, please contact community@thehistorycenter.net. |
SCHOOL MARMS & MASTERS - EIGHT SQUARE SCHOOLHOUSE Take some local history, a landmark building, a flair for the dramatic and a roomful of kids. Mix well and you will have an unforgettable trip to the past. The History Center is looking for teachers at our 1827 Eight Square Schoolhouse on Hanshaw Road in Dryden. In the spring and fall, area fourth grade and home school children spend a day immersed in rural one-room school education of over a century ago via our Living History program. If you are interested in becoming part of our unique teaching team, please contact (607) 273-8284 or eightsquare@thehistorycenter.net. |
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HERITAGE AMBASSADORS The History Center in Tompkins County and Historic Ithaca offer this partnered volunteer program to train Tompkins County Heritage Ambassadors. The Ambassadors support Ithaca Heritage events and the county's broader heritage network. This six-week training program is a free, fun, and engaging opportunity for interested area residents. It introduces volunteers to Tompkins County's history and rich heritage. Past sessions have focused on the county's people, land, architecture, culture, enterprise, and more. Once the training is completed, Heritage Ambassadors serve as volunteer docents for Ithaca Heritage, Historic Ithaca, and The History Center public events, including HI's That Old House Tour, THC's HistoryForge Days, and Ithaca Heritage tours. You'll join a motivated group of more than two dozen already-trained Heritage Ambassadors eager to share area history with residents and visitors. Contact community@thehistorycenter.net if you'd like to be notified when the next training dates are set.
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