The Curatorial Facility for Artifact Research (CFAR) at the Texas Historical Commission hosts a variety of internship opportunities every semester. Students from a number of universities in Texas and around the world have had the opportunity to gain practical experience in a variety of museum and archeological practices. It is the goal of the internship supervisors to provide students with a well-rounded learning experience that will enhance their academic careers and develop their skills.
Some activities that interns have had the opportunity to work on in the past include:
- Inventorying various archaeological and historic house museum collections. This allows interns to gain exposure to a variety of different material types and aids in their learning to identify degraded or unusual objects. Interns will also gain an understanding of proper cataloging methods and nomenclature.
- Creating condition reports for artifacts and historic objects which allows interns to learn to identify why and how objects deteriorate, as well as when intervention is appropriate.
- Researching individual artifacts and historic and archeological sites to enhance the understanding of the collections. Some interns have gone on to create web content and blog entries for the Texas Historical Commission based on this information.
- Creating photo documentation for artifacts and historic objects. Using the laboratory’s photography equipment, including the digital microscope and photo-editing software, interns will create image files for use in in conservation assessments, catalog records, and acquisition and deaccession requests.
- Processing archaeological collections from recent, as well as older, archaeological investigation. Students will learn the methods behind bringing a collection up to curatorial standards, including proper packaging, labelling, and documentation requirements.
For information on how to apply for a CFAR internship, including a digital version of the application materials, visit our Internship Program page.
Applications will be accepted from currently enrolled college students including sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduate students and/or recent bachelor's or master's degree graduates.
