Name: Anna E. Shuff
Class Year: 2022
Major: English
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Internship Organization: The American Philosophical Society
Job Title: Curatorial Intern
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
What’s happening at your internship?
This summer, I was involved in research for two upcoming exhibitions at the American Philosophical Society’s Museum. The first was on climate science, a project which I was returning to from my prior summer, and the second was on women in science. The exhibitions will be opening in 2022 and 2023 respectively in the Society’s museum space, located in Old City Philadelphia. My main responsibility this summer, as it was last summer, was to do primary- and secondary-source research on specific topics relevant to the exhibition. I ended up doing a lot of work on writing about the Arctic for the Climate Science exhibition, as well as researching and mapping networks of mentorship, education, and collaboration among female medical practitioners in the early 20th century.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I initially applied back in February of 2020 after being referred to the application by a professor after I spoke to her about my interest in the history of science and medicine. I had prior experience working with museums and an interest in historical research, both of which made me a good candidate for the position, and I was excited about the idea of assisting in curating an exhibition.
Was there anything special about how you found this internship?
This was actually my second summer at the American Philosophical Society! After the conclusion of my internship last summer, I was asked to stay on to do part-time research work during the academic year. I continued the work I had started in the summer, which allowed me to expand upon my research interests significantly.
What is most rewarding about your internship?
Watching an exhibition take shape over the past year and a half has been incredibly gratifying, especially seeing the tangible impacts of my own research on the trajectory of an exhibit which will be open to the general public within the next year. Forming professional relationships with other like-minded individuals and collaborating on a large project has also been highly rewarding, as has being able to lend my own expertise from the prior year of my internship to the beginning of another exhibit’s research this summer. I’d genuinely class this internship to be one of the most important academic and professional experiences of my life, and it has clarified a lot for me in terms of my career interests in studying history and working with museums.
Visit the Summer Internship Stories page to read more about student internship experiences.