Priddy Library Internship - Spring 2016

         I began my internship at the Priddy Library in early February and in the time since, I have had the chance to assist on exhibits and take in aspects of a work environment that I will find in any future jobs. On my first day, I immediately learned how influential politics are in developing an exhibit. There are some topics that cannot be directly addressed or addressed at all because of their relevance to local, state, or federal politics. If, for example, a subject like immigration was chosen, it would have to be presented indirectly through another topic that can still provide information on the migration of groups of people from one place to another without explicitly being an exhibit on immigration. Then, like all exhibits, the topic must be presented without any bias. With that in mind, I got to work on the first exhibit scheduled for the semester. The exhibit profiled ten women in science to highlight their contributions to science in celebration of Women’s History month. I gathered research on the ten women and then synthesized that research so it can be presented to the public in a concise and accurate way.

While I did research for the Women’s History Month exhibit, I also helped display two past exhibits in the library. The process of displaying an exhibit requires you to take many elements into consideration. These two exhibits were collections of long posters on the Armenian Genocide and on Evolution. There are three walls in the library on which exhibits are hung. From these three walls, you need to identify which will be seen first when someone walks in the door and which exhibit will be placed there. Once that has been decided, the posters are hung at equal distances from the ceiling and equal distances from each other, keeping in mind what eye-level would be comfortable for the viewer. I have also been able to experience something I know I will find no matter where I work in the future - meetings. In the first month or so of my internship, I have only been to a handful of meetings. Generally, the meetings discussed the work in progress or prepared for the work in the future. To be able to sit in on these meetings has been helpful in that it helps prepare me for future work experiences. One month in and this internship has allowed me to gain valuable experience in tasks that may be specific to careers related to my major but also to general aspects of work life that I am bound to come across.

Special Collections Post 1

As college students, we are taught to always seek out the best internship opportunities that are out there, no matter where they are, but who knew that there is an exceptional opportunity for students to gain archival experience right on UMBC's campus? Throughout winter break and the spring semester, I have been interning at the Special Collections Department, which is a small, hands-on section within the larger library. The collections in the department span from the Jule Eisenbud collection on Ted Serios and thoughtographic photography, to photos of the Little Rock Nine, and a variety of comic books. Needless to say there is something for people of all interests within the department. Over winter break, I helped measure and describe the Hughes Company Cirkut Negatives Collection of over 400 Cirkut negatives, which are produced by cameras specifically designed to create panoramic pictures. The Cirkut negatives range in length from 20 inches to 100 inches, with some of the longer negatives being full 360 degree panoramic views. The collection features everything from company picnics, to industrial plants, to construction at Fort Meade, between 1916 and the mid-1940s. With these panoramics, it became unnecessary to piece together multiple photos to get a continuous view, when in 1904 William J. Johnston patented the Cirkut camera. Cirkut cameras are able to take panoramic shots as the camera moves clockwise and the film inside moves counter-clockwise. While Cirkut cameras are no longer used regularly, the pictures created using them give us detailed windows into the past. By working directly with the negatives, I learned how to properly make a detailed container list describing the negatives and any flaws they have sustained. I was also taught how to properly handle the negatives and pack them in their boxes to better preserve them for future researchers. 

Blog #1

At first it seemed that my internship at the Maryland Historical Society would never start!  There were two snow days within the first four weeks.  Now that I am a few sessions in I feel that it is safe to say that my time there is nothing like I expected it would be.  I was expecting to show up each week and my supervisor, Mr. Rubenson, and I would be hidden away in the bowels of the museum repairing and updating the art storage.  However, we have only worked on the initial project once in all weeks I have been there – and then only for a few hours – as there has been so much going on to really focus on just one project. 

Instead of working on rectifying the art storage as originally planned, Mr. Rubenson and I have been working on a variety of different tasks.  Everything from moving artifacts to temporary storage, due to a breakdown of the particle board shelving in their permanent storage facility, to closing out an exhibit.  However, one of the most interesting things I have observed at my time at the Historical Society was the presentation Mr. Rubenson and the Facilities Manager, G.T., gave to the Upper Bay Museum on upgrading their lighting.

That afternoon was particularly note-worthy, for me, since that all of my past experience has been in more medium-sized museums with decent budgets and the Upper Bay Museum was the exact opposite.  The group that arrived from the Upper Bay Museum were the President, Treasurer, and Curator and unlike the men and women at the Maryland Historical Society, their positions were all voluntary.  So to watch them get excited at the prospect of improving their lighting systems to attract more people to their museum was very cool to witness.

All-in-all, my internship has so far been an eye-opening experience of what goes on in the background of a museum.  I originally thought we would work on one project and one project only and be relegated to the basement for months, but I feel that I have had a greater experience to truly understand what goes into running a museum.  Here is hoping that the next few weeks are just as exciting and, of course, educational.

Grow & Fortify Post 1

As historians, we learn many skills that can be utilized in a variety of ways. While our writing and research abilities provide us with the tools to be successful academically and professionally as historians, they are also valuable assets that can be utilized in other career opportunities. My internship is not necessarily a history internship but is one that incorporates interests from my thesis and is where I can use my skills to fulfill a significant role. My position is with a consulting/lobbying organization that supports the craft beer, winery, and distillery industry, representing small business clients throughout Maryland. Specifically, my title with the organization is legislative intern as I work to understand and analyze state and county legislation that impacts our clients. I have had to sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect the business interests of clients so some detail on my project is limited, but I can provide information throughout the semester on what I have learned and how I have been able to utilize my skills as a historian. My project is reviewing, drafting, and amending several laws at various levels of government throughout the semester, in an effort to get them passed and to best meet the needs of our clients. Small businesses face many hurdles trying to get started and often require help representing their interests while navigating and understanding the confusing legislative network. My project of drafting laws utilizes the skills I have developed as a historian along with several from my thesis’ focus. My thesis involves a policy history analyzing restrictive legislation and gives me research experience reviewing such laws, understanding their language, development, and impact. Currently, I have taken part in amending an existing law that under new regulations will negatively impact several of our clients. I have had to research and familiarize myself with previous legislation to understand their intent in order to affectively assist in drafting language that removes restriction for our clients while being open to opinion from opposition. Unfortunately the amendments and their drafts are still going through hearings and have been changed further, but we are optimistic we will be able to get the language through that will help the small businesses we represent. I have also begun reading articles on franchise law that I have been assigned to read as per the internship requirements. We anticipate it is inevitable future bills will involve this issue so I have been researching to understand it and how it may impact the craft industry. Franchise law is complicated, designed in such a way to protect the rights and interests of a franchisee who enters into a business relationship with the often larger and more powerful franchisor. However, this relationship in the alcohol industry is somewhat different and becomes further complicated with the craft industry. This is because in the alcohol industry the one that makes the product is considered the franchisor and with the craft industry, this makes them a small business, while the franchisee are distribution buisnesses. This means that the franchise laws designed to protect the franchisee from large corporations sway the other way and now actually negatively impact the franchisor because of their small business status. I will continue to research the issue further and potentially begin working on drafting or amending upcoming legislation on the issue. I have learned a lot and been able to put my research skills and thesis topics to great use understanding  legislation at my internship and look forward to continuing my project.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Post 1

"Never Again". Two words are all it takes to define the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's mission. As the years continue to go by, there are less and less Holocaust survivors still alive. Through documentation and preservation, the stories of the participants can be memorialized for many years to come. Along with the Soah Foundation and Yad Vashem in Israel, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has one of the largest archives of personal narratives and eyewitness accounts in the world. As an intern, it is my job to analyze the content from oral interviews given to those who either witnessed the atrocities or were involved themselves and then translate that information from the Russian language into English. My first two projects were to examine a group of accounts given by Latvian and Russian witnesses who had seen the deportation of Jews, had heard the mass executions, or had even seen the massive gravesites. I find it absolutely captivating that even after 70 plus years, there is still so much emotion when talking about the past. One of the interviewees shed tears recalling her father’s murder as though it was fresh in her mind. It makes me come to the realization that some wounds can never heal.  Although emotionally taxing, this project and the projects I will embark on during the semester will be well worth it. By taking these foreign interviews and allowing English speakers to get a glimpse of these experiences, I will play a small but integral part in the mission of “Never Again”.

UMD START program, post 1

Before I start, let me first explain what the UMD START program is for those who are not aware of it.  START stands for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. It is basically a huge think tank sponsored by homeland security, with its main purpose being to help thwart terrorist activities through a variety of different research programs.  I am working on the Advanced Research program, which basically means that I will be working on many different projects throughout the semester, not just one project like the majority of the other interns.  I can not really go into much detail about what I am currently working on (I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement), but our project centers around the aviation industry. To tell you the truth, when we were first briefed on the project it startled me a bit, but I am sure that this will not be the first nor the last time this will happen over the semester. So far we have been given some pretty tedious, detail oriented tasks related to the final product that will be put out at the end of the year.  We are pouring over lines and lines of data and making sure that they match up with the tables that have been put together with that data.  Like I said, tedious, but I have learned a ton about the aviation industry and its various moving parts in the 20 hours that I have been there so far.  My intern supervisor, Dr. Ackerman, has given us some additional insight into what we will be involved in for the first half of the semester other than the aviation project.  One project we will be involved in conducting research for a large police agency, another will involve "red teaming" which will essentially be my team looking for way to get around certain security measures (once again, not sure I should go into to much detail in either case).  At this point I am really looking forward to what is coming down the pipe for this internship, when I first decided to go back to school to get my degree in History I never thought it would lead me to anything like this.  Just goes to show you that a degree in History can open many doors.  For those of you who might be interested, I'll post the link to the START web site.

http://www.start.umd.edu

Vietnam War Commemoration Entry 3

Over the course of this internship I got to experience a variety of things and as a result, developed abilities I hope to use in my future career. I was able to gain more in depth knowledge of the Vietnam War as well as put my skills as a history major to use by researching and verifying organizations that wished to become partners to the Vietnam War Commemoration. I made certificates for the partners as well as the starter packs that we shipped to them. I printed out the shipping information and ensured that they were delivered to the correct address. My coworkers at the commemoration take the upmost care with everything that they send and make sure that everything is in perfect shape. They strive for that level of excellence to reflect how much respect they have for our veterans. This level of integrity and perfection is something I hope to carry on into every aspect of my work as well as my career. I was able to go on several tours of memorials, cemeteries, and even the Pentagon. I talked on the phone with clients as well as emailing them to help them through the application process. I was able to sit in on an office meeting where they discussed plans for the future Vietnam War memorial they will be putting up in one of the halls of the Pentagon and was even able to go and see where it is going to be. On my last day of my internship, they presented me with a certificate for my time with them. The skills I gained from this internship I hope to take with me and translate into a career, and I know that the things I did at this internship were significant. It was an exciting internship and the level of enthusiasm in my coworkers made me feel as if every little thing I did mattered and made a difference in honoring veterans.