Archival Intern – Green Mountain Club (Waterbury Ctr., VT)

Who We Are

The Green Mountain Club (GMC) was founded in 1910 to establish, maintain, and protect Vermont’s 272-mile Long Trail – the United States’ first long-distance hiking trail, which runs the length of Vermont along the spine of the Green Mountains from Massachusetts to Canada. For 104 years, the Long Trail has been free, open, and available for hikers to experience Vermont from a unique perspective – along a primitive footpath atop the state’s central crest of mountains.

In its early years, the Green Mountain Club was primarily a small group of volunteers who cut the rugged Long Trail through Vermont’s mountain lands. Since then, the club has grown steadily – we now have a paid staff and an open membership of 10,000 members in Vermont and beyond. We depend upon over 1,000 volunteers working thousands of hours annually to manage and protect a trail system made up of over 500 miles of trails and 66 primitive shelters.

Our Need

Throughout our 104 years, GMC staff and volunteers have dedicated themselves to documenting and promoting the unique Long Trail System.  We are fortunate that many of the GMC’s early maps, papers, and photographs were preserved.  There remain, however, many historic materials currently stored at our headquarters that are not cataloged or stored properly. These materials include historic photographs, oral history recordings, guidebooks and other publications, maps, club records, and more.

The intern that we are seeking will work as part of a Vermont Humanities Council grant that GMC has received in order to:

  • Fully catalog and organize in-house historical materials
  • Update storage and research facilities for in-house archives to include improved security, indexes and finding aids, and proper storage
  • Develop formal processes for the intake and management of future donated/acquired materials
  • Lay the groundwork for the development of a searchable electronic database of archived materials
  • Transfer particularly sensitive archival items to the Vermont Historical Society’s GMC holdings
  • Create a new historic display for our Visitor Center
  • Digitize selected historical materials to be accessed online through our website

The intern will be supervised by Joe Sikowitz, MLS, GMC Membership and Volunteer Coordinator.

Qualifications

We are looking for a candidate with an MLS or who is currently pursuing a MLS.  A candidate who has a concentration in archival studies or has some knowledge of archival work is preferred.  Other qualifications include:

  • Knowledge of cataloging techniques and current standards
  • Knowledge of archival techniques and current standards
  • Excellent organizational skills with particular attention to detail
  • Excellent computer skills including knowledge of the MS Office Suite
  • Ability to work independently while collaborating with a diverse group of people
  • A passion for historic materials and historic preservation
  • Interest in the natural environment and/or hiking
  • Ability to think critically with keen decision-making skills
  • Creative problem solving skills
  • Ability to ask for help and to accept supervision and evaluation of your work
  • Dependable and hard working
  • Ability to work in Northern Vermont for the months of June and July 2014

Stipend & Living Arrangements

GMC is offering $1,500 for interning during June and July 2014. The work hours will be comprised of eight hours each day for the two month period with weekends off.  The intern will work at GMC Headquarters, 4711 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, Vermont 05677, nestled in the beautiful Green Mountains.  The intern is responsible for housing but alternative options are available depending on the candidate.

To Apply:

Submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of two references to Joe Sikowitz, jsikowitz@greenmountainclub.org by April 1, 2014.

Position open until filled.