For college students, summertime is invaluable. This period away from school can take many forms. It’s perfect for catching up on sleep, scheduling those oft-ignored appointments (you need to go to the dentist how many times a year?), and, for some, exploring career paths. This summer, the Library of Virginia hosted five undergraduate students as part of its annual Transforming the Future of Libraries and Archives (TFLA) program.
Founded in 2022 through funding provided by the Library of Virginia Foundation, TFLA offers five paid internship opportunities to college students from diverse backgrounds who are currently underrepresented in the library, archives, and public history fields. This cohort worked with a mentor in a specific department; they also heard from guest speakers representing our Local Records, Digitization, and Library Development teams. Each intern received 1:1 career coaching to help update their resume and prep for their next interview, too. Weekly lunch-and-learn topics covered everything from professionalism to communication best practices. Outside the building, interns took field trips to the Richmond Public Library and the Executive Mansion.
Let’s hear more from the interns themselves. Click each intern’s image to learn more about their exciting projects, and an introduction from our new Internship Coordinator!
School: College of William & Mary
Area of study: French Studies
This summer I was the intern for the Dictionary of Virginia Biography. I’ve completed two biographies on Native American Chiefs from Virginia. The first was William H. Adkins of the Chickahominy tribe and the second was Curtis L. “War Horse” Custalow. For this research, I had to learn how to efficiently go through records and databases, both from the Library and from outside the Library, to create a concise yet accurate summary of their lives. Upon finishing the second biography, I proposed a new person to add to the dictionary.
Check out Olivia’s video demonstrating how to use a microfilm reader on our LinkedIn page!
School: Hampton University
Areas of study: Criminal Justice and Marketing
I took an interest in the freedom suit documents in Virginia Untold and utilized my UncommonWealth blog post to explore the legal complexities and a network of individuals surrounding the case of Ann Brooks. I also worked to index Freedmen’s Bureau era records and design a lesson plan using Virginia Untold materials.
The case of Ann Brooks gives us a look into the lives of enslaved people who sued their owners for their freedom. Ann Brooks was an enslaved woman born in 1811 who sued her enslaver Oliver P. Finley and the administrator of his estate for unlawfully enslaving her.
Although many questions about Ann Brooks remain unanswered, the records that survive allow us to piece together parts of the remarkable story about a woman who challenged her enslavement in an effort to secure a future for herself and her daughter. The more I researched and wrote about Ann’s story, the more I realized that figuring out her ending was never the point. Ann’s story does not simply end with a special verdict or an unanswered question, it continues through us. Every time we tell her story, learn from her experience, or remember her fight for freedom we become a part of the ending she couldn’t write for herself.
Check out a video exploring Brianna’s experience transcribing and indexing historical records on our LinkedIn page!
Areas of study: Biology, Printmaking, Chemistry, and Art History
Department and Project: Conservation
This summer I interned under Leslie Courtois in the conservation lab here at the Library of Virginia. My work has primarily consisted of two things: cleaning and stabilizing paper documents and working with the environmental monitoring system. Before this internship I had very little experience with works on paper, so having the opportunity this summer to work with so many documents, some as old as this country, was enlightening to say the least. I’ve learned a lot about paper conservation and the work it takes to preserve a collection as large as the Library of Virginia’s.
School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Area of study: History
My time at the Library has allowed me to sharpen and add skills to my professional toolbox. I’ve been able to fine-tune skills that I brought with me, as well as learn new processes and software that I wouldn’t have otherwise been privy to. For example, I have been able to strengthen data-entry skills, as well as learn new systems and software. My supervisor introduced me to Ex Libris’ Alma library management system, which the Library uses to digitally catalog its collection. Through this, I have been able to learn and memorize some MARC codes commonly used in the map system. Along with that, I was also introduced to georeferencing software, namely ArcGIS Pro and QGIS. The latter is a free open-source version of georeferencing software that I have now downloaded to my personal computer in case I embark on any georeferencing projects of my own in the future.
Hi, I’m Tenaj Williams, the Library of Virginia’s Exhibitions and Programs Intern for the summer. Most of my time this summer was spent helping prepare the “Envisioning Revolution” exhibit for the public and creating its accompanying tour scripts. During my first two weeks, I had the incredible opportunity to witness the curation and physical installation firsthand. As a casual visitor, it’s easy to assume an exhibition space was always designed that way; seeing the empty room transform made me realize just how much planning, thought, and effort goes into every single detail. explores complex themes, particularly freedom and continuity throughout American history. My goal was to create an educational and engaging experience that not only fosters an appreciation for modern freedoms but also inspires visitors to get involved in their local communities.
Hi, I’m Rachel Murphy-Weast, the inaugural Internship Coordinator at the Library of Virginia. I’m a new face for those longtime readers here at The UncommonWealth. I started on the same day as this summer’s TFLA cohort – needless to say, I’ve learned a lot with and from this group of students. In this new role at the Library, I oversee the overall internship experience. From recruiting students to supporting supervisors, I’m a dedicated resource for staff, students, and our higher-education partners.
As a former museum educator and instructional designer, I’m looking forward to centralizing and standardizing our internship processes and programs. If it’s been a minute since your last collegiate experience, here’s a quick overview of internships:
- They’re all about experiential learning for college students.
- These opportunities bridge the theoretical with the practical. For example, a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) student may have taken coursework on cataloging and classification, but they may not have had an opportunity to apply those skills in an actual archive.
- Internships may be paid or unpaid, and some students will seek an internship for academic credit or as a graduation requirement.
You can expect to see me pop up on this blog to highlight our program and the work our students accomplish. If you’re interested in learning more about the internship opportunities we offer at the Library, check out our website or reach out to me at rachel.murphy-weast@lva.virginia.gov.
The Transforming Libraries & Archives Internship program is supported by EBSCO, the Universal Leaf Foundation, the Michelle and David Baldacci Vision Fund, the Lynn Rainville and Baron Schwartz Transformation Fund and generous donations from individuals made to the Library of Virginia Foundation.
