NARA Voluntary Internship Program

Internship Title: Voluntary Internship Program
Organization: National Archives and Records Administration
Location: Various locations across the United States (including Washington, DC area facilities)
Schedule: Fall, Spring, and Summer
Eligibility: High school students (must be at least 18 years old and U.S. citizen)
Application Deadline: Varies by term (e.g., Summer applications typically open in March)
Program Dates:

• Spring: Late January – April
• Summer: Late May/early June – August
• Fall: September – November/December

Overview

The Voluntary Internship Program at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides students with hands-on experience working with historical records, government documents, and archival materials. Internships are designed to complement academic studies and give participants exposure to careers in archives, museums, public history, and government.

Interns work in a variety of departments, including archival processing, digitization, communications, education programs, information technology, and museum collections. Through these assignments, students help preserve and organize historically significant documents while supporting public access to government records.

Internships typically last 10–12 weeks, with students working between 10 and 40 hours per week and completing at least 100 total hours. Many positions require interns to be on-site for at least part of the time, depending on the role and location.

This program is ideal for students interested in history, government, research, or archival work, and provides valuable real-world experience in a federal agency setting.