VOLUNTEER
Oral History Internship
Holocaust Museum LA is committed to the preservation of Holocaust history through the creation and preservation of oral history interviews. The Museum invites qualified students to apply for the Oral History Summer Internship. The program provides a dynamic and unique learning opportunity to engage with Holocaust survivor testimonies while learning about the Holocaust and gaining experience and exposure to the oral history interview process, as well as the way in which a museum operates, specifically related to the archives. The intern will learn and assist with the organization and cataloging of the Museum’s oral history collection, including tasks such as reviewing and organizing interviews, creating transcripts, preparing testimony for cataloging by creating standardized naming conventions, collecting metadata and drafting interview abstracts and subject terms. This in-person internship provides hands-on experience for those interested in careers in history, public history, writing, or museum/library/archives work.
Duties:
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Review and create an inventory for testimony, including organization of materials to prepare for cataloging.
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Collect and create metadata for digital files, include standardizing naming conventions, subject terms and other descriptive information.
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Reformat, review, and proofread transcripts.
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Conduct background research on subjects related to interviews.
Internship Qualifications:
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Enrollment in undergraduate or graduate program, preferably with a focus in history, library studies or museum studies.
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Background knowledge on various digital and analog media formats.
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Interest in oral history/public history/museum collections management, and digital asset management.
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Strong written communication skills, including a knowledge of editing and composition.
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Ability to work independently, as well as detail orientated and strong organizational skills.
CLOSED
This is a 10 week in-person internship, beginning June 26, 2023, with a minimum of 5 hours, 4 days a week.
To apply for this internship, please email a cover letter, a copy of your resume and a writing sample to christie@hmla.org
Archival Internship
The preservation of historical documents and artifacts is crucial to understanding, teaching, and learning from history. Holocaust Museum LA is committed to the preservation and retention of artifacts in both physical and digital format. The Museum strives to make its collection accessible online, transitioning and maintaining a catalogue of primary sources on a digital platform, and providing free public access to this platform as a resource for scholars, teachers and students. The Museum’s online archival database provides digital access to these important resources and receives visitors from around the world.
The Museum’s internship program invites qualified candidates to learn about the Holocaust, as well as the way in which a museum operates, specifically related to the archives. Interns will learn and assist with the various methods and steps required to process, digitize, preserve, and catalog artifacts in an environment dedicated to Holocaust history and education. Interns will have the opportunity to work with both the physical and digital archives of the Museum, researching, organizing and cataloguing both newly donated artifacts, as well as those within the museum’s existing collection.
Duties:
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Record and digitize new acquisitions for both the Museum’s physical and digital archive
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Assist in the preservation of existing and incoming artifacts, utilizing Museum best practice
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Assist staff in various tasks related to the administration and cataloguing of the physical records relating to the Museum’s archive and collection
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Provide research assistance for Museum exhibits and social media postings as needed
Internship Qualifications:
Required
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Enrollment in undergraduate or graduate program, preferably with a focus in history, art history, library studies or museum studies
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Interest in archival methods and research
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Strong written communication skills, including a knowledge of editing and composition
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Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
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Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel
Preferred
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Interest in Holocaust and 20th-century European history
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Social media skills
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Fluency in German, Polish, Dutch, French, Russian or Hungarian
**Writing sample required: excerpt from a paper written in college**
To apply, please email a cover letter, resume and writing sample to christie@hmla.org
Archival Intern, Translation
Archival Interns with language expertise are integral to the translation and interpretation of the Museum’s vast collection of primary source documents spanning the 18th century through the 1960s. Archival materials are in a variety of languages, such as German, Polish, Czech, Dutch, Hebrew, Yiddish, Ukrainian, and Hungarian. The translation of the museum’s archives is a vital part of making the collection accessible to the public and the continued use of these primary source materials in Holocaust commemoration, research, and education.
Interns will work with the Archives department, where they will be assigned documents to translate into English. Proficiency in at least one language, as well as in English, is required. Near-native fluency in the target language is preferred. Volunteers are able to provide translation services either in person or virtually.
To apply, please contact archive@hmla.org to express your interest, including a copy of your resume, which language/s you are proficient in and your availability to volunteer.
Docent Training
"Participating in the docent training program at Holocaust Museum LA has been an incredibly rewarding and life changing experience. Not only do I have a deeper understanding of Holocaust history, but the experience has left me with a deep sense of responsibility to share what I have learned with the students who visit the museum. Giving tours has been such an enlightening experience, especially when I see those “aha” moments in the eyes of the students." - Hava, Holocaust Museum LA Docent
Join our Museum community and become part of a dedicated, dynamic group of volunteer docents who are educating the next generation and fulfilling the mission of our founding Holocaust survivors to commemorate, educate, and inspire.
This is a great opportunity if you:
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Love working with people, especially middle and high school students.
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Have a passion for history and education.
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Believe the Holocaust should never be forgotten, and its lessons taught.
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Want to make a difference! (at the Museum or even from home!)
As a virtual docent you will:
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Lead tours of the Museum galleries for students.
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Educate on Holocaust history.
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Engage students while utilizing primary sources, oral history, and gallery education techniques.
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Connect with others who are passionate about history, education, and culture!
To become a docent, you must participate in and complete the docent training program. During the training you will learn about the history of Holocaust Museum LA, participate in museum tours and special lectures, master teaching techniques, learn the historical context of the Holocaust, and become familiar with the Museum’s collection and exhibits.
All docents must:
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Volunteer for at least two 3-hour time slots each month
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Conduct 90-minute tours
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Attend all 12 docent training sessions
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Successfully complete written and oral tests within 35 days of the end of training
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Adhere to Museum rules and standards
Training Dates:
Tuesdays, 10:00am - 3:00pm PDT
Start Date: October 3, 2023
All sessions take place in person at the Museum. All materials are provided. Capacity is limited. For more information, please contact our Education Project Manager, Fanny Wolfowitz, at fanny@hmla.org
Holocaust Survivor Speakers
The Museum is always looking for Holocaust survivors who would like to speak to our visitors about their own experience. If you are a Holocaust survivor and you would like to help us teach younger generations about what happened during WWII, please contact us.
For more information please contact Michael Morgenstern at (323) 456-5083 or michael@hmla.org
Holocaust Survivor Wisdom Project
Holocaust Museum LA is excited to share our new Holocaust Survivor Wisdom Project.
The Holocaust Survivor Wisdom Project focuses on interviewing survivors for the preservation of survivors’ insights, advice, memories, and values for future generations. Their knowledge and experiences offer guidance, encouragement, and a sense of hope. By collecting and sharing these interviews, educational institutions, researchers, and the broader public can gain insights into the Holocaust's human consequences and the resilience and strength of the survivors' spirit in the face of immense adversity.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We are currently seeking volunteers, both survivors interested in participating in the project, as well as those interested in being trained to help collect these precious and poignant pieces of wisdom.
For survivors, participating will take no more than 90 minutes. Interviews will be recorded and held in the Museum, in your home, or at a comfortable location of your choice. These recordings will be kept in Holocaust Museum LA’s oral archive.
For volunteer interviewers, we will be holding a training session this summer. You must be over the age of 16, have a passion for Holocaust memory, an understanding of working with elders, and interest in interviewing.
If you are interested in taking part in this incredible opportunity, or have questions, please reach out to whitney@hmla.org.
Other Opportunities
Whether you are a 16-year-old student or an 80-year-old Holocaust survivor, the Museum has many interesting projects to fill your available volunteer hours.
We are looking for volunteers to assist with a variety of tasks, including the following:
Helping with administrative tasks and data entry in our offices;
Working with our visitor services staff to greet and assist visitors;
Helping our staff run events -- especially on weekends -- by running errands, setting up chairs and sound equipment, and driving survivors to and from the Museum.
To become a volunteer at Holocaust Museum LA, please fill out our Volunteer Application. For more information, please email