Spring 2026
Tuesdays 3:30-6:00pm
We will only meet 5 times as a whole class during the semester.
The rest of your time will be spent at your internship site.
Prof. Todd-Breland --- etoddbre@uic.edu
Internships are a great way for History majors to gain on the job skills and experience toward potential career paths. The UIC History department offers an internship course (Hist 499) every Spring semester specifically designed for students to earn credit while pursuing their interests in hands-on internship experiences. In previous years, students interned at a range of institutions including: Chicago History Museum, Hull-House Museum, National Hellenic Museum, Midwest Nursing History Research Center, One Northside, BRicK Partners, UIC's Study Abroad Office, the UIC University Archives and the Daley Library, and the Assyrian Cultural Foundation. We are continually working to connect with additional museums, cultural institutions, government agencies, and civic and educational organizations in and around Chicago that offer internship opportunities. For general questions about history internships email hist499internship@gmail.com. If you find an organization you would like to work with and have made contact already, please email Dr. Elizabeth Todd-Breland (etoddbre@uic.edu) to ensure that it meets the requirements of the internship course.
For Hist 499, students will be asked to commit to at least 10 hours of work per week (for 15 weeks) to an internship institution to earn 3 credit hours. The course requires that you keep an internship journal, periodically attend professional development workshops, meet several times as a class group and with the professor throughout the semester, and present a reflection on your internship and the skills and work experience that you gained at the end of the semester. Students interested in the internship course should contact the course instructor (Prof. Todd-Breland, etoddbre@uic.edu) the semester before they enroll in this course. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the Department.
All students interested in enrolling in Hist 499, must complete the short information form here so that the instructor can help you find an internship that matches your interests. It is the student's responsibility to search for internships and apply for internships, but the instructor will provide guidance and support throughout this process. Please see below on how to find an internship.
For guidance on how to research and secure an internship, visit the LAS Internship site. One of the most important parts of this process is preparing your Resume and Cover Letter for internship applications.
Students may research and choose from the list of internships below and contact the institutions directly. Please follow the institution's guidelines for applying for the listed internships available. You may also apply for internships with other institutions beyond those listed. Please contact Prof. Todd-Breland for support in securing an internship.
Once you successfully secure an internship at one of the sites below (or one of your own choosing), the course instructor will grant you permission to register for Hist 499.
The Asian American Research and Cultural Center (AARC) is seeking an intern to help develop the AARC's archive. Please see full internship details and instructions to apply here. Application deadline is November 21, 2025.
ONE Northside has one communications-based internship, focused on social media, producing digital and print content, and supporting the special events team. You can learn more about ONE Northside here, and find a description of the position here. To apply, email Marie Rowley, mrowley@onenorthside.org , with HIST 499 Internship in the subject line, with your resume and cover letter. Contact: Marie Rowley, mrowley@onenorthside.org. Apply ASAP!
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater is offering four internships for the Spring 2026 semester in Company Management, Dance Education, Marketing, and Operations. The internships, and the applicaiton details and instructions, are listed here on their website. Apply ASAP!
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum Is offering a Spring 2026 hybrid internship working in Hull-House books and Hull-House website and identity redesign. There will also be the opportunity to support ongoing research and public programs around Hull-House’s upcoming exhibition, Perennial City. Please click here for more details. Apply ASAP!
UIC Library of the Health Sciences, Special Collections and University Archives is seeking an intern to create transcriptions for audiovisual recordings and digitize materials from the Comer Archive of Chicago In The Year 2000. The intern may also complete other tasks in Special Collections and University Archives. For details and information on how to apply please click here. Apply ASAP!
Chicago History Museum is seeking an intern to support several projects of the museums’ Studs Terkel Center for Oral History. For details and more information on how to apply click here. Please direct any questions to Peter Alter: Alter@chicagohistory.org Apply ASAP!
North Lawndale Historical and Cultural Society (NLHCS) is seeking a historical research, marketing, and social media intern. NLHCS' mission is to chronicle the historical narrative and educate the community about North Lawndale's unique cultural assets, its people, and its architecture. For details and more information on how to apply click here. Apply ASAP!
Black Metropolis Research Consortium is marking its 20th anniversary and seeking an intern to help plan an academic symposium related to archives and the academic study of Black Chicago over the past 20 years by conducting research, creating social media posts, and other tasks in support of the symposium. For details and more information on how to apply click here. Paid Internship ($15/hour) Apply ASAP!
UIC Gender and Sexuality Center would love to welcome 2-3 interns to document and archiving the center's history as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. Interns will work with digital archives of student newspapers, among other responsibilities. To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to Dr. Billy Huff (billy@uic.edu) with "HIST 499" in the subject line. Apply ASAP!
Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago has several different internships available supporting immigrants and refugees in Chicago. Click here for more information on the internships and application process. (Contact: Salah Barznjy sbarznjy@ecachicago.org with any further questions) Apply ASAP!
El Archivo Project - Puerto Rican Arts Alliance: is offering an internship in their Collections/ Archives and/or Exhibitions/ Design departments. For more information and how to apply, please click here. For examples of recent work and programs related to Exhibition/ Collections program, please click here. Apply ASAP!
Newberry Library is seeking a graduate student intern to work in both the digital and archival components of their new initiative, Beyond Belief: Religion and Social Change in 1960s Chicago. For more information on the internship, please click here. Send resume and cover letter to christiansonk@newberry.org. Apply ASAP!
UIC Black Cultural Center is looking for 2 interns to conduct historical research, transcribe oral histories, and create social media posts on a project related to the history of photography in Chicago’s Black communities. Interns will also support ongoing programs and events at the Center. To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to blacc@uic.edu with "HIST 499" in the subject line. Application deadline is December 1, 2025.
UIC Midwest Nursing History Research Center is offering 2 internships this Spring 2026. One Research Assistant intern who will also do exhibition work and one Social Media/Remembering Black COVID intern. For more details and application instructions, click here. Due ASAP!
University Archives, Roosevelt University is offering a hybrid internship in its archives for Spring 2026. Please click here for more details and how to apply. If you have questions before applying, please email Claire Hubble chubble01@roosevelt.edu. Application deadline is December 1, 2025.
The McCormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives, Northwestern University The McCormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives is Northwestern University's principal repository of rare books, manuscripts, and archives. They are offering four internship opportunities this spring semester, three of which focus on oral history and one working in digital exhibit curation. Learn more about the Oral History Transcriptionist internship here. Learn more about the Digital Exhibit Curation internship here. Learn more about the Oral History Interviewer internship here, and the Oral History Curation internship here. Send resume and cover letter to Charla Wilson, Curator for the Black Experience. (Specify which position interests you). Application deadline is December 5th, 2025.
Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago is seeking interns to support archive processing at their Mana Contemporary space. For more details and how to apply, please click here. Application deadline is December 5, 2025.
UIC Asian American Resource and Cultural Center Spring 2026 internship details and opportunities coming soon!
City of Chicago Internships The Commission on Human Relations-Office of the Chairman is offering a Public Service Intern position working with the city's Commission on Human Relations for Spring 2026. Interns will learn about legislative processes, work with communities to reduce hate crimes, and conduct research and develop reports. For more information and how to apply, please click here.
National Archives at Chicago The National Archives and Records Administration is accepting applications for its Spring 2026 voluntary internship program between November 3rd and November 14, 2025. Please check the website for more information on available internships on or after November 3rd.
Chicago History Museum--Chicago Metro History Day Spring 2026 internship details and opportunities coming soon!
DANK Haus: German American Cultural Center Will be offering internships for Spring 2026; details and application coming soon!
Gerber/Hart Library and Archives
Chicago Cultural Alliance (various partner organizations with various deadlines; no internships listed at this time)
National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs (No internships available at this time)
Pritzker Military Museum & Library (No internships available at this time)
Chicago Humanities Festival (not currently accepting interns for 2026)
Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection, Chicago Public Library (no internships 2026)
History Moves (no internships Spring 2026)
Facets (no internships Spring 2026)
UIC Disability Cultural Center (no internships Spring 2026)
Richard J Daley Library (Not offering Spring 2026 internships)
Millennium Park Foundation
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center (Not offering Spring 2026 internships)
Dis/Placements: A People's History of Uptown Project. For grad students or advanced undergraduates. No Internships Spring 2026.