Job Listing
 🔗Archives Digitization Intern

  • Internship
  • Charleston, SC
  • $20.00/- USD / Hour
  • November 30, 2026
  • Department: Advocacy Initiatives
  • Job Summary: The PSC is seeking a motivated and passionate Archives Digitization Intern for Spring 2027. This paid internship will support the PSC’s ongoing Archives Digitization Project.
  • Job Qualifications:
    • All candidates must be based in the Charleston area.
    • Applicants will possess relevant educational or professional experience in historic preservation, archival studies, or an allied field (history/public history, library and information science, museum studies, anthropology, planning, urban studies, etc.).
    • Graduate students preferred.
    • Experience with archival research, document and photograph scanning, file organization, metadata, and Dropbox (or similar platform) is preferred.
    • Strong organizational, verbal and written communication skills, as well as time and project management skills, are required.
    • Demonstrated ability to collaborate and achieve results with supervision, including ability to interact professionally with key external stakeholders.
    • Appreciation and passion for preserving archival documents in the digital age.
  • How to Apply:

    To apply, please submit the following documents in one packaged file: a cover letter, resume, and one academic or professional reference (name and contact information only). The most successful cover letters will clearly articulate the applicant’s field of interest and relevant experience as it relates to the work of the PSC.

    All files are to be submitted by Monday, November 30, 2026 to Laurel Fay, Manager of Preservation & Research, at lfay@preservationsociety.org. No phone calls please.

  • Contact Name: Laurel Fay
  • Application Email: lfay@preservationsociety.org
  • Application Address: 147 King Street, Charleston SC 29401
  • Charleston, SC, USA

Website Preservation Society of Charleston

Founded in 1920, the Preservation Society of Charleston (PSC) is the oldest grassroots preservation organization in the nation. Our mission is to serve as a strong advocacy leader for citizens concerned about preserving Charleston’s distinctive character, quality of life, and diverse neighborhoods.

Internship Duration: January 11-April 23, 2027 (15 weeks; 10 hours per week)
Start/end dates and week-to-week schedule are flexible.

Over the last four years, the PSC has undertaken efforts to digitize its extensive historic property archive in multiple phases. This internship will be focused on Phase III of the project: digital preservation of the PSC’s historic property archive.

The intern will scan property files using scanners with object-character recognition (OCR) technology and digitally name and organize files using existing PSC taxonomy (file structure and naming conventions). This project will enable thousands of files to become digitally accessible and searchable for PSC Staff, supporting crucial advocacy and research initiatives. The intern will also support the creation of metadata and integration of the PSC’s most important original documents into the Lowcountry Digital Library, a publicly accessible digital repository.

Consistent with our mission, PSC maintains property files documenting historic resources across the Lowcountry and the organization’s advocacy efforts. While PSC tracks advocacy issues and development proposals through digital platforms, much of its history is preserved in a legacy paper filing system. Ongoing digitization efforts are helping integrate these records to improve long-term accessibility and research capacity. PSC’s archives contain a variety of files dating from our organization’s founding in 1920 to the present, including photographs, slides, letters, architectural drawings, and other advocacy records.

The intern will work primarily in the PSC office at 147 King Street, and will report to Amanda Coté, Director of Operations, and Laurel Fay, Manager of Preservation & Research. The position will have compensation of $20/hr, which will be paid semi-monthly over the duration of the internship.

 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

Preservation Society of Charleston is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment for all employees. Applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Benefits

All NCPE interns received an hourly stipend, the rate is listed at each position description. Additionally, interns receive paid time off (PTO), paid Federal holidays if working full-time, and access to NCPE's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for career and personal counseling, coaching, and referrals. Project sites may also offer a housing allowance and/or commuting stipend; this information is also listed in the description or offered during the interview.

Eligible NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. To be eligible to earn a PLC certificate, an intern must be 30 years old or younger (or 35 if a veteran). Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Successful completion of a NCPE internship does not guarantee Federal employment. Contact manager@preservenet.org for more details.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must be
*at least 18 years old;
*no older than 30 years of age (or 35 years if a Veteran) when beginning the internship; applicants who are 31 or older (or 36 or older if a Veteran) are not eligible;
*currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program at the college level (or recently graduated within the past 12 months)
*be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.

Interns are not allowed to work more than 1200 hours total in the program; previous interns must stay within this overall limit. The length of an internship can vary from 10 to 30 weeks if full-time (40 hours per week) or longer if on a part-time schedule. If selected, the exact starting date will be determined by you and the NPS supervisor. The stipend rate is $17.00 per hour unless otherwise listed.

The successful candidate is responsible for finding and paying for travel to and housing at the internship location; some exceptions apply. The supervising office may be able to assist in locating housing but it is ultimately up to the individual accepting the internship to find accommodation.

The National Council requires all interns working in-person at Federal facilities and/or with Federal employees receive the Covid-19 vaccination. Please be advised that you may also be required to wear a mask, depending on the protocols adopted by your work site. Also be aware that, due to Government-wide security requirements, a background check will be required if you are selected for a position. This will include providing information about recent housing and employment history. The position supervisor will have more information about these requirements and procedures at the time of hiring. You may direct any questions to NCPE's Internship Program Director, Julee Johnson, at manager@preservenet.org.

Please note that interns are not NCPE or NPS employees. Stipends are academic awards and taxes are not withheld, nor are social security contributions made on your behalf. These funds may be taxable, however, so consult a tax preparation professional if you have questions.

How to Apply

You may review NCPE's internship opportunities anytime without registering. Use the search function to find listings by location, keyword, or area of interest/category. Once you identify one or more positions of interest, there is a 3-step application process.

Step 1: Click on the Apply for Job button, then select Universal Application. Click on Register to create a User Account, which requires a username and email. A link will be sent to you from manager@preservenet.org to create a password. We suggest that you add this email to your safe senders list so you don't miss receiving this important link. You will be instructed to Log In to Preservenet using your username or email and password, which will take you back to the Universal Application.

Step 2: The Universal Application is required to apply for all NCPE internships. You fill out this form only once. In addition to contact information, educational status, work history, and experience, it requires two attachments: (1) the 2 most recent years of academic transcripts. These may be unofficial transcripts if official versions are unavailable. A PDF is preferred, labeled Your Your Last Name_Your First Name_Transcript. (2) a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Please limit to a maximum of 4 pages; 2 pages are preferred. A PDF is preferred but jpg, png, doc, or docx file types are accepted. Label Your Last Name_Your First Name_Resume. This form may be saved as a draft and completed later. Use the link provided to return to the form.

Step 3: Once you submit the Universal Application, you may browse and apply for NCPE internships using the link provided. Complete the application process by clicking on the Apply for job button found at each internship listing and upload the required Essay. Use the essay to explain why you are applying for an internship, including how your interest areas will benefit the National Park Service (NPS) and how the internship will further your studies and career goals. Be as specific as possible; there is a 400-word maximum length. Submit the essay to finish the application for that position. You may apply for a maximum of 6 internships during an application round; there is no limit at other times of the year. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!



Logging in with a Registered User Account and completing the Universal Application is required to apply for NCPE Internships. Please visit the Universal Application page to register for an account and complete the form. After logging in and completing the form, refreshing this listing will display the Job Application to apply online.