Hello! My name is Alex Smith, and I am currently a graduate student on the Archival Studies and Digital Imaging path of the Information Science master’s program. I am also working on the Art Museum Education certificate. I got my bachelor of arts from UNT in Interdisciplinary Art & Design Studies and have been working in some capacity at UNT’s Willis Library for the past two and a half years.
My internship this Summer is at the library and archive of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, TX. I am starting the internship on June 14th and feeling very excited about this experience! This is a museum I grew up with, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to work there and contribute to organizing some of the many items in their collections. I will be assisting in a number of facets to get a well-rounded archival experience. I will be helping with accession records, processing collections both digital and analog, handle archival reference queries, and assist with processing and housing a special collection of 19th century artist’s materials (paintbrushes, palettes, etc.)
This will be my first experience working in an art museum and working in an archive, so I’m expecting that most everything I’m taught will be new and a learning experience. This will likely share some similarities to my library experience with reference assistance and finding resources, but aside from that this is an entirely new territory for me work wise. I’m hoping to get a clear idea of a museum archivist’s duties and tasks, and to gain experience that I can learn from and use in future jobs. Its both nerve racking and exciting to think about working with objects in the collection, and its what I hope to eventually do as a career. Overall, excited to see what directions this internship will take!
Whoop Whoop! I'm really excited to here about how this goes for you! I'm sure it'll be a fun learning experience. :) Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks Megan! I'm super excited about all of it :)
DeleteThis is incredible, Alex! I didn't realize the Amon Carter was a place you went to regularly as a kid. That must make it even more special of an experience, to have that connection that was fostered as a child and to get to work there as an adult! I wonder if Little Alex ever saw herself in this position? :)
ReplyDeleteThe 19th century artist's material work sounds awesome! I am keen to hear more about that...well, I am keen to hear more about everything! Good luck on the 14th!
Yes! My mom made a point of taking me to the museums in Fort Worth when I was growing up since there are so many good ones there :) I am excited to report back on everything, it'll all be new and exciting, thank you!
DeleteYour internship sounds super exciting! It's awesome that it's a combination of art museum and archival work, so I'm sure you will have a lot of fun! :)
ReplyDeleteAs I told you at our UNT library staff art show, I am so curious to see what will come from this internship at the Amon Carter. This is first hand experience on archival work that our concentration calls for. It is so neat that you will be working with Jodi on conservation techniques. Good luck with everything and I am sure to see you at Willis.
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