Archives and Records Management Intern: Digitization

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. We cannot imagine life without art; it inspires and connects us every day. Now more than ever, these connections matter and are aligned with our values .

Inclusive : We strive to be a museum of many voices in dialogue.

Passionate : We believe working with art is more than a job or trusteeship - it's a way of life.

Brave : We are committed to approaching our work with courage and a sense of adventure, always ready to explore new perspectives.

Empathic : We aim to act like a person, not an institution.

SFMOMA is a place for the infinitely curious to explore, support, and experience the art of our time. We believe that modern and contemporary art can influence the way we think, view the world, and embrace the many voices and perspectives around us. We aspire to foster an environment that elicits joy, nurtures a sense of belonging and purpose—where difference is seen as a strength, and every one is appreciated for their whole self.

Schedule : Spring 2027, duration based on school schedule, at least 3 hours per week, fully onsite

This is an unpaid internship – applicant must provide proof for receiving school credit.

Archives and Records Management

The SFMOMA Archives collects, preserves, and provides reference access to the records that document the curatorial, educational, and administrative activities of the museum. The SFMOMA Archives houses the institutional records of the museum dating back to 1935. The department is also responsible for the museum’s Records Management Program. In this capacity, the Archives staff develops strategies, plans policies, and implements guidelines to ensure the orderly transfer and disposition of museum documentation so that the museum's historical record is complete.

Position Description

The Archives and Records Management internship aims to provide experience with the digitization of archival cultural material and offers an opportunity to learn more about the archives and records management profession. The Archives and Records Management intern will work one-on-one with the Associate Records Manager to inventory, lightly process, and perform holdings maintenance for archival materials in preparation for digitization. The Archives and Records Management intern will learn how to complete scan requests for internal and external research requests, upload digitized assets to the digital asset management system (DAMS), and develop and improve procedures relating to digitization standards and practices for the Archives and Records Management department.

Project Plan

Get to know the SFMOMA Archives & Records Management Department

Learn about the archives’ role and collections, as well as its policies and procedures as pertain to digitizing material

Meet the team and learn about each person’s role and path to SFMOMA

Learn the tools that are used to digitize physical archives materials and make them accessible to internal and external audiences

Begin and complete scanning requests and small-scale digitization projects as assigned

Perform holdings maintenance on material queued and pulled for scanning as needed

Scan material following existing archival digitization standards

Upload and input descriptive metadata for scanned material to digital asset management system

Track request progress in Asana

Deliver completed scans as assigned

Participate in SFMOMA Archives inventory projects

In an effort to identify more collections to triage for processing and digitization, the intern will assist with inventorying unprocessed collections, such posters, AV materials, and press materials

By the end of the internship, the Archives & Records Management intern will have:

Complete a metrics report of digitization work

Created and/or updated digitization SOPs and standards documentation

Attained experience the full lifecycle of digitization at the SFMOMA Archives

Assisted with research requests

Participated in archival inventory and triage for processing and digitization

Educational Objectives

Gain experience in processing and digitizing archival materials.

Collaborate with colleagues within the Archives and Art Resources department

Develop research, information management and problem-solving skills.

Introduce the intern to core competencies of the archives and records management professions through a combination of the assigned project and mentoring.

Qualifications & Skills

Must be a current student in a Masters-level program in library science, records management/administration, museum studies, or related program.

Detail-oriented and extremely organized

Interest in archives and records management, specifically in a museum setting

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft 365 (including Teams and SharePoint), and task-management applications such as Asana and Airtable

Experience handling fragile objects, particularly paper and audiovisual materials

Application Requirements

Intern application on SFMOMA job site

Resume, in PDF format

Cover letter stating the specific internship of interest, in PDF format

Describe the experience you bring, why you are interested in museum or nonprofit work, reasons for applying to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and your goals for the internship.

Two letters of recommendation from either a college professor or current/former employer, in PDF format

College/university transcript, in PDF format

Transcripts can be unofficial but must be legible

If you are currently enrolled in a master's or PhD program, please provide the transcript for your current program, not your undergraduate transcript