Elizabethtown College students pursuing their certificate in Public Heritage Studies are putting their newfound knowledge to work in various public heritage internships in and around Pennsylvania.

The Public Heritage Studies Certificate at Etown offers an interdisciplinary approach to Public Heritage Studies courses, fieldwork, faculty-supervised research, community-based learning courses/projects, and preparation for students pursuing post-graduate work and careers in Public History/Public Heritage Studies. The program can be completed by students in any major but is primarily designed to complement a History degree. Obtaining this certification lays the groundwork for advanced study and subsequent career opportunities in museums, archives, and historic preservation. The coursework consists of 10 credits and includes an internship at a relevant historic site.

“Students apply the knowledge and skills they learn in the classroom and their course related community based learning historic preservation projects while engaging in public history internships,” Jean-Paul Benowitz, Professor of Special Programs and Prestigious Scholarships & Fellowships said. “Public Heritage Studies internships help students discern graduate programs and careers in Public History. Such internships often lead to students securing postgraduate employment, with their Certificate in Public Heritage Studies, in a broad range of careers open to historians.”

Samantha Phillips ’23 (Biology)

Internship: Wellspan Intern with the Lancaster Medical Heritage Museum

“I work at the museum and I am helping to get the exhibits ready for the December 1 opening,” Phillips said. “Part of setting up the museum includes helping digitalize their archives and website design. I am also doing independent research into women’s and reproductive health in the Amish community. An interesting thing I have done has been helping set up the exhibits and learning about historical medical tools and equipment that we have in the collections at the museum.” 

 

Eric Schubert ’23 (History)

Internship: Public Heritage Studies Internship as a Research & Historic Preservation Intern with the Hershey History Center (HHC)

“My internship was centered around assisting HHC with historic preservation awareness efforts, general research work, and a reimagining of family history research services offered,” Schubert said. “I also had the incredible opportunity to give a lecture for HHC about my work with genealogy and the importance of local history research. Being able to work with HHC in holding that event was great, and a memorable experience for sure!”

Madaline Shaffer ’23 (History)

Internship: Path Valley Historical Society

“My internship focuses on assessing and archiving donated objects, photographs, and documents, as well as researching local family histories and historic homes,” Shaffer said.

“The most interesting thing I have done so far has been transcribing and preserving a handwritten letter from 1919 that was sent from a soldier in an American Cross hospital in France to Franklin County, Pa.”

 

Abby Sholes ’24 (History and Social Studies Secondary Education)

Internship: Keystone Internship Program with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

“I’ve been involved in a little bit of everything so far and have had a chance to learn about several aspects of museum operations, from visitor services to archives, through this opportunity,” Sholes said. “However, my main focus through this internship is with the children’s summer camps and other events related to the Education Department.

“I’ve also had the opportunity to explore the history of railroading in the United States and am currently working on a research project about how World War Two affected the social relationships and understandings of the railroad. Once I complete my research, I’ll have the chance to present my research to visitors through a display of artifacts and photos.”