Internship - Chicago Metro History Day

About the role

Chicago Metro History Day (CMHD) is an educational program for students in grades 6‑12, sponsored by the Chicago History Museum. Students research topics of their choice and develop a historical argument, creating exhibits, documentaries, papers, performances, or websites that are shared in local, state, and national competitions. CMHD is part of the National History Day network and works with schools in Cook, DuPage, and Lake Counties to promote historical inquiry. Each year thousands of students from about 75 schools participate.

CMHD invites applicants for an internship in history education. The internship structure is flexible based on the student’s area(s) of interest, but it is best suited for those interested in public history, education, and/or research. Because most historical institutions nationwide engage with History Day, this internship offers an excellent first step toward careers in museum education, archives, public programs, or the History Day program itself.

Responsibilities

• Learning event management skills in a public history setting
• Coaching students to improve their historical research and arguments
• Preparing learning materials to support historical inquiry
• Curating suggested topics and recommended resources for the upcoming annual theme
• Supporting communications and public outreach (e.g., social media presence, preparing materials for website)
• Supporting upcoming teacher professional development programming

Interns must be available on Saturday, February 27, 2027 for the Senior Division History Day contest and on Saturday, March 6, 2027 for the Junior Division History Day contest. Participation in other events is strongly encouraged. Responsibilities are heaviest during the preparation and wrap‑up period for the regional contests (mid‑February through mid‑March), with interns expected to work more than ten hours during contest weeks (offset by fewer hours during non‑peak periods).

Requirements

• Vaccination and background check required
• Hybrid work environment (some on‑site, some remote)
• Availability on the specified contest dates (Feb 27 2027 and Mar 6 2027)

Qualifications

Designed for history or education majors, or candidates in closely related fields.

Pay

Paid internship at $17.05 per hour, with a maximum of 140 hours (approximately two interns). The program notes it could host 1‑2 additional interns if external funding is secured.

Schedule

Internship runs from October 2026 through March 2027. Weekly hours vary according to programmatic needs, peaking during the mid‑February to mid‑March contest preparation period. Interns must be available on the two contest Saturdays noted above and should expect to work more than ten hours during those weeks, with lighter loads at other times.