HSP's 2025 Summer Interns

July 31 marks National Intern Day, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of interns across the country. This summer, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania welcomed a talented group of interns from a variety of academic backgrounds and institutions. From art history to international communications, each intern brought fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to their work. Read on to learn more about their projects, experiences, and what they’ve gained during their time at HSP.

Sarah Davidson

What did you do during your internship?

I’m currently helping to catalogue a substantial collection of Bibles owned by HSP! A great deal of these Bibles contain personal information regarding the families who owned them, making it important to record this information alongside the usual facts that would be included about any book. I’ve also been able to page various materials for the restricted reading section and help out when it comes to reshelving unrestricted materials.

What are two takeaways from your internship?

I feel like I’ve learned a lot more about cataloguing as part of this job, which is very exciting for me, since I’m hoping to work in a library or archival space after graduating. I’ve also learned how to manage my expectations for myself, since I sometimes get overly eager to complete a task and don’t take into account when it might be more logical or reasonable for me to finish.

Madison Jordan

What did you do during your internship?

During my internship, I have created blog posts about American food history within the archives. I have also assisted Brianna with creating sessions for the Summer Academy. 

What are two takeaways from your internship?

From my internship, I have learned a lot about public history! I've learned how to navigate and use the archives, which has been very helpful for my project and my future career path.

Hannah Mattison

What did you do during your internship?

I created content for HSP's social media, including posts for Pride month, random national days, and anniversaries of historic events. The process typically included brainstorming for content ideas, workshopping with my supervisor, conducting research in the reading room or the digital library, and then compiling graphics and text into a final post. In addition to social media work, I helped out around HSP with exhibit installation, working events, and anything else they needed me for!

What are two takeaways from your internship?

This internship has shown me how social media can be a tool for increasing accessibility to the archives. My goal with my posts was always to create easily digestible content that was interesting and informative so that anyone scrolling through Instagram or Facebook could see it, engage with it, and walk away with new knowledge. 

Another lesson I'm taking with me is that there are so many different pathways within the Arts & Culture field. I am so grateful to have met with so many different people across HSP's departments and learned about their backgrounds, passions, and how they ended up in the career they have now. I feel reassured that there is no singular "correct" path forward for my future, and that I have space to explore!

Raighnaid Meister

What did you do during your internship?

I helped with organization of content on the HSP website as well as doing my own research project. I also assisted and participated with events held at here.

What are two takeaways from your internship?

I learned valuable information about the way historical societies run and operate and gained experience in collaboration through working with different departments within HSP. I also  developed my skills in research as I worked own research project

Rhianna Searle 

What did you do during your internship?

I created content for HSP's social media, aiming to highlight marginalized voices and create fun and relevant posts that would engage our audience. Doing research for a Pride Month series, as well as fun holidays like International Picnic Day, gave me opportunities to design graphics and conduct hands-on archival research in HSP's collection. 

My big project was writing a blog for Disability Pride Month, in which I focused on highlighting disability joy and innovation. I read past publications that HSP had produced on disability history and spent hours in the reading room pulling old photos, yearbooks, poetry collections, art, and city guides. 

I also helped out with various events such as the Voices of the Community exhibit opening and the Artist in Residence talk. Helping to install wall vinyl, working the registration table, and prepping crafts for Red, White, and Blue To-Do, among other tasks, all gave me a window into how HSP engages the public. I attended Events Committee and staff meetings where, along with our weekly intern cohort events, I was able to learn about the various departments at HSP, and all the different types of jobs that it takes to run an arts and culture organization.

What are two takeaways from your internship?

One of my biggest takeaways from this internship is the value of archives. I already had some archival experience before HSP, but getting hands-on experience with such a vast collection really drove home the power of primary sources to tell stories. I read many diaries, such as one by a Haverford College student during the Civil War, and some by Quaker women during the Revolutionary War, that helped place historical events in the context of everyday lives. I also got to engage with documents such as William Penn's original deed with the Lenni Lenape for the land that is now Bucks County. Being Quaker and having grown up in Bucks County, I was able to explore my own identity through these pieces of the past. 

I'm also leaving this internship with a much better sense of what it's like to work in the arts and culture industry. From the types of jobs that exist at an organization like HSP, to the levels of education and entry level jobs that one can use to get into the field, to what it's like to work in the city and be in an office everyday, I learned a lot about the field and about myself.

Catherine Wan

What did you do during your internship?

I'm building an archive surrounding the protests against the building of a 76ers arena on Market Street. The collection will focus on the activists in Chinatown who spearheaded the fight, as well as other organizations who came out either in support or opposition to them. I'm looking for materials made for and by the community which showcase the efforts of such grassroots campaigning.

What are two takeaways from your internship?

I've been learning a lot about the different moving parts of community grassroots organizing, it takes a village of extremely dedicated, passionate people to fight off something which can seem hopeless. I have also been considering the place of institutional archives in activism.