Montclair History Center (MHC) has once again welcomed a dynamic group of spring interns to help with research, collections care, educational, and administrative tasks to accomplish our core values: Preserve. Educate. Share.
Spring 2024 Interns, nearest to farthest, Ashlin, Lejla, Jess, Nicholas.
While our organization is small, our goals and passions are mighty, and we are grateful for the contributions each of these interns is making. Our spring interns bring personality, insight, diversity of study, and commitment to the organization. We are happy to highlight each individual and their contributions and endeavors.
Spring 2024 Collections Intern, Jess Titterington.
Jess Titterington joins us as a Collections Intern from Montclair State University. Jess has a BFA in English with a minor in Fine Arts and is currently pursuing her MA in English. We asked Jess what led her to apply to MHC. “In the previous semester, my research methods class at grad school took a trip to the Montclair History Center to work with their archives and do research based on some of the material objects in the collection. I really enjoyed doing research in material cultures and wanted to pursue my continuation of working with this form of writing-- one that I consider is a mix of storytelling and factual information. This interest eventually led to my Collections Management Internship here at the museum.”
When reflecting on a project that she enjoyed working on as an intern, Jess recalled working with the Shultz collection, specifically objects in the collection that have yet to be accessioned. “It's shown me how much handling historic objects and documents and making them publicly accessible brings this family and their stories back to life. It feels like a necessary vocation and is very fulfilling.”
Spring 2024 Collections Intern, Lejla Behric
Lejla Behric joins MHC as a Collections Intern from Seton Hall University. “I’m about to graduate with a Bachelors Degree, with my major being Anthropology and minors in Criminal Justice and Archaeology,” Lejla shares about her academic and professional endeavors. Lejla’s dream job? a forensic/biological Anthropologist. Speaking more about her experience at MHC, Lejla said: “What surprised me about Montclair History Center is how close and tight-knit the staff is. You walk in and feel right at home, and everyone is so sweet and welcoming!” Lejla also discusses some of the interesting projects that she has done as an intern here. “A project I have enjoyed working on is organizing the Shultz Family Collection. There have been some really interesting objects in there and I enjoy theorizing with the other interns what some of these things could mean or what they represent.”
Spring 2024 Marketing/Communications Intern, Ashlin Quevedo.
Ashlin Quevedo joins MHC as a Communications/Marketing Intern from Montclair State University. Ashlin is completing her BA in Business Administration, concentration in Marketing. Her dream job is to be a marketing associate for a global company, one that allows her to travel. In the future Ashlin would like to create her own agency. Ashlin’s three words to describe her experience as an intern with MHC? “Interesting, fun, and involvement.” Speaking to the skillset Ashlin has developed while interning here, Ashlin said: “My skills that I was able to exercise here are my data analytical skills and creative ones, trying to think of new ideas and seeing how they work out. Skills I built here are writing ones and how to properly communicate through different types of people.”
As a student with a background in business, we asked Ashlin what her words of advice would be for students who are considering interning at a museum. “My advice would be to not be scared to share any ideas that will help out at the museum. There’s no wrong idea and everyone there will be able to help carry out the idea.”