Career, Internship, and Volunteer Opportunities
The JDC Archives is the institutional repository of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization since its founding in 1914. With over 3 miles of records documenting JDC’s global rescue, relief, and renewal work in over 90 countries during the past century, the JDC Archives is one of the world’s most significant collections for the study of modern Jewish history.
Archives Internship Listings
We are excited to work with students across disciplines. We offer opportunities for graduate students, undergraduates (summer internships), and others to work in our Photograph, Artifact, and Text Collections. All opportunities are unpaid, but there are opportunities to attend staff meetings and educational workshops. An expected schedule is 12-20 hours per week. Options are available in the NY office located in midtown Manhattan and in our offsite facility in Long Island City. To apply, please submit an application using the links provided in the individual listings below. We look forward to hearing from you!
JDC Archives Photo Collection Opportunity
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) Archives’ Photo Collection contains over 150,000 images. These photographs offer a rich historical overview of JDC’s relief activities over the past century in 90 countries. More than 76,000 photographs have already been digitally scanned. We seek students for an experiential education opportunity to assist with image cataloging and preservation. The broad range of countries and topics in our scope of this collection, which encompasses regions and time periods such as postwar Europe, 1950s North Africa, and 1960s-70s Israel, allows us to tailor projects to different interests.
Special Projects:
- Adding to our online database the following photo collections:
- Community life, education and health services provided to Moroccan Jews from the 1950s-70s
- Post-WWII Jewish refugees living in Displaced Persons Camps in Austria and Germany
- Youth and elderly care programs in 1960s Israel
- Assorted collections of JDC activities in Jewish communities of Bulgaria, Hungary, India, and many others
- Preparing unprocessed images documenting JDC activities in 20 countries (1940s-70s) with emphases on Israel, France, Germany, and Iran for digitization and preservation.
Responsibilities include:
- Creating metadata and integrating new photographs into cataloguing system.
- Conducting research and fact-checking to enrich descriptive data for photographs.
Qualifications:
Proficiency in Word and Excel required. Familiarity with database procedures is recommended. Preferred candidates will have completed at least one semester of graduate work in archival, museum, or library studies, or art history. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented and have a basic knowledge of photographic history.
All opportunities are unpaid, but may be taken for course credit. The expected schedule is 12-20 hours per week. Options are available in the NY office located in midtown Manhattan and our offsite facility in Long Island City.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, please complete this online application form.
To learn more about the JDC Archives, visit our website and find us on Facebook!
JDC Archives Artifacts Collection Opportunity
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) Archives is offering an exciting internship opportunity to assist with artifact cataloguing and preservation. Train on best preservation and storage practices, while understanding how to house and handle items from our special collections. The JDC Archives collection of artifacts and ephemera contains hundreds of works ranging from posters and illuminated records to precious artwork and gifts from Jewish communities around the world. These treasures offer a rich historical overview of JDC’s relief activities over the past century in 90 countries.
Responsibilities include:
- Rehouse and describe unprocessed artifacts
- Conduct contextual research using the Archives
- Database cleanup, such as completing preexisting records and conducting quality control on file names, translations, and attachments
Duration:
All opportunities are unpaid, but may be taken for course credit. The expected schedule is 12-20 hours per week. Options are available in the NY office located in midtown Manhattan and our offsite facility in Long Island City.
Qualifications:
Familiarity with database procedures; detail-oriented with an interest in art history, museum studies, Jewish history, or archives.
All opportunities are unpaid, but may be taken for course credit. To apply, please complete this online application form. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, please complete this online application form.
To learn more about the JDC Archives, visit our website and find us on Facebook!
Volunteer Opportunities
The JDC Archives Names Indexing project is conducted by a dedicated team of volunteers, many of whom have an interest in genealogy and family history. Volunteers work on site at our New York headquarters, generally one day per week. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us.
Career Opportunities
JDC’s worldwide staff is comprised of dedicated professionals who represent some of the best practices within the fields of community development and social service. If you are interested in a position in the Archives Department, look for available opportunities listed on the JDC Careers page.