Archie Motley Archival Internship Program

History & Mission

The BMRC’s Archie Motley Archival Internship Program (AMAIP) was launched in January 2016. The mission of the AMAIP is to develop and create meaningful and educational internship opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent graduates in the field of archives and cultural heritage management. Stipends are provided to students of color selected for practical employment experience working with cultural heritage professionals in BMRC member institutions. Since its inception, 18 interns have completed an AMAIP internship. Five of them went on to work in an archive, library or museum.

Who was Archie Motley?

Archibald Motley III (1934- 2002) was a long-time archivist at the Chicago History Museum (1955-2002) and a leader in the profession. Motley served as a founding member and first president of the Midwest Archives Conference and was also an active member of the Society of American Archivists. Before his death, he was named Chicago History Museum’s Archivist Emeritus, in honor of his tireless collection development efforts to preserve Chicago’s urban, social and cultural history –especially collections related to labor, African Americans, and community organizations. Those collections include the papers of Claude Barnett, founder of the Associated Negro Press; Earl Dickerson, an attorney for Supreme Life Insurance Co.; and papers of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Among archivists, he was well known for his service to the profession and interest in assisting and mentoring the younger generation. Motley is remembered as a dedicated archivist who always made time for students coming along in the profession. Learn more about Archie Motley via the 2002 Chicago Tribune article and on the website, Midwest Archives Conference/Motley.

SUMMER 2024 APPLICATIONS:

BMRC MEMBER INSTITUTIONS:
We are accepting applications from BMRC Member Institutions interested in hosting one or more Archie Motley Archival Program student interns. Please review the details on the Host Site Application Guidelines page, which provides eligibility requirements, project proposal expectations, and other program information. The link to apply as a host site is at the bottom of the guidelines page.

METRO CHICAGO-AREA UPPER-LEVEL UNDERGRADUATE and GRADUATE STUDENTS:
If you are interested in applying for the summer 2024 cohort, please take a moment to read the Student Application Guidelines to learn more about eligibility requirements and other program information. The link to apply as a host site is at the bottom of the guidelines page.

Summer 2023 Archie Motley Archival Interns:

photo_Jordan Vaughn_edit1

JORDAN VAUGHN is a 2023 graduate of Northwestern University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classics (Concentration in Greek and Latin) and Anthropology (Biological Concentration)
BMRC Host Institution: University of Chicago Library, Collections & Access, Preservation-Conservation Unit
PROJECT: Treatment of Selected Items from the Eva Overton and Julian Herman Lewis Collection

Jordan shared: " I am looking to pursue a career in either library science, museum studies, or conservation (science). I realized my passion for working with objects and materials while working in the Preservation Department of my university's library and getting to handle and actively preserve various kinds of cultural media for future, accessible use.

photo_Kineyshi Fils-Esparant_50%

KINEYSHI FILS-ESPERANT is a rising junior, majoring in African American Studies & Chemistry at Northwestern University
BMRC Host Institution:Newberry Library
PROJECT: Processing of Harold L. Lucas papers, the activist and organizer of Bronzeville

Kineyshi shared: "I believe this internship will provide me with the essential resources to better understand how race and ethnicity function in society, as well as what can be done to improve racial-ethnic inequities. Hopefully, I can translate these findings to my future profession and subsequently, my community."

photo_liana jeffries

LIANA JEFFRIES is a rising junior at the University of Illinois Chicago, majoring in Black Studies and anthropology.
BMRC Host Institution: Northwestern University Libraries
PROJECT: Document Black student experiences at Northwestern University in the 1960s-70s through oral history


Liana shared:
"Understanding the archival or curation process is essential since these fields preserve anthropological findings and more. In addition, this being the Black Metropolis Research Consortium further interests me. As a Black Studies major and a Black woman, learning more about my culture and its history is something I will always desire."

photo_samantha-affram

SAMANTHA AFFRAM is a graduate student in history at Chicago State University. She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching: Special Education and is a Diverse Learners Teacher (Special Education) in the Chicago Public School System.
BMRC Host Institution: Northwestern University Libraries
PROJECT:
Documenting NU Black student experiences in the 1960s-70s through oral history

Samantha shared: "
I am passionate about expanding my knowledge of Black/African and American History from an academic perspective. Eventually, I would like to become an archivist focused on a history that is meaningful to me, curate historical exhibits, and be a notable Black Chicago historian. The archival/cultural management field is of interest to me, because the work of preserving our history is important. I am willing to learn and contribute to the field, to the best of my ability, to honor the legacy of our history."

photo_yujay masah_cropped

YUJAY MASAH is a graduate student in the MA Public History and MLIS dual degree program offered by Loyola University Chicago and Dominican University. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with a minor in art history from the University of Missouri Kansas City
BMRC Host Institution: Chicago History Museum
PROJECT: Metadata for Rayburn Fleurlage Photograph Collection

Yujay shared: Professionally, I want to work to break down barriers to access to historical resources through work in collection management, interpretation, digitization, and outreach. I want to learn more about the challenges of doing this kind of work and collaborate with other passionate people in this field to find lasting solutions. I'm also excited by the opportunity to work with archival collections that include pieces of our material and visual culture such as photography, film, and art that relate to the histories and experiences of communities of color, women, and the LGBT+ community."