Name: Sophie Mongoven
Year: 2017
Major: History of Art
What’s happening? We’d love to hear how your internship is going.
This summer I interned at the American Philosophical Society Museum in Philadelphia. The APS is a scholarly organization located next to Independence Hall, and their museum creates exhibits focused around topics in art, science, and history. I was a Curatorial Research Intern, working on an exhibit opening on April 7th, 2017 about the 18th century American painter Charles Willson Peale and his family. The APS houses many of the Peale family papers in their library, so I also gained significant experience working with archives and documents. I learned so much this summer, not just about museums and curatorial work but also about what kind of environment I like. I loved how collaborative the work was, and I was grateful to work in such a fun and supportive office.
Philosophical Hall, where the American Philosophical Society Museum is located.
Why I applied for my internship:
I was attracted to the APS internship because it was a chance for me to combine the experiences I have gained in past museum internships with my academic study of Art History. I knew I wanted to learn more about curatorial careers, and I was excited about the prospect of getting hands-on experience crafting an exhibit with a small and dedicated museum team. It’s pretty rare for undergraduates to work up-close on curatorial projects so this internship was a phenomenal opportunity.
Interior of the APS Library.