Volunteer & Internship Opportunities
Volunteers learn about cemetery surveying
Noble County, IN
The Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology is intensely involved with the public. Our public connection goes much further than the workshops and conferences that we coordinate. There are always opportunities to conduct research, or to partake in field surveys on a volunteer basis. The DHPA has a sizable network of persons who volunteer time and knowledge to the advancement of historical and archaeological endeavors.
Cemetery and Burial Ground Registry
Volunteers have been, and will continue to be, a precious commodity in assisting the State on the Cemetery and Burial Ground Registry. These people help us to achieve our goals of cataloguing these sacred places, as well as assist us in spreading knowledge and appreciation of such important landmarks. The opportunities to volunteer include:
- Cemetery Surveying – This includes visiting individual sites and completing survey forms, which are compiled into the searchable database.
- Mapping – Volunteers convert data coordinates from the completed survey forms and place the cemetery or burial ground site on a United States Geological Survey map.
- Data Entry - Maintaining and updating the database are integral actions, and volunteers, with or without computer experience, will utilize various kinds of software to generate reports, lists and other documents.
- Researching - In some cases, cemeteries may not be visible. Therefore, volunteer historians are invited to scour resources (old newspapers, deeds, maps, etc.) in search of documentation of the site’s existence.
* Training available for all volunteer positions
Indiana’s Underground Railroad Initiative
Volunteers are also crucial in accomplishing the fullest reconstruction of Indiana’s Underground Railroad (UGRR) heritage. DHPA and regional coordinators are always prepared for more researchers to help locate sites, events, and people associated with the UGRR. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, over 300 sites have been discovered in the state of Indiana.
Fieldwork opportunities in archaeology
Archaeology
Volunteer opportunities of a wide variety are available with the Archaeology Section of the Division. As the office of the Indiana State Archaeologist, opportunities may include, but are not limited to: data entry, filing, mapping, limited fieldwork, working with artifacts, and more.
Internships
The DHPA also provides opportunities for professional training to an array of collegiate students, both at the undergraduate and the graduate levels. These internships allow students to gain a variety of skills that are necessary for employment in the fields of public history, historic preservation and archaeology , and maintain the strong affiliation which has developed between members of the DHPA and regional collegiate faculty and students. Students who earn internships participate in various activities within the office and in the field. Interns are given opportunities to create and edit historiographic documents, write press releases for upcoming events and assist in the establishment and maintenance of historical databases and surveys. Scholarships for conference attendance are also available to interns.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Division or working in one of the unpaid internships, please contact the DHPA at jrdinius@dnr.in.gov.
