Internship & Volunteer Opportunities

Scroll below to discover opportunities to engage with local history by volunteering or interning at the Natick Historical Society. Whether you are a history enthusiast eager to share your skills, a student seeking hands-on experience, or a recent graduate interested in archives, museums, or historic preservation, we invite you to get involved. At the Natick Historical Society, volunteers and interns play a vital role in preserving and sharing the stories of our community.

The Natick Historical Society (NHS) builds community by inspiring connections to local history. It is an independent non-profit that thrives on the generosity of community members and receives no municipal funds. The NHS is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds. The NHS is committed to interpreting Natick's history in terms consistent with perspectives, as staff presently understand them, of Natick Nipmuc and Massachusett individuals. The Natick History Museum features local history exhibitions and a research archive. It is free and open to the public. Check our website for current posted hours.

Current Volunteer & Internship Opportunities

Education - Paid and Volunteer Opportunities Available

Join the Natick Historical Society staff and volunteers as we organize our annual local history program for third graders: On This Land: Indigenous and English Life in Early Natick. Educators and volunteers will assist groups of approximately 15 students as they rotate through stations, learning about early Natick history. Candidates should be comfortable with elementary-aged students and interested in sharing local history. Candidates must also be comfortable walking short distances, standing, and working primarily outside (one station is inside) in variable weather conditions. Volunteer shifts run approximately: 8:45 - 11:45, 11:30 - 2:15, and 8:45 - 2:15.

Several positions are available:

  • Colonial-era crafts

  • Map reading and design

  • Museum scavenger hunt

  • Colonial-era games

  • Algonquian/Eliot Bible Language Study

Please contact mkheyfetz@natickhistoricalsociety.org for more information. Several paid positions are available. The 2026 field trips will be scheduled on weekdays between May 18 and May 28.

Research and Collections - Two Paid Summer Internships Available (College Level)

In the Research and Collections Summer Internships, students will engage directly with primary and secondary sources, photographs, and artifacts in the NHS collections. Responsibilities may include responding to research requests from the public regarding Natick's history, assisting with inventory projects for photographs and artifacts, recording and describing essential details about collections, contributing to ongoing and long-term research projects, writing social media posts, and working with the museum’s collections management software, PastPerfect.

All projects will be conducted onsite at the Natick History Museum. Applicants should demonstrate strong attention to detail and organizational skills, possess proven research and writing skills, and be able to work independently. Experience using Google Docs and Sheets is preferred, and familiarity with PastPerfect is helpful but not required. Training will be provided as needed. Applicants must have completed at least one year of college coursework.

Interns are expected to commit to a minimum of three hours per week on a schedule arranged with NHS staff. The intern will earn $19/hr for 52 hours of work and may begin no earlier than June 1, 2026. Please send a note of inquiry and CV to Jennifer Richards, Research and Archives Manager, at jrichards@natickhistoricalsociety.org. Funding for Paid Summer Internships is generously provided by the Royal Little Family Foundation.

Research and Collections - Rolling Volunteer Opportunities

Individuals of any age - from high school through retirement - with an interest in volunteering in Research and Collections are encouraged to contact Jennifer Richards, Research and Archives Manager, at jrichards@natickhistoricalsociety.org. Volunteer opportunities correspond with the description of the Paid Summer Internships above and can be streamlined to accomodate individual interest and experience. We look forward to hearing from you!

Marg M. Balcom Archival Fellowship

Marg M. Balcom Memorial Archival Fellowship

The Marg M. Balcom Memorial Archival Fellowship honors longtime NHS leader and volunteer Marg M. Balcom, whose dedication to archives continues to shape our work today. Designed for aspiring or emerging archivists, the Fellowship offers hands-on experience with archival materials and historical research in collaboration with NHS staff. The central focus of the Fellowship will shift each year with respect to the needs and goals of NHS staff. Fellows share their findings with the community upon completing their work. Learn about the Marg M. Balcom Archival Fellowship here.

All projects will be conducted onsite at the Natick History Museum. Applicants should demonstrate strong attention to detail and a clear understanding of archival proccesing, possess proven communication and professional skills, and be able to work independently. Experience using Google Docs and Sheets is preferred, and familiarity with PastPerfect is helpful but not required. Orientation to the collections and relevant training will be provided as needed. Applicants must have completed at least one year of graduate-level coursework in an MLIS/archives-centered program.

This fellowship runs once annullay and is currently accepting applications. Applicants are expected to commit to complete 75 hours of work on a schedule arranged with NHS staff. The Fellow will earn $20/hr for 75 hours of work. Please send a note of inquiry and CV to Jennifer Richards, Research and Archives Manager, at jrichards@natickhistoricalsociety.org.  This Fellowship is generously supported by the Marg M. Balcom Memorial Archival Fellowship Fund.