Katie Galvin ’22: An Internship in the Archives 

When looking for an internship, Katie Galvin ’22 sought a unique and educational experience that would further expand her knowledge of American history. This experience came at the American Independence Museum in Exeter, NH. 

“At the American Independence Museum, there is a lot more hidden history about the Revolutionary War that you wouldn’t [find] in the ‘popular places’ in Boston," said Galvin, a Haverhill native who valued the hands-on experience her summer internship provided.

Galvin was excited and inspired to further her knowledge and had the opportunity to do just that, spending her time researching historical figures and places in Exeter during the Revolutionary War and preserving historical artifacts. 

The American Independence Museum’s mission is “to engage, educate and excite people of all ages, to understand and celebrate the American struggle for freedom and self-governance and to preserve and share our buildings, grounds and collection so they will be an inspiration for generations to come.” Along with tours, the museum offers a wide variety of educational programs aimed to increase the public’s understanding of history. 

The internship provided Galvin with the academics resources she will need for her future education and profession. “For research skills, I learned how to properly research using scholarly articles and more books rather than websites. I also learned how to properly catalog collections items to show what items go to where and how to know where to find them in the museum,” she explained, adding that these skills will help her in the American Studies Seminar she is taking at the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester this semester. 

After graduation, Galvin hopes to take a gap semester to work and apply for graduate school programs in museum studies.