During the spring and summer of 2025, eight students participated in public history internships across the state. Through each experience, these students gained valuable skills that will serve them well in their future careers, while also enjoying their work and learning about a fascinating array of historical perspectives and stories. Anna Kropf and India Hite both interned with the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, where Kropf gained experience with museum collections and Hite with historical presentation. Additionally, Sam Jackson interned with the Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections and Mason Swenson interned for the Montana 250 Commission. 

Anna Kropf – Historical Museum at Fort Missoula

Anna Kropf served as a Browman Collection intern at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula during summer 2025. Kropf’s main project was to evaluate and rehouse the collections of locally donated military medals, pins, buttons, and other insignia to allow for more efficient organization and to improve the online database. Throughout her internship, she gained skills in the evaluation and proper handling of artifacts, the creation of museum-quality storage containers, and proper protocols for identifying and cataloging artifacts. Kropf’s internship was also an impactful experience for her future career. While originally planning only to use the internship for college credit, Kropf ended up enjoying the work so much she is now planning to pursue a master’s degree in Museum Studies. In relation to her newfound career interest, Kropf wrote, “This internship has provided me with a wonderful basis on which to build this passion.”

India Hite – Historical Museum at Fort Missoula

India Hite, a current History MA student, spent summer 2025 serving as an intern docent at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. Hite assisted with the “Crossings” exhibit, which told stories of gender intermediaries and trans history throughout Montana, but eventually expanded their work to include the other exhibits at the museum. Throughout the summer, Hite enjoyed talking with visitors about the exhibit and helping to create a welcoming space where people could learn about the topic and feel free to ask questions. Hite expanded visitors’ understanding of queer history in Missoula and the state while also taking time to do her own research and deepen her understanding of the topic. Hite was pleasantly surprised at how interested and open people were about the exhibit, and happy that she could help people think outside their comfort zone and understand a little more about queer history and the queer community. 

Sam Jackson – Mansfield Library

In spring 2025, Sam Jackson served as a student assistant at the Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections. Throughout the course of the semester, Jackson worked on multiple projects, including an expansive archival project to digitize hundreds of boxes of materials. In addition, Jackson also refined a finding aid for a historic railroad pamphlet collection and archived over 1,000 architectural drawings in the library. Aside from archival work, Jackson also worked on the production of two historical exhibits at the library, on zines and the land acquisition of the University of Montana, both of which were successfully showcased for the public. Through his internship, Jackson expanded his knowledge and gained new skills of archival work, which will prepare him well for a future in archival work. Sam found his internship incredibly rewarding, especially when he was able to help members of the public locate materials within the archive. 

Mason Swenson – Montana 250 Commission

Mason Swenson served as an intern for the Montana 250 Commission during spring 2025 and gained valuable experience in public history. The Montana 250 Commission is tasked with organizing celebratory events for the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. Swenson’s task was to research the lives and legacies of important historical figures from Montana. During his internship, he was placed at Traveler’s Rest State Park in Lolo and was also given the chance to assist with the curating of historical exhibits, where he made deep connections with state park officials, AmeriCorps members, game wardens, and university students. For Swenson, the most rewarding part of his internship was the people he met and the conversations he had, which showed him the power of interpersonal communication to share history.

– Daniel Martin (UM Public History Website Intern)