Jackson County (Mo.) Historical Society

Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

Find Your Place in History & Meet New Friends Today

“The incitement to volunteer appears to be connectedness…to schools, to organizations, to communities, both nearby and global…. In the end, volunteering comes from the heart. People who are passionate about…any cause will convert that passion to action.” –Diane Stafford, Kansas City Star, January 24, 2008

You are greatly needed! Continuation of our exceptional services depends on the invaluable service of our volunteers and interns. Each year volunteers donate over 17,000 hours assisting more than 15,000 visitors and 3,500 researchers at our historic site and archives.

Interns obtain a general overview of many of the Society's service areas, in addition to being responsible for a variety of coordinated projects. In turn, interns receive college credit!

A variety of jobs requiring many different talents and skills are available. Whether you like to work independently or with others, there's something interesting to everyone. Plus, volunteers and interns can coordinate their own schedules. Many volunteers spend an average of three hours a week, but others have more time to donate. Interns coordinate to spend several hours over the course of a month or more.

Volunteer and internship opportunities are created all the time – expected and unexpected. Please contact us so we may visit with you and discuss a position that will suit your needs.

Here are current volunteer openings:

Jail, Marshal’s Home & Museum

Volunteer Desk Attendant

General Description: Greets visitors, handles gift shop sales and site admissions, provides guest orientation for self-guided tours.

Qualifications: Good people skills and ability to handle simple money handling procedures.

Time Commitment: at least one, four-hour shift (morning or afternoon) Monday through Friday.

Volunteer Tour Guide

General Description: provides tours to school groups and other organizations.

Duties: Interprets site history to school and other groups in an educational format.

Qualifications: Enjoy history and working with children.

Time Commitment: As groups are scheduled, primarily in the spring and fall.

Volunteer Museum Housekeeping

General Description: maintaining appearance of the historic site.

Duties: Cleaning of exhibit rooms and displays utilizing museum-cleaning methods.

Qualifications: Willingness to be trained in museum methods, attention to detail.

Time Commitment: 2-3 hours weekly.

Truman Courtroom and Office

Volunteer Desk Attendant

General Description: Greets visitors, handles site admissions, provides guest orientation and starts the DVD presentation.

Qualifications: Good people skills and ability to handle simple money handling procedures.

Time Commitment: at least one, four-hour shift (morning or afternoon) Monday through Friday.

Archives & Research Library

Volunteer Archives Assistant

General Description: Independent work on special projects. Archives assistants work independently to help staff prepare collections for research use by sorting, foldering, boxing, and labeling collections. Archives assistants may also help to keep the facility clean and orderly. Significant time is spent cataloging or indexing materials. Computer data entry and transcription work is always needed. Additionally, a specific core of volunteers are being invited to participate in a specific project that is expected to take two- to three-years…that is, the processing of Jackson County Circuit Court Records (1830s to 1880s) that the Historical Society maintains.

Time Commitment: Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. OR FROM 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information at contact David W. Jackson.