Helen Keller Archive Intern

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people who are blind or have low vision through advocacy, research, and partnerships. AFB is seeking an intern to support its Helen Keller Archive in Huntington, WV (remote or hybrid options may be considered).

This internship offers hands-on experience in digital archival transcription, metadata curation, and historical research. The Helen Keller Archive, stewarded by AFB and housed in partnership with the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) in Louisville, Kentucky, is the world’s most comprehensive digital collection documenting Helen Keller’s life, advocacy, and global impact. The internship may include a supervised, AFB-funded site visit to APH in Louisville to learn about the preservation and housing of the Helen Keller Archive. The successful candidate will support the Business Services Manager.

The expected end date for this internship is May 1, 2026. Compensation is a rate of $20 per hour for approximately 10-15 hours per week.

AFB is dedicated to promoting equality and inclusion for people who are blind and have low vision and targets key areas that impact both children and adults to facilitate meaningful change. 

Internship Responsibilities Include:

Transcribe historical letters, essays, and documents from the Helen Keller Archive using AFB’s transcription and accessibility standards. 

Review and update metadata and item descriptions to improve clarity, consistency, and completeness.
 

Identify and flag inconsistencies or missing data for review by the archivist.

Conduct background research on individuals, organizations, and events represented in the collection, including research supporting permission requests under supervision.

Apply accessibility best practices to ensure transcribed and described materials meet AFB’s digital inclusion standards.

Maintain accurate logs of work and hours, complete short progress summaries or reflections, and participate in an end-of-term discussion about the experience.

Qualifications:

Open to students majoring in History, Public History, Archival Studies or related fields. The student should possess strong writing and research skills, with general office proficiency including Google Suite and familiarity with digital archives or historical research tools preferred. Must be highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of working independently on focused tasks. Ability to travel as necessary.  

At AFB, we do not just accept differences — we celebrate them. AFB is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact Human Resources at careers@afb.org.