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Student Internship Experiences

Emily Green

Working as a collections intern at the Evansville Wartime Museum has given me a new perspective on the modern wars of the twentieth century. Not only have I acquired new research skills and interpersonal skills, but also a different perspective on how modern wars are rarely one-sided. Instead, modern wars involve multifaceted narratives that must be dissected for public education. My supervisors stressed that one of the most important goals of a museum is storytelling. While the artifacts alone are interesting, they should be arranged and described in a way that engages the public and relays a clear story. One of my first objectives was a research project on the Allies of World War II. The museum wanted descriptions of the countries’ contributions on placards placed underneath the Allies’ flags. While the research included the more well-known powers in the war such as the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom, my research also included countries such as the Republic of Cuba, the Greek Government in Exile, and the United Mexican States. These countries’ contributions are not as commonly discussed, though they were extremely valuable to the outcome of the war. This project enabled me to outline these global connections and tell a story about the Second World War involving more than just the chief Allied powers. By helping create informative displays for the public during my time at the museum, I was able to help tell a more encompassing story of twentieth-century wars. Overall, this internship gave me a more thorough understanding of modern warfare, which enabled me to take part in community outreach and facilitate global education in the Evansville area.