Category Archives: Maya Schindler

An Historic Summer in Philly with the American Philosophical Society by Maya Schindler ‘27

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Name: Maya Schindler
Class Year: 2027
Majors: Political Science, Spanish
Minor: Latin American, Iberian, and Latino/a Studies

Internship Organization: American Philosophical Society
Internship Title: Curatorial Intern
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

As a curatorial intern at the American Philosophical Society (APS), most of my time was spent working on the very early stages of the museum’s 2028 exhibition, which will be centered around the Arctic. The time frame gave me the freedom to do exploratory research in the APS’s collections and beyond that were guided by my interests. I focused primarily on photography and art related to the Arctic in the mid to late 19th century and saw it connect through a range of materials and topics.

A photograph from the APS collections from painter William Bradford’s 1869 expedition taken by John Dunmore and George Critcherson

At the same time, the 2027 exhibition about Indigenous communities working with the APS collections has more moving parts at the moment and I had a chance to see how they all start to come together. I worked closely with my supervisor on archival and secondary research, collaboration with community partners, and the process of curation. Throughout all of this, I had opportunities to learn more about research institutions and museums through conferences, meetings, and field trips.

Why did you apply for this internship?

A sketch of an iceberg by anthropologist Franz Boas from the APS collections

My interests in and out of the classroom often connect to public history and I love exploring the ways that stories are collected and shared. I was really excited to finally have the chance to dive into this in a museum context and learn more about the intricacies of what is seen as a more “traditional” form of sharing knowledge and history. This internship was a unique chance to combine my experience in research and more public facing community programming, which is important as I start to think about where my academic and professional experience will lead me after graduation. 

What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect?

An unexpected impact of this internship is that it reshaped the way that I go to museums. There is even more for me to see now that I have learned about the many components that go into making an exhibition. The selection of paint colors, the readability of object labels, loans from other institutions, and more offer insight into the subject itself and how the exhibition was put together.

“Whalers Trapped in the Arctic Ice” by William Bradford at the Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts

It was especially interesting to see the celebration of the country’s semiquincentennial across the city and how different institutions interpreted and presented it. Thinking about, for instance, the APS’s exhibition about the reproduction of the Declaration of Independence alongside the Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts’ thematic overview of both historic and contemporary art brought up questions about how ideas of freedom have been understood and carried on. This was a useful exercise in how to get the most out of museum visits.

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?

When I applied to this internship, I knew it would involve archival research. Without experience or much exposure before, I quickly realized I had a lot to learn about what it actually entailed and how to do my own. Having access to the APS’s extensive collections allowed me to immerse myself immediately. With a broad guiding theme of the Arctic, I saw how easy it was to get overwhelmed, but then find my way by following topics in unexpected directions.

At times, challenges like hard-to-decipher handwriting and uncatalogued collections made the process even more confusing, but I came to understand that the process of navigating these obstacles offers its own unique findings in archival research. The freedom that came with my internship structure and being in an expansive archive taught me how to develop my own research structures and collect information in a way that could then be shared with my coworkers and possibly eventually the public.

Exploring Philadelphia History through Media and Community: Maya Schindler ‘27 

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Name: Maya Schindler
Class Year: 2027
Major: Political Science
Minor: Latin American, Iberian and Latina/o Studies

Internship Organization: Scribe Video Center
Internship Title: Summer of Service Intern
Location: Philadelphia, PA

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!  

Flyering for the North Philadelphia History Festival

Most of my work has been centered around Scribe’s North Philadelphia History Festival – a celebration of the rich culture and history of Black and Puerto Rican communities in the area. Working on the promotions and community outreach team, I have helped develop strategies to generate interest and attendance through social media and relationships with local partners. I have also worked with the artists and cultural workers participating in the festival to ensure that we accurately communicate their visions. 

Why did you apply for this internship?  

Having worked on oral history projects in DC, I knew that this kind of communal storytelling is a unique way to get to know and support a community. Scribe has been doing this kind of work throughout Philly for decades, so I knew I would be able to engage with diverse networks of artists and cultural workers. With programming ranging from workshops, to interviews, to film screenings, and more, I was excited by the opportunity to figure out what mediums I might want to pursue and how to use them to uplift others. 

What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn’t expect? 

Behind the scenes photo at shoot for “My Story, My Block” project for the North Philadelphia History Festival

I did not go into this internship expecting to work on promotion and marketing as much as I have. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. I’ve had to use my creativity in new ways creating promotional material and I’ve also seen everything that goes into authentically connecting with the community. By intentionally building relationships with other organizations, we are able to support each other’s work and reach parts of Philly we might not have otherwise. I’ve seen just how interconnected the many arts, culture, and history organizations in the city are. The way they intentionally support one another reflects their goals of connection and the nature of Philly’s communities. 

What is most rewarding about your internship? 

While on-site taking photos during a “My Story, My Block” (a project for the North Philadelphia History Festival) interview, I saw family members and lifelong friends quietly sneak in to watch the interview with looks of pride and joy on their faces. I could see, and later heard from them, what it meant to be part of the project in some way and see a voice that is so important to them be shared with a wider audience. Scribe does this in so many ways and I’m excited to be a part of it. Through workshops offered, local filmmakers learn valuable skills to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard. Power Politics is an ongoing effort to create an archive of the many community members who have shaped Philly and fought for its people. Being able to contribute to these growing and vibrant archives and seeing what it means to people to be a part of these stories shows the importance of the work Scribe does.