The Center for Lincoln Studies is dedicated to the teaching mission of UIS. We strive to offer hands-on learning experiences and recognition of excellence for UIS students and middle and high school students throughout Illinois. Explore our student-centered initiatives below!
Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission Internships
Basic Information
The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission (ISCHPC) assists and advises the Illinois Supreme Court in regard to the acquisition, collection, documentation, preservation, cataloging, and related matters with respect to historic aspects of buildings, objects, artifacts, documents, and information relating to the Illinois judiciary.
The ISCHPC intern will assist ISCHPC staff in scanning documents housed at the Illinois State Archives. Duties will include but are not restricted to scanning, image editing, research, writing, and other duties pertaining to the ongoing work of the ISCHPC. This internship is currently accepting applicants for Summer 2025 and the 2025-2026 academic year.
Minimum Requirements
- Knowledge of or interest in American History, preferably nineteenth-century
- Familiar with historical research methodologies and techniques
- Conversant with computer applications such as scanning and image editing software and database management
- Undergraduate degree in history preferred but not mandatory
- Interest in Illinois history and/or legal history desirable, but not required
Learn more about this internship through CareerConnect (Powered by Handshake).
Lincoln Home National Historic Site Internships
Beginning in Fall 2024, the Center for Lincoln Studies is partnering with Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the Lincoln Presidential Foundation to offer three public history internships. Our interns will spend their first two weeks learning about the life of Abraham Lincoln and the basics of public history and fieldtrip education through the Center. Once they complete that training, they begin a multi-month experiential learning assignment on site at the Lincoln Home. This internship is expected to begin accepting applicants for Fall 2025 soon.
Lincoln Home 2024-2025 Student Interns
- Alice Abegunde, Undergraduate, Liberal Studies
- Evan Keeney, Undergraduate, Educational Studies
- Christian Mirkowicz, Undergraduate, Environmental Studies
- Nadia Wilson, Undergraduate, Environmental Studies
The most rewarding part of this internship was getting to try out what I wanted to do as a future career. I don’t think you can know if you want to do something or not until you actually get hands-on experience in the field and this internship helped me see how it would be to be an interpretive ranger.
Nadia Wilson
On a personal level working in an environment dedicated to Lincoln’s ideals made me further pursue my interest in social advocacy, public policy, and community outreach.
Alice Abegunde
Long Nine Museum (L9M) Internship
Basic Information
The L9M tells the story of the Long Nine, Abraham Lincoln, and local history in Athens, Illinois.
The L9M Intern will work 12:30-5:00 PM Tuesday-Saturday and duties will include opening and closing the museum. The intern will perform the day-to-day operations of the museum and assist museum visitors by providing information about exhibits and available resources. In addition, the intern will complete a research project or essay designed in coordination with the Director of the Center for Lincoln Studies. This internship is currently accepting applicants for Summer 2025.
Minimum Requirements
- Knowledge of or interest in American History, preferably nineteenth-century
- Undergraduate degree in history preferred but not mandatory
- Interest in Illinois history and Abraham Lincoln desirable
- Transportation to and from Athens, Illinois
Learn more about this internship through CareerConnect (powered by Handshake).
Illinois State History Day Center for Lincoln Studies Award
Beginning in 2024 The Center for Lincoln Studies began recognizing an excellent project on Abraham Lincoln or his legacy entered in the Illinois State History Day Competition
Awardees
2024: Avani Nandi, Catherine Cook School, (Documentary) Separate is Never Equal: How the Mendez v. Westminster Suit was a Turning Point in the Desegregation of Schools across the United States.