Mallory Petrucci’s Internship at the U.S. Capitol Historical Society

This summer, Mallory Petrucci, a History major from Duquesne University, had the opportunity to intern with the United States Capitol Historical Society. Learn more about her internship experience delving into the archives of American history and working on events that bring the public closer to the history of the U.S. Capitol.

Where did you intern and what does your internship site do?  

Last summer I had the opportunity to intern at the United States Capitol Historical Society (USCHS), where I served as the historical intern. The USCHS is a nonprofit organization founded by Congress to “educate the public on the history and heritage of the U.S. Capitol, its institutions, and the people who have served therein.” (https://uschs.org/about/mission-and-history/) 

What sort of work did you do at your internship? Are there any projects you are proud to have worked on?

My main job with USCHS was archival research for their biggest fundraiser project (a calendar). To complete this research, I utilized the Library of Congress’ databases and gained access to their reading rooms (you can only have access if you get a congressional reader ID). My archival work contributed to further educating the public about American history. I also assisted with vetting potential symposium speakers and creating brochures for symposiums. 

I am super proud of my involvement in the USCHS symposium celebrating the arrival of Mary McLeod Bethune's statue. She is the first state-sponsored statue of an African American woman to be placed in Statuary Hall. This event was held within the Congressional Auditorium and had over 500 people attend in person. 

What was your favorite part of your internship?  

Although this summer has been filled with many favorite moments, my favorite part about interning was how welcoming my work environment was. I was treated like an actual employee and given lots of responsibilities. I was even given the responsibility to present in front of the White House Historical Association and voice my opinion about their future symposium.

What was your favorite part about living in D.C. this semester? Any Recommendations?

D.C. is a unique city where anything and everything is happening all at once. This can seem overwhelming, but in reality, it offers incredible experiences. Having the opportunity to experience tons of activities every weekend and explore the city was my absolute favorite part of living in D.C. If you are a museum person like I am, I recommend going to the National Museum of the American Indian. I would also recommend going to any museum when it opens to miss most of the crowd. 

Any advice for future students?

My first piece of advice is to research the people you will potentially be working for. Make sure their morals align with your own. This will make your internship experience that much better. My second piece of advice is to create a bucket list of things you want to accomplish while in D.C. and take advantage of your time in D.C. to complete these things. This program gives you an opportunity to explore D.C. Make sure you take advantage of your limited time in D.C.