Gaining Insight into Potential Careers

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Sylvia Erdely ('27), a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, spent her summer exploring her interests in archival research as an intern at the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts through the Summer Humanities Internship Program (SHIP).

I was drawn to the Kislak Center because of my passions for anthropology, history, primary sources and literature. I had worked in libraries and archives before and knew that archival work was a field that I enjoyed and wanted to learn more about. I also knew that interning at the Kislak Center would help me explore these interests and give me insight into potential careers that incorporate them. During my internship, I learned so much about the workings of an archive, including the best ways to handle rare and damaged historic items, how to navigate several library numbering and cataloging systems, and how to assist visiting researchers in their work. I have also developed stronger workplace skills such as being detail-oriented, communicative, and collaborative. I have deeply valued being a part of an organization that works to preserve, analyze, and make accessible important pieces of history. My experiences this summer working with historic and cultural objects have made me even more enthusiastic about pursuing my studies in English and Anthropology.

I am lucky to have made many meaningful connections during my internship. My supervisor was Sarah Heim, the Kislak Center’s Public Services Librarian. She was so kind and patient with me and the other interns and truly made the Kislak Center a positive and comfortable work environment. I am grateful for her guidance and leadership and learned so much from her. I also formed a meaningful relationship with John Pollack, the Kislak Center’s Curator of Research Services. I so enjoyed spending time with John, as we chatted regularly and bonded over our shared hobbies, and I could see myself in a curatorial role similar to his one day. I also spent a lot of quality time with the other SHIP interns, Isaiah and Kaitlynn, as well as the student workers at the Kislak Center. We all came from very different Penn experiences, and I gained a lot from talking with them, especially as the youngest of the bunch. Penn is such a large place, and I doubt that I would have been able to meet them if it weren’t for this experience!

Left: A 36-foot long scroll showing the genealogical history of the kings of England, circa 1461. Center: A handwritten medieval book propped open for viewing. Right: A 1681 book with a hand-embroidered and beaded cover.

As a result of doing this internship, I have learned more about my career aspirations, which was one of my main goals going into the summer. Collaborating with my peers and assisting researchers has revealed to me my preference of working with others rather than alone, and my work on archival projects has shown me that I enjoy roles where I can learn and explore new things while working. My favorite project at my internship was selecting materials for a future exhibit at Van Pelt. This was my first time getting a say in the curation of an exhibit, and it was such a special experience. I left this project knowing that curation is something that I enjoy and would like to explore further in the future.

Interested in reading more first-hand accounts about undergraduate research? Check out the other experiences featured on our Student News Page and Social Media!

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