Employment & Internships

June 12, 2024

3-Minute Historian 

The Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island Historical Societies are hiring a part-time summer employee to serve as our 3-Minute Historian to visit public events and places, engaging citizens and telling stories of the history of Mount Desert Island.  The Historian is an ambassador for the Societies and local history. The goal of the position is to lightheartedly engage people in the island's rich history while cultivating engagement and stewardship of our stories. 

An ideal candidate will have acting experience or very exuberant social skills. They will be prepared to identify and approach visitors and engage them in banter about local history. They will be an independent worker, researching local history to share with visitors. They must be curious and self-motivated, communicate with, and verify venues, and summarize their interactions in a daily report. Listening to and collecting local stories may also be conducted.  The Historian encourages patrons to visit local historical societies and sites of interest. Work hours are flexible and will take place largely outdoors all over MDI.

After initial training, the Historian is responsible for identifying historical themes and stories that are place-based on MDI, researching this history, and crafting the various interactions that will take place with visitors. The Historian is responsible for their own transportation, site selection, set-up, take-down,  etc.  Following public engagement, the Historian will record the number of people engaged, the topics discussed, and any feedback or anecdotes shared. 

Timeframe and hours: 20 hours per week for 10 weeks starting in late June, with a training week conducted by both Historical Societies. Beginning and ending dates are flexible. Pay: $25/hour

Email a letter of interest, resume, and references to Lisa Murray at: lisa.murray@mdihistory.org. No phone calls, please.