Jobs, Internships & Volunteering Opportunities
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Volunteering in College Park, MD

There are two types of volunteer positions available at the National Archives in College Park, MD:

The National Archives Building in College Park, Maryland.

Volunteer in Washington, DC

Staff Aides work behind the scenes under the supervision of archivists. They assist with a wide variety of tasks, including holdings maintenance: document boxing and labeling; researching photographs, posters, moving images, and textual records; writing descriptions; computer database work; indexing; digitizing; preparing descriptive lists; and other s pecialized tasks.

  • All volunteer positions are available only during the normal work week, usually between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Volunteers work with historically valuable records of the Federal Government.
  • Some staff aides work in groups, while others work on individual projects.
  • Volunteers generally work seated at tables or computer stations.

Docents give two types of tours:

  • Behind-the-scenes tours of the research facility and building to visitors. These are offered between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays.
  • Tours of the building specifically designed for new hires are given bimonthly on Mondays.

Frequently Asked Questions

May I volunteer at both buildings in the Washington, DC, area?

Yes! Complete only one application and send it to the location you would like to spend most of your time at. Discuss the options during the interview.

Are there other ways to get involved as a volunteer?

Yes! The National Archives Volunteer Association (NAVA) can use help on the board and on its committees that organize tours, programs, and special events.

Will I have to go through a background check?

Yes! The National Archives is a Federal agency.

What is the minimum age for volunteering?

16

Top of Page

To apply:

Download and complete the Volunteer Application. Either e-mail, fax, or mail it to the Volunteer Program staff.

See How to Download and Complete the Volunteer Application Form
If you require an accessible version of the Volunteer Application form, please contact the Volunteer Program Coordinator at (301) 837-3002.

Contact:
Volunteer Program Coordinator
The National Archives at College Park
8610 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Phone:   (301) 837-3002
Fax:   (301) 837-3603
volunteercp@nara.gov

How to Download and Complete the Volunteer Application Form

  1. Save the Form to Your Computer:

    Do one of the following in the Apply section:
    • Use your mouse to right click the form link then select "Save Target/Link As..." from the menu that appears.
    • Open the form and save the form to your computer by selecting File / Save As.
    Note the filename and where you saved the file.

  2. Open the File on Your Computer:
    Locate the file on your computer and open the file using Adobe Reader.

  3. Fill Out the Form:
    Enter the appropriate data in each box or field. To move from one field to the next, press the Tab key. You can also use your cursor to move from field to field. Place your cursor in the field you want to fill in, then left-click. Some fields limit the maximum number of characters you can enter and may automatically advance to the next field. Save the Filled Out Form.

  4. Submit the Form:
    Use the Contact Information to either:
    • Attach the file to an e-mail
    • Print the form and fax it
    • Mail the form

If you have questions, please contact the Volunteer Program Coordinator.

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More information on Adobe Acrobat PDF files is available on our Accessibility page.

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001
Telephone: 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272