You might be on track to finishing a degree in business. Or perhaps communications, art, or environmental science. Maybe you’re looking for hands-on experience at a nonprofit or knowledge about how an exhibit is put together. Whatever your interest, if you’re a student of Christian Science, Longyear Museum has opportunities for you.
Every role at Longyear contributes to the mission of advancing the understanding of the life and work of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer, Founder, and Leader of Christian Science. The museum is known for its award-winning preservation of historic houses and has earned accolades from the likes of the Victorian Society in America, the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, and Preservation Massachusetts. One of the eight historic houses owned by Longyear has also been named a National Historic Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior—a designation given to sites of “exceptional value or quality in illustrating and interpreting the heritage of the United States.”
Such high-quality work comes from high-quality workers who thrive in a fast-paced environment. “Once I became part of the team,” says former intern Mackenzie Shivers, “I realized [Longyear] is a place dedicated to preserving history with incredible care and accuracy. Working alongside the Research, Publications, and Communications team gave me a new appreciation for the amount of thought, collaboration, and devotion that goes into every article, exhibit, historic house, and renovation.” During her years as a student at Savannah College of Art and Design, Mackenzie helped build pages for the museum’s website, created illustrations for publications, organized the department’s research materials, and handled many other tasks.
Trinah Itadal was interested in interning at Longyear because she wanted “to learn in a professional museum environment, develop skills, and also be part of a team whose work has a lasting impact on visitors and the community.”
While completing her business degree at Principia College, Trinah assisted the Finance Department at Longyear with everything from processing the staff payroll to preparing department budgets to recording income. She has found that “the collaboration and thoughtful planning that happens behind the curtains, every exhibit, program, and visitor experience is the result of a good team. I was also impressed by how welcoming and supportive everyone is.”
“The staff at Longyear were all exceedingly helpful,” former intern Wyatt Shipp wrote recently in a letter to the foundation that helped support his time at Longyear. He spent six months working with the Collections Department after graduating from Principia College. “Getting to work with the rest of the Collections team, I’ve been able to practice and develop my researching and archival skills. … This includes cleaning Mrs. Eddy’s houses, handling her furniture when necessary, and carefully recording the contents of her letters.”
“The practical experience that I’ve gained while at Longyear,” he wrote, “is something I recognize that few scholars are exposed to before their graduate studies, and I know that the skills I’m developing here will position me for success in my future studies and career.” Wyatt left Longyear at the end of July to head to graduate school in religious history at the University of Washington.
In addition to being paid, interns have an opportunity to visit and tour Longyear’s historic houses. While many internships occur during the summer, the museum also accepts interns during the academic year. Times are flexible, as the museum works year-round to educate the public.
For intern Grace Gibbons, who was starting college in January 2026, it made sense for her to begin her internship in the fall between graduating from high school and beginning her studies at Boston University. “I was excited to research and learn more about Mary Baker Eddy’s life and discovery of Christian Science,” she said. There were opportunities for her to work in multiple departments—like Visitor Services, where she learned to talk with the public about Mrs. Eddy and how to curate the museum store. Grace also helped with an inventory of objects in the historic houses and researched artifacts for upcoming exhibits. “I was happy to be a part of the community in whatever way that looked like,” she says. Grace’s internship lasted four months.
In some cases, interns have been able to continue working for Longyear Museum after the internship ends, as was the case with Mackenzie Shivers, who had visited the museum as a child and later became a talented illustrator for the many articles and products produced by Longyear Museum. She’s currently illustrating Longyear’s first-ever coloring book!
“The opportunity to support the mission through both research, publications, and design felt like the perfect fit. It combined my love of art, history, and storytelling while allowing me to contribute to something that had been meaningful to me for years,” she says.
“My internship gave me valuable experience,” Mackenzie continues. “At the same time as my internship, I was getting my bachelor of fine arts in Illustration, so it was an incredible opportunity to apply what I was learning in the classroom to real publishing projects. Most importantly, I got to see the entire publishing process from the perspectives of researchers, editors, designers, and publishers. That experience helped me understand how all of those pieces come together to create thoughtful, historically accurate content. It also confirmed how much I love working in publishing.”
Trinah has discovered that she has also been “developing skills that apply far beyond the museum world.” She says, “I have become more collaborative with others, more efficient in managing responsibilities, and adapting quickly. I have strengthened my communication skills, developed stronger organizational skills, and have become better at problem solving and project management. … Beyond professional skills, I have gained a deeper appreciation for Mary Baker Eddy and Christian Science through learning about her life and dedication to serving others.”
Of all the valuable experience that comes from a Longyear Museum internship, you’re sure to come away with a greater understanding and appreciation for Mary Baker Eddy.
Match your interests: Take a deep dive into a particular area or take on a range of projects with any of the following Longyear Museum departments:
• Collections cares for, catalogs, and organizes the museum’s rich trove of photographs, artwork, books, artifacts, and documents.
• Historic Houses manage and welcome visitors to eight homes in which Mrs. Eddy lived, sharing the story of her life and work as a teacher, healer, and writer.
• Development oversees fund-raising, membership, and outreach.
• Finance works on budgets, accounting, and other business operations of the museum.
• Research, Publications, and Communications highlights new findings and museum happenings through books, magazines, online articles, videos, and social media outreach.
• Visitor Services hosts visitors and manages the museum store, including product development, sales, inventory, and display.
• Facilities takes care of the buildings and grounds at the museum, and at the historic houses.
• IT maintains Longyear’s computer systems and online information storage and retrieval.
For more information about interning at Longyear Museum, contact or visit us:
Phone:
617.278.9000
Email:
careers@longyear.org
Address:
Longyear Museum
1125 Boylston Street
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-181
